Serving up the future of padel with PATL’s Andrew and Kevin

Hey padel fam! If you've been scrolling through your feed dreaming about smashing shots off those glass walls or just curious about the next big thing in racket sports, you're in for a treat. Here at Prime Time Padel, we're all about that high-energy, community-vibe life – think pickleball meets tennis with a side of squash, but way more social and addictive. Today, we're dropping our first-ever exclusive interview with the dynamic duo behind PATL (that's Padel Atlanta, for the uninitiated), Andrew and Kevin. These guys are straight-up pioneers, bringing padel to the South and Midwest in ways that feel fresh, accessible, and super fun. From late-night birthday party brainstorms to building outdoor courts with killer views, they've got stories that'll make you want to grab a racket ASAP.

We caught up with Andrew (the Lexington native who's all about those trick shots) and Kevin (Atlanta born-and-raised coaching legend) to chat about their journey, the highs and lows of launching PATL, and what's next for this growing empire. Buckle up – we're covering everything from their college tennis days to pro tips for aspiring padel entrepreneurs. Let's rally!

Personal Journey

We kicked things off by asking about how these two first crossed paths at Kenyon College and how their tennis roots sparked the idea for PATL. Bonus: How have their roles evolved in the company?

Andrew jumped in: "Kevin and I played tennis together at Kenyon College from 2011-2013 and stayed in close contact afterwards. We came up with the idea for PATL at my 30th birthday party in Glacier, Montana. It was around 3am and I had just started playing a bunch and had taken Kevin out to play earlier in the year in New York and after a few beers we were just talking and said 'Man wouldn't it be cool to open a padel club in Atlanta.' We followed up with each other a few weeks later that we were both serious and not just another 3am business idea and then shortly after began looking for properties/partnerships."

Next up: What initially drew you to padel, and how did your first experience change your take on racket sports?

Andrew: "The walls. Just being able to hit crazy shots off the walls and using the walls and seeing the pros do things on YouTube. I love to hit trick shots in tennis and squash so this felt like the right sport for me."

Kevin: "It was another racquet sport to get addicted to. Playing tennis in college and squash, and later after school getting into platform tennis, it seemed that this combined all of those sports so I had to try it."

We wanted the full timeline: Walk us through the key milestones from your college tennis days to launching PATL in Atlanta in December 2023. Biggest challenges and breakthroughs?

Andrew: "Most of my milestones in college were off the court. Traveling to Russia for study abroad (first time I had ever left the country). And then deciding after college to go to San Francisco for work. I kept up with tennis probably more than most people after college and stayed very active in the sport, traveling for events, playing leagues, and practicing and training most days after work. And then with work got promoted to take over in New York where I stayed very active in tennis until the summer of 2022 when the first padel courts opened in New York. Once I started playing I fell in love with the sport and shifted most of my tennis energies to being on a padel court and training. I started traveling to all over the US which built of my own enthusiasm leading to my conversation with Kevin about starting a club. We struggled to find opportunities to get the space for a club and then Kevin connected with an old friend which led to our partnership with ITP Training Academy. And then from there we took that proof of concept over to Louisville, Kentucky to partner with Goodbounce Pickleball club in the same way."

Kevin: "During the college days, we had some success reaching the NCAA D3 National Finals in 2012 and winning ITA National Indoors the following year. After college, I started working at ACE Tennis Academy working with competitive juniors and adults and coached there for the next 12 years. All the while, I also worked with Emory University as a volunteer and part time coach for about 7 years before becoming the Assistant Coach from 2022-2024, where we made the Semis and Quarters of the NCAA National Tournament in the two years I was there and receiving the 2023 NCAA D3 Regional and National Assistant Coach of the Year and 2024 Conference Coaching Staff of the Year. Being a coach was definitely some of the most rewarding parts of my life as you are part of someone else’s growth and progress and the relationships you build with them. During this time, I also worked in manufacturing and international sourcing as well as ran a dumpling business called Kat’s Dumps. There were definitely challenges with the different fields of experience from being able to work and collaborate with all types of personalities, finding common ground, working with different cultures, as well as the long hours of working 2 or 3 jobs at a time. Through the experiences, it has set up well moving forward into this new endeavor."

(From NCAA glory to dumpling side hustles? These guys are the definition of multifaceted – and that coaching vibe totally shines through in how they're building PATL communities.)

As a Lexington native, Andrew, how has your Kentucky background shaped introducing padel to places like Louisville? What about local connections?

"Local connections were huge and were the sole reason our partnership happened. My entire family has been hugely involved in tennis in Kentucky. My two younger sisters both played tennis, one of them one a Kentucky state title. My dad is in the Kentucky tennis hall of fame. And my mom currently runs an organization that focuses on kids programming with tennis (leagues, after school programs, and tournaments). Through my families network we talked to the right people and i think it provided a ton of credibility to our brand even though we were still very early in our project in Atlanta at this point."

And Kevin, how have your Atlanta roots and how padel fits into that community?

"I was born and raised in Atlanta, so it’s home for me. I’ve always been involved in the tennis and racquets community from playing junior tennis to coaching at the tennis academy I trained at to coaching the Emory University Women’s Tennis team. The community here in Atlanta is great. We have a diverse melting pot here with people from all over, and thus have people that know padel, have played before, and are looking for it. You couple that with the large tennis and racquets community, and that creates a great fit for padel."

(Home-court advantage, literally! Tapping into family networks and local vibes is how you make a new sport feel like it belongs.)

Company Model and Unique Aspects

PATL's all about teaming up with existing spots like ITP Training Academy in Atlanta and Goodbounce Pickleball Yard in Louisville. How'd you land on this collaborative model, and what's the upside for building padel in off-the-beaten-path spots?

"The model came up out of necessity. We wanted to make sure we were first to strike in these markets so going to existing clubs allowed us to build in a way that was much more streamlined. It also allows us to let the sport grow more naturally without huge pressures and risks."

(Smart move – why go solo when you can remix with pickleball and tennis pros? It's like the ultimate crossover episode.)

What makes PATL's outdoor World Padel Tour courts stand out? Think LED lighting, epic locations (hello, Ohio River views in Louisville), and partnerships with brands like Babolat.

"The courts are very well done. We made sure to prioritize the in between space to allow enough space for players to move freely in and out of the courts. We also were thrilled to find locations in such good parts of each city. Chamblee in Atlanta is a rare find as it is 'inside the perimeter' in Atlanta and the surrounding facility that ITP has built with a full bar and all of top tier tennis and pickleball courts was a huge help as it is a high traffic venue with a lot of eyes passing by the padel courts. The location at Goodbounce on the River is just so picturesque with the marina as the backdrop and gameyard adjacent. Night time games there are very peaceful."

(Scenic sunsets and lit-up night sessions? Sign us up – these aren't just courts; they're vibe central.)

How do you customize offerings like tournaments, open play, and events to amp up the padel scene in diverse spots like Chamblee's northeast Atlanta hood?

"Right now it is mainly about getting people to try this new sport however we can. Whether it is birthday parties, national tournaments like the Atlanta Padel Open, or smaller one day or regional events. We do offer weekly 'Americanos' which is like a mix and match round robin style for two hours a few nights a week which has been a great way for new comers to meet locals and get involved in our community."

(Americanos sound like the perfect icebreaker – mix, match, and make friends while you smash. Millennial social goals!)

In what ways does PATL shine when bringing padel to emerging markets beyond the usual suspects like Miami or New York?

"I think just in that we are actually doing it. The amount of people who have talked about opening clubs of in general in the US is high, but the follow through is what is toughest. And for the most part up until the last 6-12 months most of the focus for new padel clubs has been in cities like Miami, New York, LA, etc. We wanted to focus on other markets and provide the same access."

(Props for the follow-through – turning talk into action is what separates the dreamers from the doers.)

Lessons Learned and Challenges

Reflecting on PATL's early days, what unexpected lessons hit you about launching a padel biz, from partnerships to weather woes in outdoor setups?

"I think the biggest challenge and lesson was the importance of finding people with good knowledge of the real estate industry. Real estate is a big limiting factor for padel clubs, so being able to work with someone with that expertise is a huge value add if that resource is available."

(Real estate drama? Relatable – but turning it into a lesson? That's growth mindset 101.)

How have personal connections and biz plans fueled your success? Share a hurdle you crushed, and how's the fundraising journey going?

"Personal connections have been huge in us being able to grow our brand. When you have never done this before and you're doing it in particular with a sport that is so new it comes down to the people behind the project. We have been grateful and fortunate to have people trust us in these early days to build something."

(Trust and networks are the real MVPs when you're bootstrapping a new sport scene.)

What insights on padel's US growth, especially in the South and Midwest, have shaped your ops in Atlanta and Louisville?

"This is not a revolutionary thought but it is picking up like crazy. Every week it seems like i am hearing about new project and the new court development skyrocketing. And I think that has lit a fire under us to make sure we maintain our momentum to not lose that first mover advantage. But regardless is super exciting because for us to succeed we need more players so more courts will lead to more players and then that's when the quality of what you offer 'events, tournaments, training sessions, etc' comes into play."

(Boom time! That skyrocketing energy is contagious – more courts mean more fun for everyone.)

Future Plans

With a new West Midtown spot in Atlanta by 2026 and potential indoor Kentucky facilities for winter, what's got you hyped about PATL's roadmap?

"While we love our partnerships, I think the most exciting part will be when we find our own space to open our first PATL club where we see everything from clubhouse to bar to bathrooms to courts come from the ground up. And to look at it when construction is done to see what we have built."

(Ground-up builds? That's next-level – imagine the grand opening parties!)

How do you see PATL evolving across the South and Midwest? New markets or innovations like boosted community programs on the horizon?

"Short answer is yes we are looking and if anyone would like us to come to their city we are open to ideas. But with real estate how it is, a lot of expansion comes to down to not only the right city but making sure you find the right city for the right project in that city."

How will PATL contribute to the US padel boom, making it more known, accessible, and social?

"We hope to take things even more national with a focus on accessibility and community. We want to our clubs to feel open and welcoming while prioritizing top end facilities for the players. And I believe that is going to be key to not only our success but the growth of the sport nationally."

(Accessibility and community first? That's the secret sauce for turning padel into everyone's go-to social sport.)

Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

For folks dreaming of their own padel company, what's your top advice on partnerships, community building, and hitting untapped markets?

"Come up with the vision for what you can create and then truly think about if the market you are going to is right for that vision. And if it is not then either adapt for the city or look at a different market for the club. The types of clubs you make in Miami for instance likely would be different than what you can do in Minneapolis."

(Match your vision to the vibe – solid advice for avoiding mismatched markets.)

Tips for dodging pitfalls in the racket sports world, like building buzz for padel or linking up with brands?

"Know what you are good at and what you aren't. I think a lot of people with really good rackets backgrounds get into running a club and don't understand the numbers side of the business and vice versa."

If you could time-travel back to pre-PATL you, what's the one piece of advice? How's it apply to local padel growers?

"Find someone who knows commercial real estate well. This will speed up the process of finding the right space for your project."

(Real estate whisperer = game-changer. Aspiring locals, take note!)

Finally, if someone's hooked on this deep-dive and wants more on partnerships or investing, how can they connect?

"On our website you can find our email [email protected]- you can send any inquiries that way. Whether it’s partnerships, investments, or you just want to book a lesson or court."

There you have it, padel enthusiasts – straight from Andrew and Kevin, the trailblazers making waves (and walls) in the sport we can't get enough of. Whether you're a newbie eyeing your first Americanos or a pro plotting your own club, PATL's story is pure inspiration. Drop us a comment below: What's your padel origin story? And stay tuned to Prime Time Padel for more exclusives, tips, and tournament recaps. Game on! 🚀