European Club Cup padel at Casa Padel

The European Association of Clubs Padel presents the European Cup of Clubs. Who better than Claude Baigts, president of the AECP, to tell us more about this famous European Club Cup…

Padel Magazine - Claude what is the legitimacy of EFCA?

Claude Baigts - Your question is legitimate; and my answer will be straightforward: why would not we be legitimate to organize a European Cup of Clubs?
We are the first to have thought about it and taken action. The idea came to us during the French Open in padel 2016. Federations and clubs have asked us to register players in the final table. On analysis we found that these players came mainly from clubs of padel private or at least with a management close to the private.

Padel Magazine - But from there to launch in 2018 a European Cup ...

Claude Baigts - Of course, we had to take the plunge and once again the French Open of padel 2017 helped to bring together some fifty directors, business leaders …… and we presented our sports model and the economic model.

Padel Magazine - What is the Sports model?

Claude Baigts - We believe that it takes time to set up a European Clubs' Cup representative of our sport. We wanted to rely on a maximum of 20 clubs for the second edition.

These clubs will select 2 male pairs and 1 female pairs. Players will need to be amateurs and not be ranked in the 150 best global players for men and 75 for ladies. We will publish next week the rules of the competition.

Padel Magazine - How to finance such a test?

Claude Baigts - This is where we perform best! We have offered companies or clubs to acquire the participation rights for 10 years. We have assured them of their participation by the fact that there will be no ascent or descent. In addition, each company or club owns a franchise that it can sell after three years. This formula opens up long-term opportunities (10 years) to find sponsors and income.

Padel Magazine - Do you want to tell us that the European Club Cup can only concern 20 clubs?

Claude Baigts - No, for this second edition, we have proprietary brands of a franchise that have organized circuits on the national or regional level to select the club that will represent them. And then we had to start well and I remind you that the European Cup of Football Clubs experienced in the 50 years a start even slower than ours ... ..you have seen where they are ... And for 2019, our Franchisees already have proposals to move to 50 clubs ...

Padel Magazine - Claude can you tell us the date and place of the finals ?

Claude Baigts - We had to study the calendars of the various international circuits and competitions and choose a date that hit the mark. What do you think of the armistice weekend, November 9, 10, 11, a nice nod to a European Cup.

We chose Paris to host European clubs and companies, but other capitals had strengths and the choice was not easy. But when José Manuel Escoin “el dueno” from Casa Padel and all his team extend their arms to you, you snuggle up there.

Padel Magazine - Who surrounds you?

Claude Baigts - There is a team of 30 people whose franchisees are very active and a small group that works daily alongside Fernando Blanca, our competent managing director.

Padel Magazine - What are your relationships with the authorities of padel French, European and worldwide?

Claude Baigts - Not being a medium, I don't know, but for the moment we have not had any negative feedback… Our only concern is to bring our stone to the building padel that we want big and strong. Our goal to create: a community padel and investors passionate about this wonderful sport.

Franck Binisti

Franck Binisti discovers the padel at the Club des Pyramides in 2009 in the Paris region. Since padel is part of his life. You often see him touring France going to cover the major events of padel French.