Spring Forum delivers positive messages on AI and sustainability progress
Over 70 delegates registered for the Spring event sponsored by Pinsent Masons, representing operators, suppliers and organisations involved in tennis, padel and pickleball. Its main theme was to highlight the challenges and progress around sustainability, but also included sessions on the impact of AI in sport and the benefits of creating a volunteer workforce.
Richard Shaw (Chief Executive) and Colin Corline (Technical Lead) at SAPCA spoke about the importance of delivering quality standards in sports construction, particularly relevant to support the rapid growth of padel and how SAPCA is helping ensure the industry works to the highest standards
Bella Phillips, Associate at Pinsent Masons outlined the opportunities created from the growth in technology but also the new set of challenges for people in charge of sport of harnessing Artificial Intelligence and how to keep abreast of rapid AI global expansion
Tom Vinall, General Manager of the Atlantic Racquet Centre highlighted how his club had identified, developed and retained a strong and effective volunteer workforce and provided some top tips for tennis and padel operators to enhance their own operations
Owen James, England Golf Sustainability Manager, looked at some of the similarities between golf and tennis clubs in the area of sustainability, the need for diversification of the sporting offer and how England Golf is supporting its clubs to help grow the sport
David Burditt lead of the sustainability drive at the Roehampton Club described how the club has developed a practical long-term plan and the benefits that had already been achieved, with the vital support and commitment of its members
A Sustainability Panel, chaired by Iain Lancaster of the LTA, including Louise Price of Price of Bath, Owen James, David Burditt, Richard Shaw and Désirée Fields of Pinsent Masons, outlined some key sustainability challenges but also highlighted successes within sport and tennis and how we can all play a part in convincing others that business and sustainability can work hand in hand
Slides from the presentations can be viewed on the TIA website
TIA welcomes Tennis Volunteer Community
TVC, the independent network for volunteers working in tennis, is a new Affiliate Member of TIA. Established in 2021, TVC has 2700 members on its Facebook platform and connects with 5500 volunteers across GB via email and its website
For details on how to participate in TVC contact Simon Spalter, TVC Founder at tennis@eceltd.co.uk
Oxygen Consulting produces UK Padel Report and becomes newest TIA member
Oxygen Consulting, led by Ray Algar, is a strategic consultancy based in Brighton, UK. For 20 years, it has been dedicated to providing insightful analysis and actionable intelligence in the global sports, health, and fitness industries. By blending original consumer insights with rigorous market analysis and presenting them through compelling storytelling and thought-provoking reports, the company aims to drive strategic change and contribute to a more active and healthier world.
The UK Padel Report, published by Oxygen Consulting, presents the first independent analysis of this fast-growing racket sport. The 96-page report examines participation trends, maps court infrastructure across the UK, analyses pricing structures, and considers how padel can be made more inclusive and accessible.
The report is authored by Ray Algar, a UK-based sports analyst with over 20 years of experience investigating trends across the sport, health and fitness industries. It was launched at Savills in London and attended by more than 90 senior leaders from sport, leisure and property sectors. The event generated national discussion about how to scale padel in a way that is inclusive and socially impactful.
Key findings include:
- Court growth: The number of UK padel courts has grown from fewer than 40 in 2016 to 710 by the end of 2024. This equates to a compound annual growth rate of 43%.
- Access gap: 18% of venues are located in England’s most affluent areas, compared with just 3% in the most deprived. This reveals a 6.5 to 1 disparity in access.
- Infrastructure trend: Operators are increasingly selecting and investing in covered and indoor courts to enable year-round play and commercial resilience in the UK climate.
- Pricing variation: Peak-hour court prices range widely, from under £20 to over £80, reflecting the absence of a consistent or standardised pricing model.
- Motivations for play: Players cite enjoyment, skill development (competence) and fitness as the main reasons for playing padel.
The report contains no advertising and is available for immediate download. Price: £250, plus VAT.
TIA Summer Social and AGM
Our 2025 Summer Social and Annual General Meeting will take place at the LTA’s National Tennis Centre in Roehampton on Thursday July 3rd. All TIA members have been invited to attend and each member can send 2 representatives.
The AGM will take place at 11.00 followed by a talk from an LTA Executive (to be confirmed). A buffet lunch will be served at around 12.30 and members can access the LTA’s Padel courts or alternatively there is an opportunity to watch some tennis at the Lexus British Open being played at the NTC.
Members wishing to attend The Championships after lunch can do so through the LTA’s generous annual allocation of ground passes for TIA members. These passes are only available to members attending the AGM and have been pre-allocated.
Papers for the AGM will be circulated to members shortly
2024 LTA Finance and Governance Report highlights a strong year of achievements
The report shows that the LTA had another strong year for tennis participation and performance success delivered alongside stable financial results.
The year saw the ITF rank Great Britain number one in the world for adult tennis participation per capita. Meanwhile eleven different British players featured in the top 100 in 2024, the largest number since 1978. More details of the year are covered below.
Outside of participation and performance the LTA has also maintained a stable financial position.
In 2024, once return on investments and tax had been taken into account the LTA Group recorded a loss for the year of £4.5m – this loss was entirely driven by the grants given by LTA Tennis Foundation to facilities and other charities. This included investment into the Parks Tennis Project of £5.8m in the year. LTA Operations was able to make a £2.4m donation to LTA Tennis Foundation to support this work.
Summary curtesy of LTA – 21st May
USTA unveils $800 million overhaul of US Open’s Arthur Ashe Stadium
The project is an $800 million investment in the US Open and the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center that is entirely self-funded by the USTA, with New York City continuing to benefit from more than $1.2 billion in annual economic impact due to the three weeks of the US Open.
The transformation will take shape over three phases and be completed by the 2027 US Open, without interrupting play or fan access for the 2025-26 events. The enhancements include:
- A brand-new, visually striking Grand Entrance
- A 40% increase to the promenade-level concourse, adding significantly more open space for fans at the promenade and loge levels.
- Completely modernised concourses, with all-newly designed retail experiences and food and beverage spaces.
- Significantly increased access to restrooms on all concourses, and more escalators and elevators to all levels.
- An upward extension of the courtside-level bowl with 2,000 new seats, expanding the courtside experience from 3,000 to 5,000 seats.
- All-new club and restaurant areas, with enhanced dining options and premium hospitality spaces.
- Two new dedicated luxury suite levels.
$250-Million Player Performance Center will also be built to provide state of the art player support. The two-story, state-of-the-art facility will be built on the top two floors of a four-floor building on the west side of Arthur Ashe Stadium, adjacent to the practice courts.
Article curtesy of United States Tennis Association – May 19th
Padel and Pickleball News
Padel construction standards
SAPCA has produced the 4th edition of the Code of Practice for the construction of Padel courts
In conjunction with the LTA, SAPCA has produced this document to provide prospective clients, designers and specifiers with guidance on the basic construction requirements and specifications currently employed in building padel courts. The standards outlined throughout the document have been recognised and supported as the minimum level for the construction of padel courts in the UK.
Read SAPCA’s Codes of Practice
Padel continues drive to repurpose underused facilities
Swansea – an investment firm has lodged plans for padel courts at a prominent former glass site in Swansea. Swansea.com is behind the proposals for the siting of two temporary padel courts for a period of two years at the old Pilkington site, Quay Parade, Waterfront.
Bury – applicants Love Padel is applying to covert a caravan storage facility into a five-court padel club and cafe
Padium to open its second UK club in Cardiff Bay
Construction has begun on Padium’s second UK padel club at another capital city. Having opened one of London’s most spectacular padel clubs in September 2023 in the shadow of Canary Wharf’s skyscrapers, Padium is now taking its premium facilities to Cardiff.
The new 35,000-square-foot club in Cardiff Bay Retail Park will feature eight indoor courts, making it the largest padel venue in Wales. The new venue will feature state-of-the-art courts, a cafe/bar, pro shop, co-working space, players’ lounge, luxury changing facilities and a spa with a sauna and plunge pools.
Article curtesy of The Padel Paper
PadelStars to open 10-court club at Surrey Sports Park
A premium 10-court covered padel facility is set to open next year at the University of Surrey’s Surrey Sports Park, subject to planning permission. The venue will be the biggest in the UK’s Higher Education sector and will be part of the operators PadelStars estate of facilities.
PadelStars opened their first club in Reading just over a year ago and now have facilities in Bracknell, Southampton, Bournemouth, St Albans, Chigwell, Folkestone, Basildon and Egham. The Surrey Sports Park club will be the first of its kind in the Guildford area, and will feature a large clubhouse, cafe, bar, extensive social area and retail offering. It will be the largest padel centre in Surrey.