New York City is no stranger to sporting revolutions. The city has always embraced new sports, from tennis in Forest Hills to the basketball courts of Harlem. Now, it’s the turn of padel to capture the city’s heart as the first-ever US Open Padel Championships descends on Brooklyn this weekend.
Padel, widely considered the world’s fastest-growing sport and recently secured its position as the second most popular sport in Spain, is on the cusp of following in pickleball’s footsteps and breaking through in the US.
The Early Days of Padel in NYC
Padel’s emergence in New York City can largely be put down to the vision of one man: Santiago Gomez. Described as “the man who brought padel to New York City”, former restaurateur Gomez, came up with the idea to bring padel to the Big Apple during the global Covid pandemic when, in playing the sport back in his native Mexico, he decided that with the restaurant industry encountering challenging times due to the pandemic, it was time to bring padel to New York. Returning to the city in 2021, Gomez turned his vision into reality, opening Padel Haus’ doors in Williamsburg.
Gomez: From Fine Dining to Padel Pioneer
Gomez made his mark in New York’s culinary world before turning his attention to padel. A former investment banker for UBS, the Mexican entrepreneur co-founded Cosme. This award-winning Mexican restaurant earned accolades, including the New York Times Restaurant of the Year title and a place on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list.
“When I first moved to New York, there were no padel courts,” says Gomez. “I had to travel to Spain and Mexico to play. But as the sport grew internationally, I knew it was only a matter of time before New Yorkers would embrace it.”
His vision was to create a club dedicated entirely to padel, combining his background in hospitality with his passion for the sport. And so, Padel Haus was born as a padel and wellness facility befitting Brooklyn’s lifestyle-focused community.
Padel Haus: The Heart of New York’s Padel Scene
Before long, Padel Haus Williamsburg was joined by a neighboring outdoor location on the Banks of the East River. Domino Park, as it has become known, is Padel Haus’ summer season offering, just steps from its flagship Kent Avenue club.
Whilst Padel Haus had accelerated its dominance of Brooklyn’s padel scene with the opening of the spectacular Padel Haus Dumbo (where this week’s US Open will be staged), there are now clubs opening across other boroughs of the city, and into the neighboring states of New Jersey and Connecticut.
The Future of Padel in New York
The future of the sport in the city looks bright, as proven by Padel Haus’ decision to open its third permanent New York venue, in Greenpoint later this year.
As Gomez explains, the sport’s rise is just beginning. “With more clubs opening and major tournaments coming to New York, padel is only going to get bigger. We’re excited about what’s to come.”
And so, padel’s momentum in New York shows no signs of abating. This weekend, from October 4-6, the US Open Padel Championships will make its debut, with Padel Haus Dumbo stepping in as host venue. The prestigious tournament will draw talent from across the globe, further cementing New York as an emerging destination for padel in the United States.