American Express (NYSE: AXP) today announced its partnership with
two-time Wimbledon champion Sir Andy Murray OBE, to kick off a
multi-year partnership with The All England Lawn Tennis Club, as the
Official Payment Partner of The Championships.
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American Express announced its partnership with two-time Wimbledon champion Sir Andy Murray OBE, to kick off a multi-year partnership with The All England Lawn Tennis Club, as the Official Payment Partner of The Championships. (Photo: Business Wire)
American Express will unveil its Fan Experience, one of the
most innovative activation spaces ever on-site at The Championships,
along with a range of on-site benefits for Card Members attending the
event and additional benefits off the Grounds for small merchants and
American Express corporate clients.
Central to the Fan Experience will be the opportunity for all visitors
to take part in ‘Champion’s Rally’, an immersive virtual reality
challenge that gives fans a chance to practise on Centre Court alongside
Andy Murray.
American Express will offer a host of additional on-site Card Member
benefits, including access to a dedicated Card Member Lounge, in-ear
radios featuring a live broadcast of Centre Court, No.1 Court and the
Wimbledon Radio Channel, as well as a Card Member offer where fans
spending £120 cumulatively at the event on an enrolled eligible card,
will receive £20 back as a credit on their next statement.¹
“Our partnership with Wimbledon is an important example of how we’re
backing customers and tennis fans around the globe with unique
experiences and benefits,” said Deborah Curtis, Vice President, Global
Experiences and Partnerships, American Express.
“Building on our heritage of supporting tennis in the US, this
partnership will be supported by a 360-degree marketing campaign that
highlights the many advantages of being an American Express Card Member
at The Championships and delivers an enhanced event experience for Card
Members that reflects the best of our brand. We’re also excited to
leverage the partnership at a B2B level, supporting our small merchants
in the Wimbledon area and bringing a pop-up activation to several of our
UK corporate clients, so they can truly immerse themselves in the
experience of the Championships.”
Andy Murray added: “I’m excited to be working with American Express
ahead of my return to the tour. I had good fun working on Champion’s
Rally and I’m looking forward to seeing everyone have a go on Centre
Court – so long as they don’t beat my score.”
Highlights of American Express’ plans for The Championships, Wimbledon
2019 include:
FAN EXPERIENCE
American Express has commissioned a brand new space, (open between 1 -14
July) in the Southern Village at Wimbledon as part of its partnership
with The All England Lawn Tennis Club. The custom-designed Fan
Experience has been designed around the theme of ‘Tennis in an English
Garden’. In addition to participating in the Champion’s Rally, all
Wimbledon fans will be able to relax in the hammock house and bespoke
seating area, complete with charge points for phones and complimentary
sunglass cleaning. Fans can share their experience through the American
Express postal service where they can mail postcards to friends and
family and take photos in front of a uniquely designed, ‘Don’t
Wimbledon Without It’ flower wall.
CHAMPION’S RALLY
American Express is launching a unique interactive gaming experience,
Champion’s Rally, within the Fan Experience. This will allow fans to
step into a virtual reality experience and play tennis in both the
digital and physical worlds. Players will aim to hit five targets
positioned over the net to measure their speed and accuracy, encouraged
by Andy Murray, all in the environment of Wimbledon’s iconic Centre
Court. Available to all attendees at The Championships 2019, the
difficulty of the game increases as players progress through the game
before receiving a score at the end.
COMPLIMENTARY RADIOS
American Express is offering complimentary in-ear radios exclusively for
Card Members, to bring them closer to all the on-court action. Fans will
be able to tune-in to live commentary across the three official
Wimbledon channels, with commentary provided by renowned broadcasters
Marcus Buckland and Mary Rhodes. The radios will be available from
bespoke flower cart distribution points in the Queue, the Fan
Experience, the American Express Card Member Lounge and mobile kiosks
across the grounds, while stocks last.²
AMERICAN EXPRESS CARD MEMBER LOUNGE
The specially-designed Card Member Lounge will offer American Express
Card Members the ultimate place to relax during the day at The
Championships. With a panoramic view of the Grounds and snacks and
drinks available for purchase, it will be a comfortable and exclusive
space for tennis loving Card Members to unwind between matches. Drinks
available to purchase will include ‘The SW19’ Lanson cocktail, served
only in the American Express Card Member Lounge, and the new Lanson Gold
Label Vintage 2009.
No pre-booking is required; Card Members should simply head to the
Lounge to take advantage of the space. Once capacity is reached, Card
Members can enter a virtual queue and will be notified by text when
space is available.
ON-SITE SPEND BENEFITS
American Express Card Members will benefit from an exclusive spend
offer, which means after they use an enrolled eligible card to spend
£120 or more on-site across one day at The Championships, they will
receive £20 back as a statement credit.¹
“We’re proud to be a partner of Wimbledon this year and bring Andy
Murray on board as our newest American Express Ambassador. Whether
enjoying the on-court action or the off-court American Express
experience, we want to ensure fans know we have their back,” Deborah
Curtis concluded.
2020 PRESALE
From Monday 15 July 2019 at 2 PM BST – Monday 19 August 2019 at 10 AM
BST, presale packages will be available for American Express Card Members
for each day of The Championships (29 June 2020 – 12 July 2020).³
For more information on everything American Express has to offer for
Card Members and fans at The Championships 2019, search: Why Amex.
ABOVE-THE-LINE CAMPAIGN
In addition to all the benefits on offer within the Grounds of
Wimbledon, American Express will also be running an exciting new 360
above-the-line campaign, launching on 17th June 2019. This
will include an out-of-home presence at key transport hubs for Wimbledon
and along fans’ route to the event, including bus and taxi wraps, TV
spots that will run on Eurosport and across 10 outdoor screens in major
cities across the UK, social and display videos featuring Andy Murray,
and a media partnership with Metro.
The creative amplifies American Express’ ‘Don’t Wimbledon Without It’ strapline,
championing the unsung heroes of Wimbledon who back the players and help
Wimbledon to thrive, from the ball boys and girls to the dedicated
ground staff. This ladders up to American Express’ global brand
platform, “Powerful Backing: Don’t Do Business / Live Life Without It.”
INTEGRATED BELOW-THE-LINE CAMPAIGN
American Express will collaborate with Brand Ambassador Andy Murray on
an integrated social and digital campaign, featuring Andy sharing the
benefits available to Card Members on-site at The Championships. The
campaign will be in market before and throughout the event, reminding
fans to bring their Cards to unlock a unique experience at Wimbledon.
SMALL MERCHANTS AND CORPORATE CLIENT EXTENSIONS
American Express will further extend the partnership off-the-grounds,
providing small merchants located near the All England Lawn Tennis Club
in SW19 with co-branded merchandise such as decorations and tote bags.
In addition, a specially designed Wimbledon pop-up activation will be
taken to the offices of several large American Express corporate clients
in the UK to bring to life the on-site activation, including the
Champion’s Rally VR experience, photo walls and a ‘Deuce’ smoothie bar.
About American Express
American Express is a global services company, providing customers with
access to products, insights and experiences that enrich lives and build
business success. Learn more at americanexpress.com
and connect with us on facebook.com/americanexpress
¹ One-time £20 statement credit per eligible enrolled Card. Statement
credit value may be subject to exchange rate fluctuations. Enrol at the
American Express Card Member Lounge or American Express Tennis Fan
Experience onsite. Get full Offer Terms, including Card eligibility,
on-site during enrollment or at wimbledon.com/Americanexpress. Offer
valid from 1 – 14 July 2019.
² While supplies last. Limit 1 per Card Member. Must provide valid
American Express Card.
³ Subject to availability. Terms apply.
About Wimbledon
The Championships, Wimbledon, is the oldest of the four tennis Grand
Slams and the only one played on grass. Held at the All England Club,
established in 1868, the first Championships took place in 1877.
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