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Hey Padel enthusiasts welcome to Padel Smash Academy, I am Cesc and I am here with Julian and we're all about Padel! Whether you're new to the sport or an experienced player, you've come to the right place. Our goal is to provide you with the best tips & tricks, news, and weekly lessons to help you improve your game and take your Padel to the next level. So grab your Padel Racket and let's get started with all things Padel on Padel Smash Academy.
Hey, Cesc here, and today we have
some amazing architects that design
paddle clubs, yes, paddle clubs.
Welcome, Teresa and Jerry.
Thank you for having us.
Of course, of course.
We're very excited, too.
Of course, of course.
Why don't you tell me a little
bit about yourself and how you
got into designing paddle clubs.
That's a good question.
So we're from Argentina.
I grew up, um, you know,
I grew up playing paddle.
When I was in my 20s.
It was in the 90s.
Um, I was, you know, I was
studying architectural, but in
the same time I was playing padel.
I love it.
So it was a problem because I have
to stop my career for two years
playing padel because it was just,
we, we all get crazy about it.
Yeah.
Now was paddle your first racquet sport?
Not really.
I started playing field hockey
because the ladies play field
hockey and the guys play rugby.
Okay.
And I play a little bit of tennis.
But when Padel come, come in, they,
they came more than a club, they, we
have like a bar, restaurant, and they
have the, the Padel around, so it's kind
of a social event, everybody was going
and watch, and we start playing kind
of for fun, and we get so addictive.
So I stopped my career for
two years playing, um, Fidel.
Oh my god, wow.
And it was, everybody was crazy.
Everybody's coming to watch
because it was so exciting.
But it was so different because we have,
we have hardcore, you know, it was,
uh, Hard court and wall in the back.
So it was not that visual like right now.
So was the wall concrete or was it wood?
It was concrete, the floor
and the walls concrete.
And the paddle was the same
like platform tennis here.
The paddle was thin, out of wood.
So everything start changing.
But when I start, even though it was hard
court, excited than now, we get know how
people are going state because when I mov
didn't have any padel hea tennis again.
I love tenn padel is just,
it's a gam beautiful game.
Jerry, ho did you first start
playi I think we, you know, you
And your friends were saying,
did you guys meet playing paddle?
And I said, I don't think so.
I think we were playing other sports.
But, uh, but we actually, I
think, oh, it was because when I
proposed to you, they were saying
I went to pick On a paddle court?
No, they said I went to pick her up,
and she was playing paddle that day.
That's right.
And they said, oh, Jerry proposed to you
on a paddle court or something like that.
No, no, but I don't remember exactly.
That's funny, but um Yeah, it was, it was,
you know, when, when, when we were young
in Argentina, it was kind of like, it was
everywhere in the nineties in Argentina.
It was pretty much everywhere.
I would just, sometimes I would go
work and I would stop by, have a
coffee at a, at a Padel place or,
or have breakfast at a Padel place.
And I would kind of like, I just play
for an hour with, just with my work
clothes, and then go back to work.
But, uh, so I think that the passion
came like from how we grew up.
So, so how, how do you think
that, that kind of boom came
with paddle in the nineties?
Well, what, what caused that?
Do you think that the boom, yeah, the
boom of a paddle growth, um, in the
nineties, I guess, you know, um, tennis
is, is, it was getting challenged,
challenging for people like, uh, on their
thirties or forties, I would say so.
And, uh, And I always relate it because
I, I saw, I see that the age of the
people playing, you know, and, uh,
and Padel was kind of like a sport
that you could play competitive.
Gotcha.
Or, it's less intimidating.
You can actually play a low level
and a high level too, right?
Unlike tennis, where you have to
play, you have coaches and so forth.
Do you think that's
missing here in the USA?
Yes.
Absolutely.
Absolutely.
But to me, it was a kind of social,
like play, you know, friends play,
say, okay, let's go and play.
So, we just go and play for fun,
and it start getting addictive.
So, we start for fun first, like a
social thing, and because people go have
dinner or, you know, coffee, and just,
okay, we're right here, just grab it.
Kind of like Pickleball right now,
here, that was exactly like Padel,
but it was a bar or restaurant around.
It's a little bit more than a club.
It was a social place with coffee or,
you know, in Argentina, everybody, it's
like, you know, in other country that you
go for a coffee in the morning and maybe
we have afternoon coffee before dinner.
So it was a social thing for us and we all
get addicted and it was a social event.
Everybody go and watch it.
So it was kind of like that and
of course we just get crazy.
So that's what I think the clubs
here are looking for, that habit.
You know, saying the habit of
getting the coffee, okay, you
know, it's one o'clock coffee.
The habit of saying, okay, it's
Tuesday, I'm going to go play paddle.
So trying to create that here in
the USA, I mean, that's, that's
what people are working on here.
And I think they're going to get there
because as soon as I'm addicted to it,
as soon as I love it, I'm going there
all the time, you know, it's fun to
watch, it is, yeah, it is entertaining.
It's more entertaining than tennis.
We wanna see the points, the
ball goes out, they go rescue it.
You know, there's an amazing
shot, a great defense.
It's like, wow.
You know, and, and for us to
be an architect and, you know,
I, I play in different part
of the country and we played.
In in different part of the world too.
So we see how they could the club what
the things they are missing What they
think so we apply all our, you know
Architectural knowledge with our sport
knowledge the things that are missing.
That's what it's exactly for me Apply,
you know, whatever I know whatever I
work on and do projects that so let's
talk about that Uh for all the paddle
club owners or soon to be owners.
What do you see?
What things do you see that are missing?
Let's say things that you see in
Europe or South America that they
don't have here in the USA that you
believe can help, you know, create
and promote and, uh, you know, paddle.
When you get into a place, however,
like a restaurant, have a nice place
to sit and watch viewing areas.
Okay.
You know, the viewing areas are the key,
you know, the space between courts and
the space that you can see it and watch.
All the perspective of the
game, that is key to me.
The view and the place that
you can sit and have a drink.
And even you can bring your computer
and have a space that you can work on.
Between the games, sometimes, okay,
I'm playing in the morning and I
have to play three hours later.
Where am I going to work?
When I have a meeting so where I can
go that's happened to me intense a good
wi fi a space where they can work and
watch right and somewhere they can get
a drink a coffee or something to eat the
level of hospitality I think it has to
increase in sports facilities in the U.
S.
because uh instead of people and go and
just play sport and go home or leave I
think it's important that people actually
enjoys being there yeah a lifestyle
yes social You know, you want great
habits, a community, all those things.
I think, I think, 100%.
You know, I think, uh, most club
owners are accustomed to places
like Florida or Texas, where you
open the club and they'll come.
But you open it anywhere else,
it's a lot more difficult.
And you may have to add different
verticals, like the restaurant,
or, or other things to keep
them there, retention, right?
Um, okay, so let's talk about Architect.
How did you When you're going
to school, how did you move over
to, is it all racquet sports or
mainly focused on paddle clubs?
At the moment, we are mostly
focusing on padel and peek a ball.
Okay.
As a, you know, as, as a,
another activity on clubs.
Okay.
Um, most of it because
to bring revenue, right?
Yes.
Um, because, uh, in many places
in the United States, padel is
not, So how important is that?
You know, uh, I think
people overlook that.
How important is that other verticals?
Well, many times investors comes for
pickable because they think that attract
more people and they're probably right
at the moment, but we don't know how
that is going to evolve because there
is so many people clubs at the moment.
That I think it may get to a
point of a probably saturation.
Mm-Hmm.
. And, um, and we think people
that are starts with pickleball,
they can evolve to padel.
So you think there's more potential in,
in revenue when it comes to Pat Battle?
Oh, of course.
Than, than Pickle, right?
Yes.
Yeah.
Because in the end, it's all real estate.
Right?
Right.
It's like, uh, those, how do
you rent your square footage?
Right?
Right.
Either applicable or padel.
Right.
If you do the numbers, Padel is.
It's much better than having pickable.
More money per score.
For sure.
Yeah, for sure.
The thing is, when we design the club,
we say, okay, we will have one or two
padel, so we will have pickable, so
people can go and see the padel courts.
But in the future, we want more
padel, of course, so convert.
So our vision is to convert
later, see what's going on.
Yeah, but as a, as a, you
know, as an sports to see, too.
I think pickleball people, uh, people
that they can enjoy watching Padel, you
know, and, uh, and people that cannot
play padel, they can still go to the club
and another family member can play padel.
I, I think every, every,
everyone can play padel.
It's just a different level.
I think that's why it, but also great.
Somebody comes in, you know, that
has never played any sport Yes.
But wants to exercised and kind of learn.
They can play with that same level.
And it's pretty amazing.
But then you have somebody at the
higher level that really knows all
the shots, playing really well.
Let's say they're physically
perfect, they're young, they're
playing at a high level.
So there's that whole range there.
Everybody can play.
And the good thing is, um, maybe
you get older, but you have a
second chance to hit the ball.
You know, in tennis,
okay, you lose the point.
Here, you have another chance.
So, you know, you can keep playing.
You keep learning and you keep
growing, even you get older, but
you still can, you know, get better.
So that's a great thing.
If you master the walls and know
where it is, you can always meet
it, anticipate and meet it there.
And tennis, once that ball's
passed you, you're done.
You're done.
No, and, and, and it's exciting, the
new technology, how they, so it was,
something happened 30 years ago when I
was playing, but this is a new world.
It's exciting.
This is just all new.
I remember when, um, Sarah Boone,
she's, uh, part of our team, you know.
She owns, um, a racket club in,
in Guilford, Guilford Racket Club.
She told me that, oh, Tom was doing
the first court in Connecticut
in a private house in Greenwich.
So, do you want to come with me?
And I said, of course!
Yeah, yeah.
Let's go!
So, when I went there I saw the new court.
I never see, um, you know, the court with
glass and all the, no, that was four.
That was three years ago in our mind.
Two years ago we were still like, so,
uh, I have a really close friend, the,
um, Gustavo Spector, he's in Italy.
He's, he was the captain
of the Italian team.
They have a, um, like seven club there.
He's an expert.
Yeah.
So I call him and I do a video.
I'm like.
What is this?
And he said, well, that's the new
court, that's the new technology.
So that was new for us.
And I'm like, Oh my God, I started
playing and the ball, when they hit the
wall, when they hit the glass is less
harder with when I was playing before.
So they have more time.
So now the points are
longer than 30 years ago.
So you're saying the concrete,
the bubbles faster than the glass?
Yes.
Than the glass.
So that's a new thing.
So they add that the rackets with the new
technology is way better than before to
prevent injuries and the surface softer.
So, and the glass, that's really good.
The viewing, the people can see it.
Right.
So it's.
10 times better than before.
So everything is, you know,
going up and up and up.
So I'm very excited with it.
That was a game changer at that point,
because being able to put on the TV, you
know, even YouTube, being able to see it,
uh, see all the shots clearly, because
how would you view it prior to that?
You know, you would have to be on stands.
You have to be kind of in the
middle, because it's open, but now
you have, you know, The whole thing.
All right.
So, it's Let's talk
about your organization.
Do you guys have a firm or a company?
We have a firm.
Yes.
We, we do all kind of architecture.
But, uh, at the moment, we're
doing a lot of, uh, football
clubs and sports facilities.
Wow.
Uh, we're actually working in
Florida, in Orlando, and a, and a,
and another like, it's gonna be in
the end like a nine courts facility.
Awesome.
And, uh, and, uh, we're Building
in Brantford, uh, a new club.
So in Brantford, uh, we are investor too.
We have a great team with Tom Hending.
They have Hending company.
So he built, um, tennis court,
paddle courts for 30 years already.
So, and we have great communication
with him and we have a great team.
We try to have the best of the
best in each one of the, you know.
Is this his first paddle club?
Yes.
Yes.
That has been a while.
Yes.
Yes.
That's great.
Yes.
But, uh, yeah, we're really excited.
I think, uh, this is going to
grow exponentially in the U.
S.
Um, well, in Miami, if you go, there's
a lot of clubs already, but I think it's
gonna, you know, it's gonna pick up in the
West Coast and, uh, in many other states.
Something that I find out,
uh, to me is very interesting.
That, um, people in, in, if, I know
there is not much international, you
know, that they know Padel in here, but
a lot of people play Platform Tense.
Yes, yes.
It's so similar.
Very similar, but very different too.
You know, I played it, it is similar
in many ways, but I feel like, you
know, you know, the Platform, people
are gonna not like this, but I feel
that Padel So much superior and better.
But that's what, that's what happened.
People that play platform tennis play
padel and say, Oh, this is way much
better, much better for my knees,
better for the wall, it's so nicer.
So people that play platform
tennis, they love padel.
Right, right.
It is very similar.
Before, when I was looking for padel,
uh, you know, I was driving around
looking and, and I In Farmington,
there's a couple of platform tennis, and
I thought, okay, maybe that's it, I go
over there, and I said, I don't know.
No, I know, I exactly, that was my
feeling when I started playing here.
Right, right.
So, but people who play platform tennis,
you know, in New England, they love Padel.
Yeah, no, I could see that.
So that was a, that was a different thing.
So, so what's the name of the,
the, the firm that you guys have?
Um, our firm is GP Architects.
Okay.
Uh, but the art club that we're
going to open is called smash
smash like paddle smash, right?
No, I know.
Did you kind of get some
inspiration, uh, from paddle
smash or did you not even know?
But it's okay, it's a good thing,
you know, it's good energy.
It's exactly great.
Well, we worked for a long time to
figure out what's the right name for it.
The name is tough, right?
Coming up with a name is a lot harder
than one thinks it is, you know,
because it has to be quick, catchy,
you know, it can't be too difficult.
People have to remember and like
saying it, you know what I'm saying?
So it, this is a little tough.
Okay.
So what made you guys invest
into this, uh, to smash, uh,
uh, paddle pickle club, right?
Yes.
It's challenging.
Well, we, uh, actually we play a lot of
racket sports, you know, almost every day.
We belong to a couple of clubs.
We have a big social network.
Especially Teresa, that is all
around racket sports, tennis.
And, uh, well, we are originally from
Argentina and we came here 20 years ago.
And racket sports for us, it
was just opening the doors.
Oh, 100%.
100%.
So we're a member of different club
here and I play a lot of tennis
and we play platform tennis too.
So we know a lot of people and,
and we love Padel and we really
believe that this is going to grow.
Oh yeah.
I know it's going to be
a little bit challenging.
It's already growing.
It's already hard.
But, I really trust, more for the
economy part, is for what we love.
The passion, I'm the same way.
The passion.
For the last two years.
You know, I know maybe we're not going
to make money the first two years.
I don't really, you
know, it is what it is.
Okay, so let's talk about
that with, with club owners.
Why do you say that?
And, and how do you think, you're
saying 24 months is where you
can get into the, not a return on
investment, but kind of, uh, in, in
the black, let's just say, why is that?
And how are you going
to be able to do that?
Well, we, um, we hired a, a consulting,
uh, person who has got more than 30
years of experience running clubs.
That is Sarah.
You met.
Oh, Sarah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
She's a great person.
But this is paddle.
Yeah, I understand.
I understand.
Correct.
But, uh, we, uh, but she has
experience on, on a club itself.
Yeah.
So we are sort of like adapting her
knowledge and putting things together
for what paddle and pickable will be.
So that's really smart.
And I think the lateral club
owners outside of Florida, St.
Texas, all kind of overlooked because,
um, this person like Sarah or like many
other, um, You know, um, club owners
for many, many years know what the
pitfalls are and what to avoid, you
know, that costs you money and time.
And so they can tell you what
works, what doesn't work, you
know, and it could definitely help.
And they came from a family.
Yeah, they have clubs.
Yeah, we felt like it was, it for
our investors to hire a person
who knows what she's doing.
And she has the passion too.
Exactly.
I could see it.
I felt it.
She's a tennis player and, you
know, and I play tennis with her.
I play in her club.
Sometimes we play together.
She's better than me, but it's fine.
But who's better at padel?
I don't know.
Yeah.
No, that's, that, that
would be a question.
But, um, so, so I know
her for a long time.
I know her passion of this.
Yeah.
You know, the sport and how
passion she put it in her club
and how many members she have.
That is part of the member
that we probably, you know,
we will have some reciprocity.
So, um, so the whole thing, we try to have
the best of the best, you know, like Tom
with his experience in, in clubs, in, you
know, building clubs, you know, courts.
So we try to have every
good on everything.
That's what we try.
And this is gonna reduce your exposure
to, you know, risks like making mistakes,
um, getting to be in the black sooner.
If you didn't have this group, I
mean, you're looking at 24 months,
that's what you're saying roughly.
If you didn't have that, that group,
do you think it would take longer even?
Probably.
I would say, you know, the
network is very important too.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
So, um, so bringing the network
together with the With a nice team.
I think that's probably
a secret for success.
A team that you have people
from different backgrounds that
they can contribute to the team.
And that's what we were
able to create in here.
I saw that.
I saw you had, you know,
a lot of different people.
People that have their different
experiences that can contribute to this,
this club, which is, I think, looks great.
Correct.
Yes.
And now we, investors
are very excited too.
And they, you know, they're,
um, we have squash players.
She's the, um.
The captain, she's the, um, she's
the director of the Yale, um.
Yeah, one of our investors, uh,
Lynn is, uh, she's the manager
for Yale, uh, squash team.
She's the captain of the Yale team.
Okay.
So, but, uh, uh, talking about,
you know, um, uh, sports across
the, you know, the board.
Uh, I think in the end, you
know, Padel is going to grow
as going to colleges, you know.
That's what we're hoping for.
There's one in California already.
Yes.
And we're hoping that
it's going to spread.
Yes, yes, yes.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
I was I read somewhere that
there's one in California.
Um, I don't know which university,
but I'll get back to on that and let
you know, but there is one there.
So I think if it gets into the schools,
right, and this is where we can work with
the youth, right, then, then they can,
it can grow and people be like, okay,
well, maybe there's scholarships for I'm
going to talk about, you know, a couple of
decades forward, you know what I'm saying?
Not, not tomorrow, but I mean,
it is, I definitely do see it.
I mean, you're saying 24
months for club owners.
Um, maybe, maybe sooner,
but we need to be safe.
You know, now you talked about network
and I think that's also really big.
Um, having a network of
hundreds or thousands of
people that you can obviously.
Mark it too and say, hey, come down
and, and, you know, try playing
paddle and hopefully they, they,
they love it and they'll come back.
But what other way, because
you're, you're going into an area
that nobody knows paddle, right?
It's a very small minority.
How do you, how do you, how do you get
them to really, uh, see what it is and
get them excited to come, come down?
Besides the network, because I think
network's really important, really,
but that's going to be very helpful.
But, you know, there's a lot
more people out in Connecticut or
within, let's say a 30 mile radius.
Yeah, I think we are well We have
a demographics in areas that we are
building That there is already a market
for people that plays racquet sports
And uh, and it did grow with pickable I
have to say but you're pulling them from
the same market You're pulling them.
They're already playing tennis.
They're yes, you're trying
to pull them to there.
So You Maybe that's a network,
but how about people that are not
going to the rest of the people?
How are we, you going to show them what
what we already know is one of the best
sports ever and get 'em into the club?
Yeah.
That's, that's a, that's
a challenge I would say.
I think I, I see that with
a lot of clothes, you know?
I see.
That is the challenge.
Yes.
But I think once you do, once they see
that, that's when you get that, that
rush, you're gonna see all those court.
It's booked for sure, but one of the thing
we want to use as maybe the restaurant,
the bar, you know, that could be a way
to attract because we were, we've been
talking with people that may be going
to run the restaurant and the bar.
They already have their own network in
New Haven, so they can bring people also.
Right.
Yeah.
We are manager is already, you know,
we already have higher manager,
even though we don't have the clout.
Finished.
But he's already working
on corporate events.
That's great.
It's very smart.
Because, uh, you know, we think that
we can, uh, partner with companies
or, you know, they can be, we can
offer different type of events
for them, you know, for employees.
They can gather at the club and they can
have like a night that they can socialize.
Maybe free, free, free time to play.
Definitely.
In your dead zones.
Oh, of course.
Yeah.
I mean, you know, market, um, sign up.
You get information more, more,
more, uh, more leads that you have
and they can come in and try it out.
I think people just need to try it
out first and see how much fun and,
you know, They're just like, I gotta
bring my friends, you gotta come,
you gotta come and play, you know.
When we put a portable court in
Sara Club last year, almost at
the, you know, it was kind of cold.
People say, oh, I don't
want to add another sport.
So when they start playing,
oh, this is so much fun.
Oh, maybe, let me think about it because
I'm getting older playing platform tennis
and this one is so nicer for my body.
So, just, we have to figure
out the way that it is.
Okay, come, come once.
Just, just feel it.
And you tell me after.
So we need to just bring our friends.
You know, and people that we know and
they play sport and they say, Oh no,
I don't want to add another sport.
I hear that all the time.
So, okay, just try it.
Don't add if you don't
want to just try it.
I'm like, Oh, this is pretty good.
Oh, I like it.
So, so you don't have
to play, um, every day.
If you come the first time or two
times, you already find the rhythm,
find something that you like it.
So I think you don't have to, you know,
tennis, You have to play for a year
maybe to start to find the rhythm.
This one now.
If you have a racket sport before, maybe
you're going to play as a tennis player.
But you find some kind of a, you know, you
like it when you start one or two times.
So that's my feeling.
So I'm really excited that we have
Smash opening up in Brantford.
When do you think that's going to open?
December.
December.
Yes.
For sure?
That's the goal.
That's the goal.
But we start from scratch.
December 2025.
24.
24.
24.
Oh man, you guys are vicious.
So the thing is we start from scratch.
You know, some club you're looking
for like a warehouse because we're an
architect, we want to design from scratch.
Yeah.
So we have a chance now
to do that from scratch.
Well, not only that, it was, we
have looked for warehouses and
none of them had the right height.
They're all the same, you know, like 20
feet or less, you know, it's like, yeah,
well, there are a lot of them are like 15.
So, so, you know, as architects,
couldn't you look at that and see
how we can then raise the rooftop?
Because now, as designers and
architects, you can pick out a
warehouse in a prime location.
That maybe only has 15 feet.
Yeah, but then you can raise it.
But the most important thing is everybody
knows location, location, location.
Yeah, the problem in Connecticut.
It's gonna be expensive to do.
Right.
Yeah.
But if you're in the right location.
Sure.
You get where you have the affluent
people, you have a lot of the
city, a lot of people coming by.
It may be worthwhile.
Definitely.
Definitely, you know,
it's worth to look at it.
Uh, there, there are corridors
that they're actually warehouses.
You cannot find warehouses like it's it's
a huge commodity like right now Companies
like Amazon or distribution companies.
They they take everything.
Yeah, they take everything that they can
So if we actually have a friend who builds
this kind of a warehouses and we wanted to
rent one from him He said no, no, no, no.
I got a list.
Yeah, they're paying top dollar, you
know Yeah, yeah, but so we felt like So,
okay, why don't we build one, you know,
it's probably going to be the first build
from scratch, but that occurred in the U.
S.
I don't know, U.
S., but yeah, kind of.
That, uh, yeah, we don't know.
Okay, so let's go over this design.
Yeah, this is Smash.
This is the drawings of
the renders from Elevation.
Uh, we actually conceptually wanted to
have, The course in the front of the
building, actually on purpose so the
people can drive by and see activity.
This is something that we, we
don't like in many clubs that
everything happens inside.
We like the, we like the
interior to come to outside and
show the people that drive by.
It's very smart.
What is happening.
Very smart.
And that's why we have some
opening too in, in, in the front
elevation so you can see through.
And from the top, from the second
floor, you can watch too, you know,
you can, on the top of the entrance,
you can watch the courts too.
And outside as well.
Yeah.
So you can stay inside the A.
C.
and have a drink and watch.
You can have a drink, you can
watch if you want to, yes.
That's a great idea.
Great design.
So, the other thing is, imagine
this at night, with the lights on.
And, uh, and, uh, people surrounding
the course and cheering and enjoying.
I think also people who are a little
intimidated to go in, they might
just drive around and just look.
Correct.
Right.
Sure.
Let me just go in.
It is.
It is attractive.
And, um, actually many
players likes to play outside.
That's the other thing.
Yeah, yeah.
It is.
So we have an option.
With a good temperature.
Not too hot.
Yes.
Right.
With a good temperature.
People like to play outside.
So we give them the
opportunity to do that.
And, um, in the future, we envision
this as like, uh, uh, food trucks coming
over and park near the courts and people
enjoy having a drink or having food.
And we're exposing those people that
come to the food truck to pet battle.
Yes, you know, so then you get
more people Hey, let me try
that and you make it go to them.
Say here's a voucher to play for
free Come, you know what i'm saying?
And boom, they all you need them to come.
We'll use one time.
That's it.
They're gonna come back So after when
you get in so we have two Paddle court
outside you get in you have two indoor
court And we have six pickable courts.
So we have a corridor between
the two pickable courts.
And in the back we can put it like Jerry
said, maybe a truck with food trucks
and you can use all the middle part for,
you know, have some drinks and view.
And we have a mezzanine so you can watch
the, the paddle courts and you can watch
a little bit from the top, um, the court.
Very smart.
How tall are the ceilings going to be?
At the middle, we are 30 feet.
So I want to make sure
we have a good high.
Oh, yeah.
So when you entrance you can
see the courts and you have the
um, you have a little restaurant
Thank you, so that's the middle part
that I was mentioned, you know that you
can just watch you can have a drink.
So, uh, is this separators glass?
That's the idea probably glass.
Oh, You know for sure we have
some yeah That would be nice.
It would be very nice, yeah.
That's what we're thinking about.
Yeah.
And I see the lights here.
Are these LED lights?
Yes.
Okay.
Yeah, I want to put
exactly around the court.
Okay.
So, like, you know, like, you see here?
Yeah, it's beautiful.
Beautiful design.
This is I can't wait.
I can't wait.
I hope you open December
Thank you.
Thank you.
So that's another view from content
there Yes, so that's another view
from the top so that if you are
here you can see the outdoor court
too So it's all open to outside.
I love it So that's another view
from inside so you can see all
the courts What do you call it?
What is that for?
Yeah, that's the idea.
If, if we want to have different events
so that you can have rackets, so like
a mobile thing, we can have it or not.
So we have the flexibility to be flexible.
That's part of, um, you
know, you can see the top.
And this is inside the court.
So in each court, I, I forgot to mention,
but we wanna have a a, a screen, so if
you wanna repeat the shots, you know, we,
we wanna have, in each court of the padel
and the pickleball have a big screen.
So if you wanna put the score for each
one of the, if it tournament, or if you
wanna watch the, you know, the replay.
The replay.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
We wanna have the option so in the
future we can do whatever we want.
Great.
The players, I gotta say I love the name.
I love the name of your program.
Okay, good, good, good.
See all the screen here in each chord?
In the same chords?
So, so that's basically the club.
Such a beautiful design.
I can't wait.
Oh, thank you.
I can't wait.
Thank you, Jerry.
It's going to be in
its, in its 45 minutes.
It's not too bad.
You know, uh, you know, from where
I am, so I'm really excited for
is it's very accessible from,
you know, from the, from the 95.
The highway, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Very, very accessible.
So it's just right there.
So we have a few positive,
you know, locations.
Okay, so I think that's
going to be an amazing club.
Um, you know, you just got
to get people in there.
Once you get people in there, that is it.
You're not going to have problems,
you know, uh, filling those courts.
Um, okay.
So how about, um, let's talk about
any other clubs you guys designed,
uh, prior to this or Anything
in the future moving forward?
Yeah, we have designed some pickleball
clubs that they're already, uh, working.
Is that here in Connecticut?
Yes
Pickle spot.
Yeah.
Okay.
And how big was that?
Um, they have five courts.
Okay, and uh, it was a warehouse
Um, but, uh, so the design came
out really nice and, uh, I think
it's working well, you know.
Right, right.
And, uh, especially in, in New
England, you, people look for
indoor facilities and they're
specifically designed for pickleball.
Okay.
Because otherwise you get to play
on, on courts that, you know, one
line overlaps to other courts.
Right, right, right, right, right.
Which is, or, or also for safety.
Some clubs.
Because they adapt to pickable, they don't
have the required space in the back of
the court, and that's not safe many times.
Right, right, right.
Um.
And also just, uh, being attractive,
the place being attractive.
Like, tell the people how
important it is, the design.
You know, some people kind
of overlook it a little bit.
But I think if you create that emotion
and that feeling when you walk in.
You know, sometimes they want to.
They want to add more courts, and I think
maybe you need maybe one less, but you
feel like the comfort That person says,
no, I need all the courts I know, but you
want to have filled the court too And you
want people to feel comfortable to a nice
space around to watch or you know I think
that's what's missing because that you
know in in the cities the price per square
fee is so high that you can't sacrifice
that You're trying to fill in everything
and then you're missing what you said
before about the social aspect of it.
You know, so there's not, if there's
not a lot of space to hang out, to do
this, to do that, you're just going to
go play and then boom, you, you go out.
Like I, I've been in, in, in Europe
too, in a few different clubs and
some of them have clubs everywhere.
The, you know, the, the, the courts
everywhere and you just, just getting
there and other ones are more like
restaurant, more like, okay, we want
you to stay all day type of feel.
And when I was younger, we played recce,
sports, tennis, squash, and every Sunday
we'd go to the tennis club and we'd
be there all day, you know, so kids
would be there playing, doing whatever
they're doing, they're playing tennis,
afterwards take a shower, they stay
the day, they eat, they do whatever
they're going to do, take a whole event.
And I think that's what works.
Trying to get people there to do that
is, is uh, I think a challenge right now.
Um, I think, well, uh, you mentioned
that you'd be at the club the whole day.
That's what, uh, we're proposing
to have camps for children.
Oh yeah, it's smart.
Uh, summer camps or after school programs.
You know, I think the kids will love it.
Um, if you have the room to do it.
What you could do is show
the Pan American Games.
Thanks.
Thanks.
That there's a a need
for you younger players?
Yes.
And they get excited and I'm like, oh
my God, I could go represent the USA.
Yeah.
Let me go, let me, let me, let
me do the after school program.
You know, let me do this.
And then all you need is one person
to go there and represent the USA
and that, and that person tells
in the school, Hey, I did this.
Oh my God, you have a line.
Of course you have a line out the door.
So you know, there's, there's a need for.
You know, the youth right now, you
know, representing the USA, you know,
when it comes to Pan American games,
you know, so there's a lot of little
things you can do to attract players.
Yeah.
And, you know, as I mentioned
before, we were in Argentina.
Sometimes I get emotional when I see a
kid playing Fidel, like a 12 year old kid.
So, oh my God, this is, this is
what should happen everywhere.
Yes.
I have my daughter.
I'm going to show you a video afterwards
and I'm like, Oh my gosh, both my
kids, all my three kids play, you know,
and they, and they play pretty well.
I mean, for, for their age, uh, and they,
you know, as you can see back here, they
have been helping me put up this court.
They're dying to play,
dying to play, you know?
Um, so, okay.
So how about future stuff, future, um,
clubs that you're going to design or
are investing in or part of you guys do?
We'll Both investing clubs or this
is the only one you're investing in.
This is the only one we are
investing What what was your
responsibilities as an investor?
Is it financial or is it more input?
Um, it was it was both.
Okay um, we are um, one of the majority
owners, okay, and uh So everything
actually started with the group as I
said as per se but uh But the only one
that we actually had to work in the
beginning, it was us, which, which,
which is fine because we enjoy doing
it, but, uh, but now the whole team is
working, but what I recommend is like,
find a good architect, find somebody that
knows to start with the right concepts.
Right.
And if you start with the right
concepts, you can get investors
after they see what the architect
has done with the right concepts.
Beautiful design that Teresa has done
too, and show it to different people.
People get excited.
It's a visual thing.
So, instead of telling
you, it's showing you.
So, I think it's definitely a
big part when you're working
with investors, for sure.
So, we're working now
on a project in Orlando.
Okay.
So, we start Where in Orlando?
Um, it's Lake Nona.
Lake Nona.
Lake Nona is awesome.
It's a great place.
I mean I mean, I go there, you know,
um, at least a handful of times,
uh, a year, um, it's up and growing.
I mean, it's, it's an awesome place, you
know, I just can't believe how cool it is.
It's very cool.
There is a lot of development and,
uh, this new club is going to be at
first six padel courts, all indoor
because, uh, the owner, Pedro did
a study, like how many, Hours you
lose because of the rain in florida.
Yeah, of course.
Yep And he said well if I calculate the
amount of hours tell our viewers what
that is, you you know What is that?
What percentage of it?
He was talking about 30 percent.
That's that's i've been saying that for
a while 30 I've been estimating so that's
I think I think that's about right.
That's a lot that it is.
That's a lot.
Yes Yes, you know, so you may
have to invest more But that 30
percent could get you the return
investment A year and a half.
And after that, you're up 30 percent And
you can play any time during the day.
It is whatever weather.
With the clubs that are outside,
as soon as it rains, you get
called and they're all filled up.
Even, even in the time that it's snowing.
Yeah, like the National
USTA Tennis Center is there.
They have four courts.
And we were there, uh,
Teresa was getting certified.
And, uh, and it started raining.
It started pouring rain.
That happens to me.
I have a Paddle MBA.
Okay.
Yes.
Yeah.
Same here.
Yeah.
And it started raining too.
Same thing happened.
So, so that's why, uh, we are
proposing this new facility to
be all indoor air conditioning.
So in case players are playing
outdoors somewhere else, they can
come to this club and enjoy it.
And so how far, what are you guys doing
mostly the design and architectural work?
Yes.
Okay.
And, um, how far in, are they,
are they, did they get financing?
Preliminary stages at the moment.
Okay.
And, uh, they have, uh, the
owner secured the land already.
Oh, oh, that's really important.
Yes.
He, he purchased the land.
Okay.
So, yeah, hopefully it's
gonna, it's gonna come fast.
That's great.
That's great.
Now, um, you guys are just gonna do
the design architect on that, right?
Yeah.
Yes.
Okay.
Yes.
Yes.
So, uh, I'm excited to To see that
when do you think that it's going to
um develop when do you think that's
gonna It's gonna take probably a year
a year the owner would like this to
happen a lot right now We're working
in the design right now I mean, I
see I see this all the time in miami.
So we've been talking with the building
department They already know so
planning and zoning building department.
They know what we're doing.
So they are very familiar So we're
doing all the preliminary studies.
So we're I think that's going to be
really helpful Uh, the more clubs open up,
the more they, they know what it is, so
it's easier for the next guy, you know?
And I thought there were more
in, in Orlando, and there's
not many clubs in Orlando.
It's more like in Miami.
Yeah, Caribe Royale
and, uh, the US, uh, TA.
That's it.
Yeah, now that you mentioned about hotels
and, and hospitality, I think Padel
eventually will grow in places like the
Caribbean, uh, with, uh, or resorts.
Yes.
I think that's something
that is worth to explore.
A hundred percent.
I think the smartest thing that they've,
they've done, they're not stressing.
Um, you know, that's just additional
revenue, another vertical, small
vertical, because they already have,
they're established, so not stressing
about it, you know, um, and, and I think
that's some of the problems these new
club owners are going to have, right.
They're opening up, um, maybe
they don't plan on marketing.
They don't have the right people
and they're basing everything.
There's a lot of different
verticals are basing everything
in those courts to support.
don't know about that club, and they
may be estimated six months, maybe
10 months before they're going to
black and, you know, that may not be
the case, you know, especially in an
area where people don't know paddle.
But that is when I saw that I said,
man, that is and I've communicated
with a lot of sports facility places
say, Hey, let me put one in there.
You know, pay for share revenue
or or you buy it and you know,
they're going to help you out.
Um, but they're all, they like
it, but they're all It's kind
of like, they go to pickle.
It's easy, quick, fast,
people already know it.
But I think that's going to change.
Yes, mean, with a club in Norwalk,
your club in Bradford, and a
couple of other clubs opening up.
What is this?
Okay, this is what we need
to put in our facility.
And I have to say, that was crazy
30 years ago in Argentina, when
this came up with old technology.
Okay.
And I saw how they did this.
And, and that's what they're doing
all around the world right now.
So, it's gonna happen here.
Oh yeah.
And with the better
technology, with all nicer.
And the best thing, you're gonna have one
of the best clubs there in Connecticut.
When it happens.
Boom.
Exactly.
Yes.
Anything else besides the,
the one that make Lake Mona?
Um, no, not at the moment.
Again, uh, we are always.
You know, trying to promote the sports,
even with, uh, like communicating
with potential, um, um, you know,
investors or we do render sometimes.
Sometimes we do a lot more,
uh, like for free Yeah.
Than we that we do.
Yeah.
'cause you love paddle, you know,
it's like we love, lemme just,
you know, work on it, you know?
I get, I get it.
Exactly.
And, and, and, and we show things.
No, but we try to see if another
club, they're interested.
But sometime the building department
put some like, oh, it's outside.
We were close to put one
in a huge, uh, uh, cloud.
Okay.
And they say no, but.
This club is only for indoor, um,
you cannot put anything outside
because of the neighbor and
they don't know the sport yet.
They don't know if it's going to be very
loud, you know, loud, like, pickable.
So, that's one of the difficulties.
It's the South Americans,
it's going to be very loud.
One of the difficulties we have is
because it's a new sport, it's not
either, you know, our building codes,
Are written for like either a tennis
facility, like a, like a tennis court,
for example, or Padel is something new.
So for many approvals, you have to refer
for tennis, but it's not exactly tennis.
You're right, right, right.
Like, for example, parking spots.
Let's say, oh, because of each
parking spot for tennis is different.
Well, this is Padel.
It's kind of different.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
So is it back and forth with the
building department trying to, okay,
give me another sample of another
club similar, what they approve
and we have to find another sample.
Do you know what works, what works good?
No.
And then they'll come and you invite
them and take them to play paddle.
You understand?
Everything gets.
No problem.
No problem.
No problem.
Yes.
That's a good one.
Right?
That's a good one.
Because the only way to know
is if you actually go and play.
That's the only really way to know.
Yes.
Sure.
And then, you know,
they're going to like it.
They're going to.
Well this is.
And they don't know what's
the level of the sound.
They don't know anything.
Right.
Because something absolutely new.
Lights.
You know lights during the
night, you know, is it going
to disturb your neighbors if
you're close to residential area.
Light is an issue.
Yes.
Yeah, so no, I get it.
I got it.
Okay.
So can you tell our audience that
may be thinking of opening up a club?
What services you can provide for them?
Well, we provide them many
times in the way as we start.
It's the feasibility or
find the right location.
Oh, me too.
Okay.
So how do you, how do you do that?
You work with brokers or
just people that help you?
Many times we work with brokers.
Okay.
Many times the workers
wants to work with us.
Gotcha.
Yeah.
Yeah.
We had calls from real estate
agents calling us saying, Hey,
I have this facility in here.
That's great.
Uh, with a warehouse.
Or it's vacant land.
Maybe it'll work out a nice facility here.
So I think that's one of the
biggest things, finding a location.
So that's great that you guys do that.
Finding a location is very important
because you have to check the code
regulations to see if, uh, At the moment,
what works the best are industrial areas.
Of course, that's where
I see most of them, yeah?
Or already sports facilities, the ones
that already have sports facilities.
But there is, there is a little
bit of a, um, a secret there.
Is that at that industrial area.
You need to be able to apply for a
special permit to be a sporting facility.
Like a variance or something, right?
Um, many times it's just a,
um, just a quick, um, review.
Okay.
A quick hearing.
Nothing as big as a variance.
Not as big as a variance.
No, no.
Yes.
Yes, that's a difference.
Because industrial area is the closest
that you can get for a sporting facility.
Gotcha.
It's very similar for the park.
And it's not, it's not next to
any residential areas as well.
Correct.
Gotcha.
Yes.
Okay.
So finding a location,
which is I think really big.
What, what else is your firm?
Well, the next will be
coming out with the program.
Right?
Okay.
So the size of the facility is most of
the times related to the size of the lot.
Okay.
Yep.
Because, uh, many times the, this,
the, the amount of coverage in the
lot is based on the size of the lot.
Yep.
So that then it's gonna depend
how many courts you can put.
Yep.
Right?
Yep.
You can put four cords.
We recommend to build a
minimum of four courts.
Minimum, yes.
Many times.
I know a lot of investors would
like at least six to eight possible.
Yes, sure, but minimum four.
Minimum four, sure.
Yes, four or five to do tournaments and
of course to return on the investment.
If you do like two courts, you
know, maybe you have employees, you
have a big investment and you're
not going to have a good return.
Right, right.
So, um, and so then, so because of
these, we determine the size of the club
and we help with the program, right?
The size of the lockers that you're going
to need, um, the level of hospitality,
if you're going to have a bar, uh,
if you're going to have a full liquor
license, if you're going to have food
and beverage and what is the, you
know, how, how big that is going to be.
Are you going to hire like a separate,
you know, Contractor for that part
or not Many times you would like
to have a full restaurant, right?
So we will use all our experience Having
a club and do the whole process be an
architect and play the sports, right?
So we give a little bit
of all our experience as a
professional and as a player too.
So Okay, uh, so right your
experience through that.
Uh, how about um, Uh, when going
through zoning, um, all those things,
all those all we do depart permit,
we go all the, we do all the process.
Okay.
We meet all, you know, the
town, we do all the Yeah.
Gotcha.
Many times we have to do presentations
to the town presentations because
they don't know what it is.
Right.
Right.
And we have to explain, you know, the
rest of the people, uh, that are in
the meeting, you know, the sports is,
you know, is, is very popular in Europe
or any, uh, uh, or South America.
And, uh, it's, it's like a rocket
sports, people sometimes don't
even know if there was a net.
Right, right.
And then you create the drawings, right,
and design it, and then you work with it.
Do the renderings, even we can
do videos, we have all the teams.
So, our, our architectural
team is in Argentina.
Okay.
So, um, but we work directly,
you know, now technology.
Yeah, of course, you don't
have to pick a building.
Yes.
And then you guys help
finding a GC and contractors.
We help finding a GC,
uh, depends on the area.
And, uh, and without drawings, the
GC will come up with the budget.
Oh, gotcha.
With a quote.
And, um, and that's how it goes.
Pretty much starts, right?
Right.
That's where you have
everything put together.
Part of your plan is already there, which
is the big part right there before you
get seed money or funding or whatever.
Yeah, funding is, uh, it's, it's, it's,
it's, the, the art drawings are very
important for the founding part too,
because many times the banks wants to
see what is going to be built, right?
And, uh, and how that funding is
going to get these boards, because,
uh, you have to give them like
a schedule of, uh, Yeah, for the
contractors and stuff, stuff like that.
Wow, so you're from the beginning
almost all the way to the end.
That's great.
That's, I mean, that's amazing.
And we can go and play too.
Of course.
That you put in there, some
type of, uh, restriction.
Play for free forever.
I would.
That's what your friends
in Argentina were saying.
Are you going to play for free
for the rest of your life?
Oh, now you're going to play for
free because, you know, it's very
expensive here and everywhere.
Oh, here, yeah, it's an expensive sport.
In Argentina, too.
So how much is it for an hour and
a half in Argentina, in dollars,
if you think of in dollars?
In dollars, I think?
It's not as expensive as here.
But I think it's Is it like 10 or 12?
No, 15, I would say.
15, wow.
But the problem is, it's very
expensive to build the court.
There, down there Way more
expensive than here In proportion.
Oh, in these new, new, new type of courts?
Yes.
They expensive there.
They, they don't, they don't, uh,
um, produce them there or they
still bring 'em by some, some clubs.
They have them build like
a, like by somebody who is,
doesn't build for their courts.
Gotcha, gotcha, gotcha.
Uh, so it depends, but it's more
expensive than here in proportion here.
I mean here you see it anywhere from 30.
32.
That's probably the cheapest I've
seen to like, you know, 60, 70, 80,
even more, you know, depending on
location, of course, you know, and
so, um, but either way, I don't care.
I'll play.
All right, guys, thank you for joining us.
Um, you know, if you have any questions
on design architect, uh, on your new
club, please contact Teresa and Jerry
will have the information down here.
And I want to thank you so much
and I wish you guys all the
luck, especially with smash.
Thank you.
That was really fun.
so much.
We are all things paddle