from 1Yingshi In July, the historic site of Battersea Power Station sparks a tennis frenzy. The Padel School is delighted to be part of this incredible new initiative, open for three months until 3pmRD September 2023. Organized and managed by the good people at Rocket Padel, the course is open daily from 9am to 10pm for an epic, fun-filled day for the family.
We were at the launch recently and saw a huge number of amateurs, pros and unknown cricketers come to enjoy the event. We will remain open until the pop-up cricket ground closes, offering personalized and bespoke coaching sessions for all experiences and ages, book here [LINK HERE].
We now take a look at what Battersea has to offer cricket lovers and novice alike, and what England can learn from the game in Battersea.
Why does Battersea Power Station have a Popup Padel?
Padel in Battersea is part of the Battersea Games which offers an exciting range of free and fee-based sports and games throughout the summer. Located within the historic Grade II listed Battersea Power Station, experience a wide range of sports and games for all ages and interests. These include indoor rock climbing, 3×3 basketball, running tracks, a variety of fitness classes like yoga and boxing, dog agility, virtual reality games, and classic games like ping pong and giant board games.
In addition, Battersea Power Station will host the Wimbledon Experience in partnership with Ocean Outdoor and the All England Lawn Tennis Club. The outdoor experience will be screened live on a large screen in Power Station Park. It’s going to be an incredible few weeks of watching themed movies and other summer sporting events throughout the Olympics.
The veneer courts are provided and set up by Portico Padel, giving passers-by the opportunity to hop on and get a taste of the sport. The event is expected to attract thousands of spectators and participants due to the high traffic at Battersea Power Station. Of course, initiatives like this, especially in a big city like London, will spread awareness of padel and the amazing benefits it can bring to people.
What can England learn from events like Batter hippadel?
The pop-up paddle tennis court at Battersea Power Station represents an important and positive step for the sport of paddle tennis in the UK. While the sport is still relatively nascent in the UK, such initiatives are a healthy way of attracting interest and getting them hooked.
According to Sandy Farquharson, founder of the padel school, “Working with Rocket Padel has been fantastic, they are really committed to growing the sport in the UK. The reason the sport has grown so quickly around the world is that it is easy to play and very social. If players come to Battersea Give it a try, I’m sure they’ll be hooked on the game.”
At the padel school, when we travel to other countries around the world for clinics, most lessons are for intermediate to advanced players. These players have a solid working knowledge and awareness of the sport and are interested in improving their game and experience. With the sport still young across the UK border, a lot of our work at home involves introductory courses and awareness building workshops. It’s fantastic to be able to hold lessons for those new to the sport, especially at such an iconic and monumental national landmark as Battersea Power Station.
We did something similar in Canary Wharf a few years ago with equally valuable results. When lots of people walk across the field and express interest, they can instantly see what’s going on. Their journey usually involves stopping and watching for a while, asking friends and studying cricket before finally immersing themselves in the game, booking a pitch and learning what it’s all about.
How can padel businesses use pop-up events to grow the sport?
For cricket companies and brands, events like this also represent a great way to network and network with professional players and well-known cricket brands. Great Britain players in attendance last week included Nikhil Mohindra, Francis Langan, Tia Norton and Amy Cairns. Pop-up pitches at well-known and popular locations across the UK are a proven way to drive traffic from consumers, sponsors and even professional players back to your brand or club.
For small businesses and manufacturers, it also provides an opportunity to set up a stall and capitalize on traffic and interest. All of this contributes to a circular ecosystem that inevitably grows the sport, so events like padel in Battersea need to be held more regularly and spread across the UK. With Wimbledon playing on a nearby big screen, that could prompt people to want to get out onto the court and pick up a racket. We look forward to being there all summer, so come say hello and stop by for a chat!
what do you think? Have you been to Battersea or plan to?We’d love to hear your thoughts, so if you have any questions contact us now!
