In 2016, Lisandro Borges made a decision that defied all logic: bring the World Pádel Tour (WPT) to Buenos Aires. “It was a hunch; the numbers didn’t work and everyone told me I was crazy,” confessed dialogue with Ámbito. Against all odds, the tournament in La Rural was a resounding successattracting 18,000 peoplepractically double what events like the ATP tennis call. This first milestone marked the beginning of a ambitious project that would transform the panorama of Argentine padel.
Today, Borges leads World Paddle Groupa conglomerate that operates in multiple areas of sport: court manufacturing and installation, tournament organization, player representation and club management. “We went from a tournament to a complete ecosystem. We sell around 200 courts a year and we are the largest club franchise in the world, with 24 headquarters in four countries,” he highlighted.
The padel business
The average installation cost of a court is from US$20,000 US$25,000while indoor clubs, which rely on modern design and advanced technology, can exceed the US$1 million. Borges emphasizes that this premium format offers a unique experience for players: “You’re not just going to play paddle tennis, you’re going to live an experience. Our courts have match recording, LED screens and automated reservations, among other services.”
The franchise model has also been key to its expansion. “We create clubs that are much more than sports spaces: they are centers of experience. Every detail, from the lighting to the common areas, is designed to impact.” One of our flagship clubs, located in Cipolletti, cost US$3.5 million.
Innovation and expansion
According to the businessman, the padel market shows no signs of slowing down, quite the opposite. Countries like Chile and Paraguay They added more than 1,000 courts in the last year, and in In the United States, cities like Miami already have 12 clubs. “Paddle tennis is inclusive and accessible; that makes it unstoppable. At the amateur level it has already surpassed tennis in popularity in many countries,” explained Borges.
World Padel Group also manages The Players Padel Agencywhich represents the best Argentine players, including recent world champions. In addition, its e-commerce platform, Paddle Marketis positioned as one of the main companies in the sector in Argentina. “Paddle tennis is booming and is not going to stop growing,” remarks Borges.
Paddle at Lawn Tennis
Next week, World Pádel Group will take paddle tennis to a historic setting: the Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis Club. This is Argentina Pádel Tour X Teams that will take place from December 20 to 24. It will be the first time it is played professionally on clay, an event that Borges describes as “emblematic and disruptive.”
“The stadium has 130 years of history and has seen the best tennis players in the world pass by. We decided to respect the surface of the temple of tennis and take paddle tennis there. This is an example of how sport continues to evolve and innovate,” explained Borges.
The event will feature the participation of three recent world champions, Leo Augsburger, Valentino Libaak and Alex Chozas, an attraction that has already generated great interest. With capacity for 4,000 spectatorstickets are selling quickly at affordable prices, starting at $10,000allowing more people to be part of this unique experience.
This event is part of the official calendar of the Argentine padel circuit, the Argentina Pádel Tour, and is supported by the Argentine Paddle Association (AAP). In addition, it is projected as an annual event, which will seek to position itself among the most anticipated tournaments in the world of padel.
“With this competition, we finally developed our own America vs. Europe or Laver Cup, an event that is as exciting for players as it is for fans. This format not only promotes sporting excellence, but also strengthens the ties between players and fans,” closes Borges, who thanks to his vision, based on a mix of intuition, passion and business strategy, not only reactivated the sport in Argentina, but positioned it globally.
Source: Ambito
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