Didier De Amorin: "We envisioned this club as our home"... The Palatium

This club made a lasting impression during the National Interclub 1 Opened in September 2024, the Palatium in Troyes has quickly established itself as one of the most premium clubs in France.

At its head, Didier De Amorin, an entrepreneur from Troyes with an atypical career path, who has returned to the essentials: creating a living space centered around sport.

A discovery of padel that changes everything

The story begins in 2022, in Toulouse. Didier discovers padel almost by chance. A former tennis player, he is immediately captivated:

"I thought to myself: what is this incredible sport? This UFO that has arrived on the sporting scene…"

With his wife Aurélie, the observation was quick: the enthusiasm is real, massive, and lasting. After selling their businesses in the automotive trade in 2019 (a wholesaler of auto parts with several points of sale in the Aube, Marne and Ardennes regions), the couple were not particularly looking for a new project.

But padel is becoming the obvious choice.

"We wanted to do something that would excite us. Sports, leisure, events, catering... to create a social and community space."

A club designed like a home

Before launching the project, Didier and Aurélie visited numerous complexes in France. Their objective: to understand what works, what doesn't, and to define a clear vision.

The Palatium was born from this synthesis.

"We envisioned it as our home. We know we spend time there, that our colleagues spend time there. We created the spaces the way we would like to live in them."

Result:

premium tracks
Well-appointed reception areas
An ambitious restoration
Changing rooms and living areas designed with meticulous attention to detail

The customer experience is comprehensive. The club is not limited to the game.

National 1 Interclub Competitions as a revealing indicator

Still a young institution, the Palatium had never hosted an event of such magnitude. National Interclub 1 served as a revealer.

"Since yesterday, we've been packed. It hasn't let up. The atmosphere is amazing."

For a club that has only been open for a few months, the impact is significant. The event has solidified the venue's reputation within the padel community.

Didier De Amorin: "We envisioned this club as our home"... The Palatium

An ambitious expansion project is already underway.

Despite its young age, the Palatium already has bigger ambitions. Didier confirms the recent acquisition of a neighboring business including a futsal activity and a restaurant-pizzeria, as well as additional buildings and land.

You’ll find here:

Addition of pickleball
badminton
Basketball 3×3
New football pitch
Two tracks of padel single

A strategic choice.

"As soon as a single player sets up, the occupancy rate is good. Padel is great, but you need four people. It's simpler with two."

The single meets a growing demand, especially during the day, and is a relevant tool for training.

The precision of motorsport applied to sport

Didier doesn't come from the world of padel, but from the car trade. An experience that directly influences the management of the club.

Multi-site management
Team management
Trade culture
Financial rigor

The Palatium already has 15 employeesThe structure is planned from the outset.

"We have a rigorous management system that helps us enormously."

Its local roots in Troyes are also an asset, with a solid economic network that naturally feeds the business clientele.

A strong identity with Pallap

The visual and strategic link with the Palap brand is not insignificant.

The meeting with representatives of the brand, including Leandro Perez, led to a natural collaboration.

"I like their business vision and their customer-centric approach. They are people who listen."

A visual synergy between the "P" of Pallap and that of Palatium allows for a textile co-branding T-shirts, shorts, sweatshirts… A range that is proving very popular with members.

"We see people playing in our Palatium t-shirts every day. It's a source of pride."

Franck Binisti

Franck Binisti discovered padel at the Club des Pyramides in 2009 in the Paris region. Since then, padel has been part of his life. You often see him touring France to cover major French padel events.