The unification of Premier Padel and the World Padel Tour seems to have left the world’s third biggest circuit, A1 Padel, behind. But founder Fabrice Pastor remains bullish about his creation’s future – and believes the burgeoning US padel market is his secret weapon.
A1 Padel, featuring 1,200 players, is currently over halfway through its 2023 schedule of tournaments in 18 cities, 13 countries and across four continents.
On October 9, for the first time, A1 Padel will hold a tournament in the USA – at the 4,000-capacity Wollman Rink in New York’s world-famous Central Park, no less! In November, there will also be an event in Miami. Three are already planned for the States as part of the 2024 calendar.
These developments are a direct result of A1 Padel’s partnership with Yankee Global Enterprises (YGE), owners of the world-famous New York Yankees. In March, YGE bought a stake in A1 Padel with a promise to fuel the growth of the sport Stateside – and the A1 Padel tour in particular.
Announcing the New York event, NY Yankees president Randy Lavine said: “We would not put our brand and our name [to this project] if we did not trust that it makes perfect sense.
“Fabrice has achieved success all over the world. We’ve done this before with NY City FC, who also own Manchester City. We are excited because we see it as a tremendous opportunity to quickly engage in a growing sport.
“As the sport of padel continues to increase in popularity, a tournament between the best players at the iconic Wollman court in downtown New York City will further captivate audiences and expand their presence.”
A1 Padel was founded in 2020 by Pastor under the name APT Tour, changing identity to A1 Padel in January this year.
Pastor this week told Spanish newspaper Marca that the New York tournament carries “an overwhelming cost” and that return on investment would not be immediate, but that A1 Padel and the Yankees are investing for the long term.
He said: “We are reaching agreements with very important brands in the country to help us in the different states. I think in two years there will be about 10,000-15,000 courts across the country [but] right now there are about 200.
“When the United States starts the machinery, they double us in speed, and they see that in Europe padel has grown exponentially. Levine [president of the Yankees] said it very clearly, that he wanted the centre of padel in the country to be us [A1 Padel].
“Many will say to me, ‘Hey Fabrice, if tomorrow you create a tournament in Las Vegas they will play very little.’ I tell them of course, but if we don’t believe it at some point, it will never happen and players who want to be professionals will never get there. The banner of conquering countries and opening continents will be A1 Padel.”
Pastor was asked whether he thought A1 Padel had been ignored in the recent furore between Qatari-owned Premier Padel and the World Padel Tour.
“Not only has it been ignored but everything possible has been done to drown it,” he said. “This is because we are a threat, [but] we are simply not going to stop growing.
“I think that in six years we will be bigger than tennis. If someone wants to get on board, perfect, we sit and see the way. Don’t want to? I don’t care, I don’t even know what happens at the other circuit.”
The emerging market of the US is key to Pastor’s confidence. He added: “We are excited to bring A1 Padel to the United States, and there is no better place to start than New York City. Our mission is to promote padel as a sport that exemplifies true competition and builds a strong sense of community among sports enthusiasts. The best players in the world will show their level to the American public.”
