A first complex in Avignon, a second in Le Mans, and already national ambitions. Launched notably by Jérôme Fernandez and Adriaan Gregory, Palarea aims to capitalize on the rise of padel in France with a concept that combines indoor courts, a clubhouse, and social spaces. 

Avignon, the first Palarea

The adventure began at  Pontet, near Avignon , with the first complex to be inaugurated in January 2026.

Palarea Avignon counts  six indoor padel courts with exits , with a stated ceiling height of  11 meters Two of the pistes are panoramic and four are classic pistes. The site also includes changing rooms, a warm-up area, a clubhouse and a catering area.

The complex accommodates both recreational activities and training sessions, events and competitions. Just a few months after its opening, tournaments are already being held there regularly.

Jérôme Fernandez and Adriaan Gregory are behind the project

Among the men behind Palarea are  Jerome Fernandez and Adriaan Gregory .

Jérôme Fernandez: “I have padel projects for the future, all over France”

The first is obviously well-known in French sport. A former captain of the French national handball team, Fernandez notably possesses  two Olympic titles and four world championship titles After discovering padel, the former international player gradually became involved in this new discipline until it became an entrepreneurial project.

At the inauguration of the first center, the project also benefited from the presence of several top athletes, including  William Accambray, Gaël Givet and Thomas Mangani , as well as international padel players such as  Tonet Sans and Adrián Cabello .

Le Mans, the second stage of development

Just a few months after Avignon, Palarea opens its  second complex in La Chapelle-Saint-Aubin, in the Le Mans metropolitan area .

The change in scale is already visible:  Palarea Le Mans has eight indoor tracks , compared to six in Avignon. The site also offers  pickleball , as well as a clubhouse and various spaces to extend the experience after matches.

Its official inauguration is scheduled for  Saturday September 5, 2026 Tournaments, introductory sessions, entertainment, exhibition matches and an evening event are planned to present the new complex to the public.

With Avignon and Le Mans, Palarea thus reaches  14 indoor padel courts spread across two locations .

A concept designed to be replicated

Behind these first two openings lies a much larger ambition.

Jérôme Fernandez presents Palarea as a concept in which the court is the starting point, with the aim of creating around padel a  a place for meeting and socializing , in particular thanks to the clubhouse and associated services.

But above all, the project is not intended to remain limited to two addresses. During a presentation dedicated to Jérôme Fernandez's entrepreneurial retraining in March 2026, Palarea mentioned a  target of 15 openings in three years .

National development is also mentioned by several partners who participated in the construction of the first complex.

After  Avignon and its six ski slopes then  Le Mans and its eight tracks Palarea is therefore now entering a new phase: that of transitioning from a pilot club to a...  a concept that is expected to be replicated in several French cities .

At a time when complex projects are multiplying in France, the trajectory of Palarea will therefore be one to watch:  two clubs in 2026 and, if the announced schedule is maintained, many more establishments to come. 

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