R&A join Wimbledon in IMG shopping snub
SPoRtS management company iMG have lost the R&A contract to run the open golf merchandising shop, which does huge business.
the R&A have decided to take the operation inhouse for the open at Carnoustie in 2018 believing they can make more profit without having to pay iMG’s considerable cut. the decision follows the All england Club, who had Wimbledon retail outlets managed by iMG, running their shops themselves for the first time this year.
An iMG spokesman said: ‘iMG has an excellent relationship with both the R&A and the AeLtC and we respect their decisions to take their retail operations in-house. We continue to work with the R&A across all their commercial activity.’
However, just when the open and Wimbledon have dispensed with iMG on the shopping front, the company have signed a multi-year deal to run the retail operation at Royal Ascot, another highlight of the english sporting summer.
SURREY’S many celebrations around the staging of The Oval’s 100th Test match, starting today against South Africa, includes almost all of the county’s 28 living England Test cricketers doing a lap of honour during Saturday’s tea interval. They will include the eldest, 84-year-old Micky Stewart, who is having the members’ pavilion named after him, plus the two most controversial, Kevin Pietersen and reformed jailbird Chris Lewis.