Weekly News Roundup: Franchises, Expansions and Future Pros
Let's Dive Into This Week's Headlines
This week in Padel felt more like a rocket launch than a rally. A franchise deal made landfall in the U.S., youth phenoms lit up courts across Europe and Africa, and the battle of lifestyle sports hit full swing. From Brighton beaches to Northeast cities, the game is showing up in bold new ways.
Catch up on everything that moved the sport forward in the last seven days.
Conquer Padel Signs First U.S. Franchise Deal with Veteran Operators
FranDevCo and Conquer Padel Club have officially inked their first-ever U.S. franchise deal with the Baker family — a seasoned trio with deep roots in the fitness industry. After years scaling Planet Fitness locations, Alex and Greg Baker are pivoting to padel, backed by their father Robert. With top-tier partners like PlaySight and MejorSet, Conquer’s debut promises premium amenities, tech-driven features, and a player-first experience built for scale.
- Read more on Fox40
Conquer Padel Targets 50-Club Expansion, Starting in the Northeast
Conquer’s franchise rollout just got real — and ambitious. The Baker family isn’t stopping at one club. Their long-term plan? Fifty Conquer Padel locations across the U.S., starting with four in the Northeast. With a 77% year-over-year spike in padel court builds nationwide, Conquer is seizing the momentum with a community-focused model, end-to-end franchisee support, and a clear vision to make padel America’s next big sport.
- Read more on Business Wire
Padel vs Pickleball: The Lifestyle Sports Showdown of 2025
Courtside isn’t just about games anymore — it’s about culture. As padel surges in the U.S. and Australia with glass-walled doubles and celeb sightings, pickleball is booming in the UK with a backyard charm turned boutique chic. This feature breaks down how both sports went from niche to now, and why the padel vs pickleball debate is more about lifestyle identity than paddle choice.
- Read more on Prestige
Brighton Launches Racket Sports Festival Featuring Padel, Tennis, and Pickleball
Hove Beach Park in Brighton is going all in on racket sports with a weeklong festival backed by £13.7 million in public investment. With appearances from Judy Murray and Wimbledon champ Jonathan Marray, the event aims to draw fresh faces to padel and its racket-sport siblings. Expect coaching clinics, pro exhibitions, and a strong local turnout.
- Read more on BBC
FIP Promises Circuit Showcases Youth Padel Talent in Spain, Egypt, and Germany
Future stars took center stage this week as the FIP Promises youth circuit lit up Burgos, Alexandria, and Wallau. With categories from Under 12 to Under 18, rising talents across Europe and Africa proved padel’s global reach and its growing youth pipeline. Names like Mario Brocal, Hana Elshalkany, and Lucas Ørskov are fast becoming ones to watch.
- Read more on FIP
Portugal Hosts FIP Promises Event in Oeiras, Crowns New Youth Champions
This weekend in Oeiras, Portugal, young padel talent took the spotlight at the latest FIP Promises stop. Across four age brackets, the country’s rising stars battled for the podium. Winners included Pablo De La Iglesia–Sergio Álvarez Fernández (U12 boys), Mariana Pedroso–Maria Ferreira (U12 girls), and Alvaro Pozo–Jose Enrique Gimenez (U18 boys). Portugal continues to strengthen its pipeline of future champions.
- Read more on FIP
Highlights
Check out these highlights from the FINAL of the Malaga Premier Padel!
At Padel Mecca, we followed a week where the court kept calling. Franchise veterans are going all-in on the U.S. scene, Brighton turned a coastal park into a racket sports stage, and the youth circuit brought fierce talent from Portugal to Egypt. Even the pickleball rivalry stirred up new questions. The Youth talents were promising as well, we believe we are looking at the future pros of the sport!
Who said Summer was slow?