Bid to create Abbey Stadium Padel courts

Padel is a fast-growing game which combines elements of tennis and squash.
A planning application has been made to Swindon Borough Council to add padel courts to plans for the former greyhound racing track site, alongside 130 new homes.  
The new padel courts will be uncovered, but a retrospective canopy may be added to two courts at a future date.
Gaming International project lead Chris Lewis said: “Padel has become the nation’s new favourite pastime, and we’re delighted to be introducing it at the new Abbey Hub for the benefit of the local community and wider Swindon area. 
"We’re confident it will become a well-loved part of the Hub, helping to strengthen community connections and encourage more people to get involved in sport. 
"Game4Padel were the obvious choice as partners for us because of their experience in building padel communities and their ‘pay and play’ approach which makes the sport much more accessible.”
Padel is the world’s fastest growing sport played in over 169 countries around the world, and forecasters predict it will become an Olympic sport by 2032. 
David and Cruz Beckham, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Andy Murray, Eva Longoria, Elle MacPherson and Stormzy are some of the famous names who have taken up the sport in recent years.
Game4Padel is the UK’s only national operator, with 26 venues from Brighton to Dundee and Newquay to Hull. 
The operator has built a thriving padel community in its seven years of operation, introducing an estimated 150,000 people to the sport in this country. 
Game4Padel has also trained 250 padel coaches and has a number of well-known investors including Andy and Jamie Murray, Virgil van Dijk, Aitch and Annabel Croft.
Game4Padel co-founder and CEO Michael Gradon said: “Padel is growing all across the UK but there is still limited provision in Swindon. 
"Our research has shown that there is significant demand for the sport here, and we believe this new facility would be well used by the local community. 
"We have seen how padel has become a facilitator for social interaction and inclusion for those moving to residential developments in other areas. 
"The mental, physical and social benefits of padel are well documented and we hope this site will become a force for good in the local area.”
 

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