The new racquet sport of Padel has been taking the world by storm and now the biggest and most sustainable Padel facility in the North of England is set to arrive in Greater Manchester after plans were approved by the local council. Situated at TraffordCity, the approval by Trafford Council marks a significant milestone for The Padel Club as it kickstarts the club’s expansion plans and allows more people to try the sport out for themselves.
The Padel Club was established in Summer 2022 with two purpose-built courts located in Wilmslow, Cheshire, however the new hub at the 1.5-acre development within TraffordCity will be its first site in Greater Manchester and will be join other padel clubs in the region like Club de Padel and Manchester Padel Club. The new Padel Club facility will be neighbours to other future developments including surfing lagoon Modern Surf, wellbeing resort Therme Manchester and a ice rink Planet Ice next to the Chill Factore and iFLY.
The TraffordCity Padel Club facility will have 11 purpose-built and high specification courts of which; nine will be covered courts and two will be open air courts. The onsite clubhouse will serve as a hub for relaxation and socialising, offering retail spaces, dining options, and shower facilities. The approved plans also include a dedicated fitness and conditioning area, providing future players and members opportunities to improve their fitness levels and enhance their on-court performance.
Developers say “sustainability has been considered within every detail of The Padel Club at TraffordCity” with the new facility benefitting from enhanced landscaping, insect housing, bird boxes and more space for ecology. Members and visitors of The Padel Club in TraffordCity will also benefit from dedicated onsite EV charging points, allowing them to plug in whilst they play.
Kristopher Ball, Founder and CEO at the Padel Club, said: “We are incredibly excited to expand our Padel Club to the vibrant grounds of TraffordCity. This new facility marks a pivotal moment for us, and we look forward to welcoming both seasoned players and newcomers to experience the joy of Padel in this world-class destination.”
Padel was invented in Mexico in the late 1960s and is described as a fun, fast-paced and addictive mash-up of tennis and squash, and almost always played in doubles. The sport has exploded across Europe in recent years, with the likes of Andy Murray, David Beckham and Serena Williams all professing their love for it.
Original investors in The Padel Club include the likes of sports commentator and former England cricket captain Michael Vaughan, cricketer captain for The Manchester Originals team for The Hundred Jos Buttler and former Premier League footballer Shay Given.
Michael Vaughan said: “This is going to be fantastic. I’m delighted to be involved with The Padel Club and so pleased that TraffordCity has been given the go ahead. I can’t wait for the Padel community to grow. In my humble opinion, Padel is the best sport that incorporates all abilities, all ages and is so much fun!”
Shay Given said: “This is such great news for the Club, who have worked hard to build a very sociable and successful Padel Club in Wilmslow. I love to play Padel – when I get chance! It’s such an accessible and enjoyable sport, that everyone can play. We are looking forward to the Club expanding to TraffordCity!”
Aimee Fuller, Olympic Snowboarder and BBC Sport Ski Sunday presenter, added: “Padel is such an accessible sport and so much fun to play, it will be a brilliant addition to the mix of sports and leisure venues currently at TraffordCity. When I’m in Manchester I love to play at The Padel Club and now with this new club set to be located next to the UK’s longest indoor ski slope; it will be ace to be able to snowboard and combine a game of Padel afterwards.”
With a build cost of around £2.5million, construction of The Padel Club at TraffordCity will take place over Summer 2024 and is expected to be open by the end of 2024. Find out more about the club here.