GROWING PADEL

The padel market is red hot and new facilities, services and products are entering the market on a weekly basis. SportsNation looks at some of the recent additions

Places

From an underused court to a popular community hub for sport

Specialist padel court supplier and SAPCA member, SG Padel, took the lead on transforming an underused tennis court and spare land at Club Kingswood – Basildon’s award-winning leisure centre – into a vibrant padel destination. From initial feasibility assessments and architectural design to the grand opening, SG Padel – the UK distributor for Mejorset Padel Courts – was fully involved at every step of the project.

To prepare the site, the company’s groundworks team constructed concrete ring beams, filled them with stone for optimal drainage and finished the surface with permeable tarmac to create a solid foundation for the courts. Once the court structures were in place, SG Padel’s landscaping team enhanced the surrounding areas with green turf, adding a striking visual appeal.

The facility’s Mejorset V-Pro courts now sit at the heart of the revitalised space, which also include a bar, a balcony overlooking the action and a welcoming social seating area for spectators.

Mondo putting a spring in players’ step with innovative new surface

Sports surfaces specialist Mondo is recognised as a leading supplier of athletics tracks – not least as the official supplier for several summer Olympic Games. Now, the Italy-based company and SAPCA member, which was founded in 1948, is making a name in the padel market.

Mondo’s new Premier Supercourt X3 is a synthetic turf system designed specifically for padel courts. It combines parallelepiped-shaped (parallelepiped is a three-dimensional geometric shape characterized by six parallelogram faces) XNOVA textured monofilaments with concave sides. The product is characterised by four grooves and four asymmetric ribs that act as lateral reinforcements, XOMEGA textured monofilaments with a semicircular structure and triangular-shaped XDELTA monofilaments.

The aim of combining the three filaments that make up the system is to provide the surface with elastic memory – thanks to different thicknesses and morphologies. The textured filaments act like springs, minimizing surface wear and improving appearance.

“With Premier Supercourt X3, players have a total feeling of safety and confidence in their movements, also reducing the risk of injuries,” Mondo says. “The grip level of the new surface also significantly improves shock absorption, stability, traction and balance during play.”

New solution limits the need for groundworks on courts

PRO Padel Courts has created an innovative, steel base plate court system that has been engineered to eliminate the need for extensive groundworks. The steel base system allows for installation with minimal disruption, removing the need for concrete foundations. According to the company – a SAPCA member – utilising the design could save property owners more than £20,000 in ground preparation costs.

The company has installed a number of courts across the country, including a number of high-profile projects, including The Queens’ Club in London; The Roehampton Club; Estelle Manor, Oxfordshire and Notts County Football Club.

Sterling Turf delivers PadelPro turf at flagship Kent facility

SAPCA member Sterling Turf is another company making waves on the padel market. A number of recent padel court projects have featured the Sterling PadelPro turf as the chosen playing surface.

One of the installations was at Square One Padel’s brand new site in Ashford, Kent. The facility features vibrant blue PadelPRO courts, which have been paired with sleek black DuraSURROUND turf.

“We pride ourselves on going above and beyond for customers at all stages of the process but most importantly by doing the basics right every time, Sterling Turf says. “As a result, we have established ourselves as a go-to choice for contractors, venues and private users who look to create an incredible playing experience. We have hundreds of courts already installed across the country.”

Powerleague investing £2.2 million in Scottish padel

Commercial small-sided football operator, Powerleague, has entered the padel market with a bang. The company’s latest move will see it investing £2.2 million to introduce padel to three of its existing Scottish clubs.

The Scottish expansion is part of a wider £14 million UK-wide rollout of padel, which will see Powerleague deliver 76 courts across its estate by 2026, as part of its ambition to become the nation’s leading provider of small-sided sports. The Scottish investment will deliver 11 padel courts across Powerleague’s Paisley, Portobello and Sighthill clubs by the end of 2025 and marks the single largest investment in padel infrastructure by any company in Scotland to date. All three clubs have also unveiled refurbished bars and clubhouses, creating vibrant social hubs for local communities.

Christian Rose, CEO of Powerleague, said: “Padel is experiencing explosive global growth, with over 25 million players across more than 100 countries and a compound annual growth rate of 26%. Its rapid rise comes down to its simplicity, social nature, and sheer fun, making it a perfect match for Powerleague’s dynamic, community-focused venues.

“We’re committed to making the sport more accessible and saw a great opportunity to bring padel to more locations across the UK, including Scotland. It’s exciting to see the sport grow and reach new communities.”

Places

Soul Padel and Loughborough Uni bring padel to campus

Loughborough University has partnered with Soul Padel to deliver two padel courts on campus. The courts – installed on the University’s Ball Park – will be operated by Soul Padel, in partnership with Loughborough Sport, for an initial period of six months.

Liv Murphy, Acting Director of Sport at Loughborough University said: “These courts will not only enhance our already enviable sporting offer but also underpin our commitment to creating a vibrant and active environment for all.”

Mark Hewlett, founder and CEO of Soul Padel, said: “This is a hugely exciting moment for Soul Padel. Loughborough University is a world leader in sport, and its campus is a place where people come to play, learn, and excel.

“We’re thrilled to be adding padel to their mix, ensuring it becomes part of this incredible sporting ecosystem. Our mission has always been to make padel more accessible, and by partnering with Loughborough University, we’re creating opportunities for everyone – from elite athletes to complete beginners – to experience the joy of this dynamic and social game.”

Historic Belfast Boat Club embraces the future with padel

Established in 1876, Belfast Boat Club (BBC) has a proud heritage of sporting tradition. By 1907, the club had added eight grass tennis courts, and in 1913, it became affiliated with the Irish Lawn Tennis Association, reinforcing its role in the development of tennis in Ireland.

In keeping with its progressive outlook, BBC recognised the rapid rise of padel. In January 2023, the club approached SAPCA member Rocklyn to explore the integration of padel into its range of sporting facilities.

Following in-depth discussions, BBC made the strategic decision to redevelop Court 1, transforming it into a dedicated padel zone featuring three courts, including two with canopy coverage. The redevelopment included surface removal, drainage upgrades, spot piling and tarmac installation. The practical and cost-effective solution enabled the use of self-supporting Club10 courts, removing the need for a traditional concrete ring beam.

The padel courts mirror the high specifications used throughout Belfast Boat Club. While the upfront cost is slightly above standard court builds, this is offset by reduced groundwork requirements and superior visual appeal.

Since opening, the facility has quickly reached full occupancy, demonstrating both the quality of the installation and the growing demand for padel within the club and wider community.

Padel canopy allows play whether rain or shine

The Pollen Club, located in the heart of Manchester’s vibrant Deansgate district, is an example of how city-centre padel facilities can provide light-filled playing experiences even on sites where space is at a premium.

On a site surrounded by high rise buildings and right next to the city’s Harvey Nichols store, SAPCA member Fordingbridge created a vast 48m x 12m padel court canopy for the club’s two new padel courts. Covered in Fordingbridge’s unique Opal 60 fabric, the canopy creates an all-weather solution, shielding players not only from the city’s notorious rain but also from winds and UV rays.

Standing at 6m tall the new barrel-vaulted canopy sits seamlessly in its glamorous city-centre surroundings and creates an airy, bright playing environment – perfectly fitting the club’s plans to open into the evenings through the summer.

Portico Sport begins work on second phase of The Padel Club Trafford City

SAPCA member, Portico Sport UK, continues to grow its presence in the UK padel market and has worked on a number of facility projects recently – including at Tipton Sports Academy and Barnsley Sports Club, as well as Heron Tennis.

One of the most ambitious projects currently underway is the second phase of The Padel Club TraffordCity, which is set to become the largest purpose-built padel complex in the UK. The landmark facility will feature custom-built courts and high-performance canopies to ensure year-round playability. Meanwhile, at the iconic The Queen’s Club in Nottingham, Portico Sport UK has implemented an innovative technical solution – the Elevated Platform – specifically designed to enable the installation of courts in spaces previously deemed unviable.

The company’s commitment to quality and innovation was recognised earlier this year at the SAPCA Awards. The company’s work on the Club de Padel project in Manchester was picked as a finalist for the SAPCA Award for “Small Sports or Play Project of the Year”.

Acenta Group and Padel Sports 100 sign deal for 50 padel courts

Acenta Group has signed a letter of intent with the Irish company, Padel Sports 100, regarding sale and installation of at least 50 padel courts. The delivery is planned to take place over a period of 12-15 months and the courts are intended to be provided through a lease arrangement with a term of five years. During the lease period, Acenta Group will receive a small fee per booking.

The deal is part of Padel 100’s ambitious plans for the Irish padel market. The company recently secured ¤5 million in funding to open 100 padel courts in Ireland. The funding marks an aggressive step for the growth of padel in Ireland, with the ambition to make the sport accessible across the country.

Padel 100 was founded by Ben Keohane and Ryan Hennessy and is backed by a consortium of investors with backgrounds in both business and sport. Construction of the first courts is expected to begin in summer 2025 with confirmed sites in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway, Clare, Waterford and Wexford as part of phase one. Additional courts are planned in suburban and regional areas in 2025 and beyond.

Ben Keohane, founder of Padel 100, said: “A potential partnership with Acenta Group, together with our own investor network, offers not only a stable financial foundation but also operational expertise in delivering infrastructure on a larger scale. Acenta Group’s listing on the Swedish stock market adds international momentum and a shared vision for the sustainable and accessible development of padel sports. We look forward to continuing discussions and hopefully establishing a long-term partnership.”