Austin Carney, the managing director overseeing Soccarena complex and New Ferens Park in Belmont, on the outskirts of Durham UK, has demonstrated a proactive approach in adapting the 74,000-sq ft venue to align with evolving leisure preferences.
Before the onset of the Covid crisis, Carney transformed half of the original football-centric venue into a versatile multi-activity park, introducing the Infinite Air extreme trampoline attraction.
Now, the remaining 38,000-sq ft is poised to house the North-East’s inaugural dedicated indoor facility for the rapidly growing global sport of padel, also known as padel tennis.
Distinctive for blending elements of tennis and squash, padel tennis is played in doubles format on a court that is one-third the size of a traditional tennis court.
Anticipated to launch in early to mid-January, the new facility will operate under the banner of True Padel.
It will feature nine indoor padel courts, including two showcase courts, modernised shower and changing facilities, a heated sports room/café equipped with Sky Sports TV, a reception area, a retail shop offering the latest padel gear, and a private parking area.
The operation will be managed by True Padel Ltd, with Carney functioning effectively as the “landlord.”
Carney expressed optimism about the future of padel tennis, citing its popularity in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, and the support it receives from the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA).
He explained, “It looks like padel tennis is going to be the next boom sport, although it’s already popular in Europe, Asia, and the Middle-East and its development here is backed by the LTA.”
The initiative to introduce padel tennis to the region stemmed from True Padel, and Alex Carr, the operations manager for True Padel, shared insights into the group’s journey.
Carr stated, “We are a group of close family and friends who all took different career paths. These career paths resulted in us living in countries like Switzerland and Abu Dhabi.”
During their time abroad, the group observed the exponential growth of Padel Tennis globally and actively participated in the sport.
Carr highlighted their addiction to the game and their shared realisation that Padel Tennis was the fastest-growing sport globally.
He explained, “What started as an idea quickly became reality, and we are all excited about growing and developing the sport in the North-East of England.”
In a report released in late June, financial analysts Deloitte emphasised the burgeoning potential markets in the padel industry, projecting a worldwide increase in padel courts from the current 40,000 to 85,000 by 2026.
The report also highlighted the padel sector’s approximate valuation of 2,000 million Euros, further underscoring the sport’s rapid growth and economic significance.
