‍St. Pete athletic celebrates the grand opening of its new padel courts this weekend ‍| st. pete athletic

A new racquet sport is landing in St. Pete, and it’s bringing a global following with it.

Padel, currently the fast-growing sport in the word, can now be played locally at St. Pete Athletic, located at 680 28th Street South in the Warehouse Arts District.

The addition is part of a nearly 20,000-square-foot expansion of the facility, which opened last fall.

With the update, St. Pete Athletic now offers 14 pickleball courts, six table tennis tables, and its newly-added padel courts.

The 50,000-square-foot club now features 14 pickleball courts, six professional table tennis tables, and its newly added padel courts.

St. Pete Athletic also offers several on-site food and drink options through Rose’s Dining & Drinks, where both members and non-members can stop in for breakfast, lunch, dinner, coffee, and cocktails.

Padel originated in Mexico in the 1960s and blends elements of tennis and squash. The sport is played on an enclosed court, slightly larger than a pickleball court, where players can use the surrounding walls as part of the game.

It has been popular in countries like Spain and Argentina since the 1980s and its presence in the United States has been steadily expanding in recent years.

padel paddles are usually perforated, made out of a combination of carbon fiber and fiberglass | St. Pete athletic

To mark the debut of the new courts, St. Pete Athletic will host a grand opening celebration on Saturday, April 25th, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The event will include a padel tournament, ribbon-cutting ceremony, and a professional exhibition match.

Guests can register for the tournament or RSVP through the St. Pete Athletic app.

“From the beginning, our vision has been about creating a place where people come together through sport, wellness, and community,” said owner Reuben Pressman in a press release. “Bringing padel to St. Pete is a natural extension of that vision. It’s a sport that’s inherently social, incredibly fun, and accessible to all levels.

“This expansion allows us to continue building something that feels bigger than just courts; it’s about community,” he added.

Be sure to visit St. Pete Athletic’s website and follow them on Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date on the latest news.