The Wimbledon Court in Central Park

CREATIVE DIRECTION

Wimbledon came to New York City for four days, transforming Wollman Rink in Central Park into a full-scale celebration of The Championships built around a full-sized grass tennis court.

As lead experiential designer, I shaped the physical experience and guest journey from early creative development through final design. My work included site planning, spatial design, the entrance experience, Wimbledon Village, grandstands, hospitality spaces, history moments and sponsor integrations, bringing together live tennis, fan programming, food and beverage, retail and viewing areas against the Manhattan skyline.

Opening day centered around The Wimbledon Court Invitational, with Andre Agassi, Caroline Wozniacki, James Blake and Genie Bouchard taking to the grass in front of a packed Central Park crowd. Over the following days, fans were invited onto the court themselves before the space transformed again for opening day of The Championships.

Across the site, Wimbledon’s visual language was reinterpreted at every scale, from monumental entry moments and grandstands to planting, furniture, wayfinding and hospitality details. The result felt unmistakably Wimbledon in a setting that could only be New York.

Role:
Senior Experiential Designer (Project Lead)

Agency:
The Experiential Group

Client:
All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC)

Location:
Wollman Rink, Central Park, New York City

DATE:
June 26-29, 2026

Rather than recreating Wimbledon literally, the design translated its most recognizable cues through grass, deep green and purple, garden-inspired landscaping, crisp white details, and traditional hospitality.

The Manhattan skyline remained part of the composition throughout. The experience leaned into the tension between the two places, creating something unmistakably Wimbledon and unmistakably New York.

VIP TENT

The VIP experience offered a more intimate way to take in the event, with courtside seating, a dedicated hospitality tent, lounge areas, food and beverage service, and premium views of the on-court programming. The space carried the same Wimbledon design language into a more elevated setting, while keeping guests connected to the energy of the court and the surrounding Central Park environment.

PARTNERS + PROGRAMMING

The four-day program opened with The Wimbledon Court Invitational, featuring Andre Agassi, Caroline Wozniacki, James Blake and Genie Bouchard. Hosted by Ally Love and Blair Henley, the day combined mixed-doubles matches, courtside hospitality and coaching sessions, followed by a closing set from DJ Stretch Armstrong.

Saturday welcomed media and influencers onto the court for private coaching, followed by a tasting with Chef Ed Szymanski and a conversation with grass expert Mark Ferguson about constructing and maintaining the championship-style court. The British Ambassador, Sir Christian Turner, also visited the grounds and met with the on-court team.

Sunday focused on community access and the next generation of players, with dedicated sessions for New York Junior Tennis & Learning, USTA Eastern Community Tennis, the Commonpoint Queens wheelchair tennis program and the City Parks Foundation. Public ballot sessions continued throughout the weekend, ultimately giving more than 300 guests the rare opportunity to play on the grass.

On Monday, the court became a live ESPN viewing lawn for the opening day of The Championships before Barclays welcomed clients and members of its Net Works program for professional coaching and on-court sessions. Across the grounds, partners including Babolat, American Express, Resy, Range Rover, Lavazza, Lanson, Stella Artois and Ralph Lauren contributed trivia, hospitality, retail and scenic moments that expanded the experience beyond tennis.

BEHIND THE SCENES

Bringing Wimbledon to Central Park meant designing within a complex existing venue while accounting for sightlines, circulation, programming, partner footprints, production constraints and the grass court itself. The experience developed through site planning, sketches, 3D studies and visualization, with the design continually refined alongside production as the event moved from concept to reality.