SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The opening dates of padel courts in West Sacramento is set for December, but weather could play a part in further delay.
Park Padel, a San Francisco-based company, is planning to open an outdoor facility near the Riverbank sometime this winter. There were plans to open in the fall when the courts were initially announced in September.
Recent rain in the region has slowed the progress a little bit, according to Park Padel CEO and co-founder Jessica Talbert.
“We’re experiencing really crazy rain and weather could have an impact there,” Talbert told ABC10. “We’re hoping to open in December, but it’s possible it might get pushed up.”
The outdoor facility is set to have four courts adjacent to Drake’s: The Barn, an outdoor beer garden on 985 Riverfront Street.
Padel is a racquet sport that combines the elements of tennis and squash and is played on an enclosed court that is roughly the size of a tennis court. It is considered a fast-paced game and is typically played in doubles.
The enclosed court usually includes turf as the playing surface and tempered glass for the walls.
“Once the ball hits the ground and hits the wall, it gives you an opportunity to keep playing,” Talbert said.
Park Padel is slated to be the latest addition to the Bridge District, which is home to multiple apartment buildings, Franquette — a French-inspired wine bar and café — and Drake’s.
The padel courts’ location will be walking distance from Sutter Health Park, which is set to host the Athletics and Sacramento River Cats for at least the next three years.
The company planned on building a facility in West Sacramento prior to the announcement of the A’s temporary move to West Sacramento.
Park Padel has other locations in downtown San Francisco and South San Francisco. Talbert said the success from those locations have come from coaches teaching the game and offering lessons, clinics and socials.
“Our job mainly is providing an excellent place for people to play the sport of padel,” Talbert said. “It’s also about introducing that sport to people.”
Padel originated in Acapulco, Mexico in 1969 and spread in popularity through Spanish-speaking countries. Padel is one of the fastest-rising sports in the world with nearly 30 million amateur players worldwide, according to the International Padel Federation.
More than 59% of padel players are in Europe, followed by 23% in South American and 7% in Central and North America.
Memberships of Park Padel’s West Sacramento location are currently available online. The court will also be available to be booked on an hourly basis for non-members. Click here for more information on pricing.
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