Move over pickleball: "Flagship" padel facility to open in Tempe
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A rendering of Conquer Padel's Tempe location. Photo: Courtesy of Conquer Padel
A group of racquet sport enthusiasts thinks a newly popular international game called padel can draw the same kind of fandom as its American cousin pickleball — and Tempe will be the first place to test the vision.
Why it matters: Padel — like a cross between racquetball and tennis — is played by more than 25 million people globally and is especially popular in Spain and Argentina. But there are fewer than 500 courts in the U.S.
- Unlike pickleball, which can be easily played on re-lined tennis courts, padel requires specialty courts.
The big picture: Conquer Padel launched the first U.S. padel-exclusive franchise Monday in hopes of making the sport a cornerstone of American athletics culture, the company said in a news release.
- Conquer Padel already operates six clubs in Mexico, where the sport originated in 1969.
- The flagship U.S. location in Tempe is expected to open this summer, followed by clubs in Phoenix, Atlanta, Salt Lake City and Los Angeles.
Zoom in: The Tempe club, located at Priest Drive and Elliot Road, will have five indoor courts for open play, tournaments, clinics and more.
- It will also have elevated amenities like cold plunges, saunas and a juice bar, per the company.
What they're saying: "We chose Tempe as our first location because of its vibrant sports culture, strong demographic fit and high demand for innovative recreational spaces," co-founder Tom Konkowski told Axios in a statement.
How it works: Padel is played with a slightly deflated tennis-like ball and perforated paddles on a shrunken tennis court enclosed within glass walls.
- Padel is more physically demanding than pickleball, the fastest-growing sport in the U.S.
What we're watching: PURE Pickleball & Padel, which is expected to be the world's largest indoor pickleball facility when it opens in Scottsdale next year, will have two padel courts.
- Co-founder Kevin Berk told us that if the sport's popularity increases, PURE can convert more pickleball courts to meet the demand.