1. PADEL IN SCOTLAND
Madrid, December 2016

2. Padel Scotland Ltd and Padel Tech Ltd
Who we are?
Scottish Padel – growth and history
Sports governing bodies in the UK
Barriers to growth of padel in the UK
Padel Scotland Ltd – Solutions
Thistle Padel Club – showcasing Adidas padel
2017 onwards – Thistle and Scottish padel
Questions ?

3. Peter Gordon BSc MRICS A padel enthusiast
Chartered Quantity Surveyor with 18 years construction & development experience
Worked for the LTA and Tennis Scotland in tennis development for 13 years
Qualified tennis coach and official
Moved to sportscotland in 2015 as part of the facility team
Director and founder of the Scottish Padel Federation
Managing Director of Padel Scotland Ltd
Investor in Padel Tech Ltd – UK and Ireland official Redsport Distributor / Installer

4. Scottish Padel
Summer First Club built in Edinburgh at Edinburgh Sports Club (ESC)
Summer A second club opened near Stirling. Part funded by sportscotland
Winter 2015 – Scottish Padel Federation formed by clubs.
Spring 2016 – A second club opens in Edinburgh at Hatton
Summer 2016 – Scotland’s first indoor club opens with 3 courts in West Scotland
Autumn 2016 – ESC adds a second court and gets permission for a cover
Winter 2016 – Thistle Padel club opens. 2 courts. Adidas club
Spring 2017 – more courts planned in Glasgow, Fife, West Lothian

5. Total Clubs and Courts in Scotland
YEAR
CLUBS
COURTS
2013 1
2014
2015 2
2016 5 9

6. Sports Governing Bodies in the UK
UK Sport – parent body for the UK
Sport England, Sport Wales, sportscotland and Sport Northern Ireland
Detailed recognition process for the UK and each Home Country
British Padel is working towards recognition as the UK governing body
Scottish Padel Federation working towards Scottish governing body status
A two year process with membership criteria and other conditions
Benefits could include local authority support and funding, raised profile for the sport, greater access to school sport, increased sponsorship opportunities, more players, more clubs, more padel

7. Growing Padel in Scotland and UK
Barriers
Land
Funding
Knowledge
Credibility
Weather
Court management
Promotion, marketing and programming

8. Growing Padel in Scotland and UK
Opportunties
Land – relatively small. Convert existing facilities or add alongside
Funding – introduce commercial funding
Knowledge – padel experts
Credibility – governing body, peer group, popular interest. Strong identity
Weather – canopy covers. Grow sport to sustain indoor venues
Court management – volunteer or unmanned sites
Promotion, marketing and programming

9. Padel Scotland Ltd - Solution
A company set up by two sports professionals who love padel
Spent a year talking to padel people in Spain and the UK
Offering a complete package for a venue to develop padel
Including funding where appropriate based on site potential
Sourced an online remote access system to allow booking, payment and access
Identified a number of sites towards end of 2015
Agreed a development at Thistle Tennis Club in Edinburgh

10. Thistle Padel Club – Timeline
January 2016 – Site identified for two courts
May 2016 – met with club committee and agreed outline terms
June 2016 – applied for planning permission for two floodlit courts
August 2016 – received permission
October 2016 – agreed detailed terms with the club
October 2016 – select Padel Tech and Redsport / Adidas Padel as supply team
November 2016 – construction started
December 2016 – courts complete and ready for play

11. Thistle Padel Club 1 panoramic Adidas court / 1 posted Redsport court
Porous macadam base with monofilament grass. Playrite
Two options, lights, nets to offer as a show site
Colour scheme to reflect Thistle emblem
Gate access system by SportLab
(LTA and Tennis Australia preferred supplier)
Landscape design to pick up Adidas branding

12. Thistle - Adidas Padel

13. Thistle – Club Colour Scheme

14. Thistle Padel Club - 2017 Member and non- member access
Member benefits
Website by Adidas with online shop
Coaching programme with Angel Benito Castaño from Madrid
Marketing to tennis and squash club players
Promote to Edinburgh’s Spanish community – Espagnoles en Edimburgo
Developing a new padel coaching programme, X-Padel
Links to school and university clubs

15. Scottish Padel – 2017 onwards
Adidas is a very strong brand in the UK and we can use this to raise awareness of padel and build interest and credibility for the sport.
Thistle will be a model for other venues to follow
Three new clubs
Covered courts using canopies by Vega
Potential for sportscotland funded projects
Inter club league competitions
Scottish Open and Scottish Cup events
Scottish governing body status

16. PADEL IN SCOTLAND
Questions ??