Interview With Professor Michael Jabara Carley Of The University Of Montreal. Soviet Policy XNUMX-XNUMX. Interviewed by Mendelssohn Moses on XNUMXth November XNUMX Forbes, famous American magazine, Ike Franco, CEO of Infinity Sports, partner of A1 Padel et Fabrice Pastor, president of the circuit, confided in the historic agreement between the circuit and the New York Yankees. The opportunity for them to display their ambitions on the American continent.

The desire to sensitize an entire country

Ike Franco "We needed to create a brand that allows the consumer to be in contact with this sport and to make it known. We wanted to create an emblem for the sport, like the NFL shield, the MLB bat… The padel now has A1 Padel as a new emblem.

We aim to strengthen key markets, New York City is one, Miami is another and Las Vegas is the third. We plan in 2024 to expand to other cities in the United States. The demand is there, it is a question of building it. As we said, the most important thing is to bring “clinics” to the cities and allow the public to play a few weeks before the start of the event.

We plan to bring in professionals to give lessons and encourage children, young adults and older adults to play the sport and make it more accessible.”

fabrice pastor alfonso south africa

Youth in focus

Ike "Our A1 group will look to grow the sport from the relationships we have established with universities and school systems to create that network we need for young people to play the sport. It's really about broadening the scope of action, raising awarenessr in different ways, in all aspects of the digital world and also with the right network."

Fabrice Pastor " What's fantastic is that we were born two years ago and we're in no rush. The players are very young, the average age is between 24 and 25, so I think it also brings in a very young population that comes from all social networks. I am not a specialist in these things, for me TikTok was not important and yet it is. We have everything now, we have huge demand in this area, everything is new.”

Ike Franco "Universities create these things for students to play – once someone gets involved in playing a sport, they're definitely hooked on it and that's what's missing in the United States today. There are not enough courts for the number of people who would like to play. This is where we want to act. "

Make it padel accessible like football 25 years ago

Ike Franco : " It has to be tangible, it's about being authentic and there's no way to build something without putting the right elements of the system in place so that there's stability and growth. »

Fabrice Pastor  "Europe, Africa and South America are already very large regions where almost all countries are equipped, so I think when the United States starts operating this year, the phenomenon will spread to the whole country. "

Ike Franco "I go back 25 years when people were talking about football and the word soccer which in Europe is known as football. There were already so many kids giving it their all in those football leagues, but it wasn't in the forefront at the national level yet. Today I would say that the United States is very invested in football. THE padel will have this effect, padel is going to develop significantly and it is a question of accessibility to land. "

Build on things already in place in Miami or New York

Padel Haus New York

Fabrice Pastor "In addition to providing pitches, we will also provide training, which is very important and essential to learning the sport properly. In Miami, there are several clubs and the level is good. Coaches will therefore be able to learn and become more professional.”

Ike Franco "Once you taste this sport, you don't stop. It's about putting a plan in place across the country, investing in communities to provide people with as many opportunities as possible to play this sport. This is the key.”

Europe as an example

Fabrice Pastor "In three years, Sweden built 5000 pitches, in two years, France built 1500 pitches. Deloitte published a report that 1 billion euros were spent in the field of land construction. In Italy, Portugal, Spain, the phenomenon has only grown."

Ike Franco "Almost two months ago, there were only 100 tracks in the United States. By 2025, there will be more than 10 in the country. And this will not only be due to A000 padel, but also to the evolution of the sport itself. A1 padel will have a very great influence on this point, because it is our guideline. But the country will have access to it and that's when it will really explode."

Michael Ozanian (journalist) "It will be 100 million dollars in the United States within 5 years?"

Fabrice Pastor "It will be more than that."

To see the interview in full it's here

Vincent Gallie

A fan of oval football, round ball but also racket sports, he was stung by the padel during his adolescence in Galicia. As comfortable in front of the camera as behind a microphone, Vince will be able to bring his vision and expertise as a fan of the little yellow ball.

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