PATL (padel Atlanta) is pushing south with their biggest project yet: a new club in Mount Pleasant (Charleston area) set to open in late summer/fall 2026. Kevin Ye laid out the vision in a recent BizPadel interview—six indoor courts with sky-high ceilings, one outdoor stadium court, four squash courts, a central cafe/bar, co-working space, and mezzanine viewing. It's the first dedicated indoor padel spot in the region, blending padel with other racket sports and social vibes to drive community growth outside traditional hubs.

Primetime Take: This is exactly the kind of multi-sport, hangout-focused facility that could spark real momentum in emerging markets. Indoor options beat the weather, squash crossovers pull in new players, and the social hub keeps people coming back. If PATL nails the community feel like they have in Atlanta, Charleston might just become the next Southeast hotspot. 2026 feeling like padel's breakout year stateside? Signs point yes—watch this one closely. Want to learn more about the PATL club founders? You’re in luck! We did a Primetime Exclusive with them back in the fall! Find it here.

Big vibes from the Garden State—News 12 just spotlighted how padel is blowing up at Padel United Sports Club in Cresskill (essentially an NYC suburb), with fast-paced rallies, nonstop action, and players ditching the usual for this tennis-squash mashup on enclosed courts. It's drawing Manhattanites willing to hop in the car for the upscale setup (think spa, yoga, even a fancy biohacking chamber), proving padel isn't just surviving—it's thriving as the next big thing in the Northeast.

Primetime Take: Okay, this is peak 2026 energy: padel stealing the spotlight from pickleball in suburbia, pulling city folks across state lines for better courts and that full wellness glow-up. Cresskill turning into a mini hub with premium amenities? Chef's kiss. We love to see when a club gets the local earned-media, and the reporter has a blast in this segment. If we're seeing cross-state road trips for padel already, imagine when more spots like this pop up—US growth is accelerating, and it's fun AF.

Big move in the US padel game—Franklin Sports just dropped they're the new official ball supplier for the Pro Padel League (PPL) via a multiyear deal. They're launching their "Duracore Padel Ball" (co-branded with PPL logos) for all league events, kicking off at PPL II in Miami March 15-18, then hitting mass retail mid-April at $12.99. PPL CEO Mike Dorfman called it huge for broad awareness through Franklin's big-box distribution muscle, while Franklin's Ryan Fritschy said they're "all in" on padel—racket line dropping in the next couple months too.

Primetime Take: This is straight fire for padel credibility stateside. Franklin crushed it in pickleball (top ball, big endorsements), so bringing that distribution power + trusted brand to padel? Game-changer for getting legit balls everywhere and normalizing the sport in mainstream retail. PPL getting a partner like this as they gear up for season 3 with 10 teams? Feels like the pro side is leveling up fast. Who's hyped to try the Duracore? Bet it's gonna fly off shelves.

Huge news from Padel Nation—after years of real estate headaches, high rents, and bureaucracy blocking the way, Pacific Padel is set to launch the first proper padel spot in Seattle and the broader Pacific Northwest. Founders Pablo Arcuschin (Argentine padel coach OG), Ory Dank (tennis pro turned facility boss), and Nadav Porat are building courts + community vibes, tapping into the massive demand from tech folks at Amazon/Microsoft who've been driving 3+ hours to Vancouver, BC just to play. Josh Kerns from IAPPF calls it "long overdue" and predicts a high-growth explosion once it drops.

Primetime Take: The PNW drought is ending, baby—rainy weather + indoor courts = perfect match, and with that high-income, international crowd already hyped (hundreds in WhatsApp groups begging for it), Seattle could turn into a padel hotspot quick. Pacific Padel's focus on social connections over just courts? Smart play. Location reveal coming soon—mark your calendars, Northwest crew, 2026 is about to get way more fun.