Big news and Big Exclusive to start this week’s edition of Primetime!

At Primetime Padel, we love a good rivalry, and few are as storied as the sporting history between Great Britain and the United States. While the Ryder Cup has defined this cross-Atlantic tension for nearly a century on the golf course, a new chapter is being written in the 10x20 meter cage.

The Anglo American Padel Cup made its explosive debut in London in October 2025. It wasn't just a tournament; it was a cultural phenomenon that reached an audience of 9.1 million, making it the most impactful padel competition in UK history. In a high-stakes finale that came down to the final two matches, Team USA managed to secure a hard-fought victory on British soil.

Central to this vision is Ben Nichols, a co-founder of the Cup alongside Bill Ullman and Joelle Quinn. As a veteran of the sports communications world through Padel 22, Ben has been the architect behind the Cup's narrative, transforming it from a bold idea into a premier international fixture. Today, we sit down with Ben to discuss the massive news: the Cup is coming to the U.S. in February 2027, and it’s growing significantly in scale.

Primetime: Ben, the inaugural Cup in London wasn't just a success; it reached over 9 million people. After seeing that kind of "final day drama" firsthand, what was the primary factor in choosing The Replay Club in Palm Beach County as the first-ever American host?

Ben Nichols: London set the bar incredibly high, so when it came to finding our first American home, we knew we needed a venue that could match that premium experience and then take it to the next level. The Replay Club stood out immediately. It's the perfect embodiment of the modern American country club, a world where padel, wellness, hospitality, and culture all come together under one roof. And like our event itself, Replay is about so much more than just padel. It's a holistic experience. Bringing that to South Florida, a part of the country that is genuinely leading the way in padel's growth and adoption, and bringing the Anglo American Padel Cup here feels not just fitting, but the only right decision for this historic next chapter.

Primetime: You aren't just moving the venue; you are expanding the field from 64 to over 100 players. Why was it important to add more depth to the Open and Age Group categories (40s, 50s, 60s) rather than keeping the original elite-heavy format?

Ben Nichols: From the very beginning, one of our core objectives has been to celebrate padel at all levels of the game, not just at the very top. The inaugural Cup showed us that the appetite is there across every category, and that the competition is genuinely fierce whether you're playing in the Open or the 60s. By adding an additional pair per nation across every category, we're creating more opportunity, more matches, and more incredible moments. Players will now compete across four matches over the course of the event, which adds real depth and drama to every category. This expansion reflects where padel is right now in both countries, growing rapidly, with talent emerging at every level, and we want the Anglo American Cup to be a true reflection of that.

Primetime: One of the most intriguing parts of this announcement is the new University category. How do you see this collegiate pathway impacting the "Special Relationship" and the professional future of the sport in both the US and the UK?

Ben Nichols: This is something we're genuinely excited about. The University category is about creating a new pathway and a real incentive for the next generation of players in both countries. University sport has such a rich tradition in both the US and the UK (think of what collegiate competition has done for other sports) and we want padel to have that same pipeline. These are the players who will define the future of the game, and by giving them a stage on which to represent their country at an international level, we're giving them something to aim for and a reason to develop faster. The "Special Relationship" has always been built on the next generation carrying the torch, and this category makes sure that padel is no different.

Primetime: The Replay Club is a massive 70,000-square-foot facility focused on "modern athletic living." For the fans traveling from the UK to Florida in February 2027, what kind of atmosphere can they expect compared to the atmosphere we saw in London?

Ben Nichols: The atmosphere in London was one of the great takeaways from the inaugural Cup. That Ryder Cup spirit of patriotism, tribal but friendly rivalry between two nations that know each other very well. It was electric, and it made our event stand out like nothing else in elite padel. When we first stepped foot in The Replay Club, we immediately felt that it was Anglo American Cup Padel worthy, and not just to match what we created in London, but to go beyond it. We're talking about a bigger facility, more spectators, a dedicated show court, social areas, a mezzanine level, all bathed in February Florida sunshine with palm trees outside. The physical space at Replay is perfectly designed to amplify that unique Anglo American atmosphere, and with more guests and more room, that team camaraderie and crowd energy is only going to grow. Our ambition grows with every edition, and Replay is the perfect stage to take things up a notch.

Primetime: Team USA took the trophy in 2025 by the thinnest of margins. As a co-founder and an observer of the rivalry, what is the one thing Great Britain needs to change in their selection or strategy to reclaim the Cup on American soil?

Ben Nichols: Make no mistake, the fact that the Cup was decided in the penultimate match on court will have lit a fire under the British team. From a British perspective, nothing would be sweeter than winning it back on American soil as the away side. Our selection process, for both nations, is always focused on finding the best talent, players who not only have the game, but who understand what it means to compete for their country in this competition. It's a completely unique, unparallelled experience in the padel world. What makes it so compelling is that both nations are at a genuinely similar stage in their padel journey, which is why it comes down to the wire every time. The US will be dogged and determined to defend the Cup on home soil, but the Brits will be coming for it. This Anglo American sporting rivalry has been going for over 150 years, and it shows absolutely no sign of slowing down.

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Primetime Take: By codifying the business logic behind successful clubs, Del Pilar is handing investors the "instruction manual" needed to move the sport from coastal hotspots to every corner of the country.

A group of visionary entrepreneurs is transforming the L.A. sports landscape by launching high-end facilities that blend professional-grade courts with Southern California’s elite social and wellness culture.

Primetime Take: Los Angeles is the ultimate "lifestyle" litmus test for padel; if these founders can make it the new "must-have" social activity for the Hollywood and tech crowds, national adoption is inevitable.

Following a breakout 2025 with over 1,900 players, the National Padel League is returning with a dual-season format (Spring and Fall) and a massive expansion of its women's divisions across six U.S. regions.

Primetime Take: The move to a two-season calendar proves that the hunger for structured, team-based amateur play is officially outstripping court capacity—the community isn't just growing; it's obsessed.

The Pro Padel League (PPL) has closed a $15 million Series A funding round to accelerate its North American growth, bringing its total capital raised in the last year to $25 million.

Primetime Take: This level of institutional backing signals that the "pro" side of the sport is no longer just a startup experiment—it’s now a well-funded race for media rights and market dominance.

WHOOP has inked a three-year global deal to become the official wearable of the Premier Padel tour, providing elite athletes with 24/7 physiological data to optimize their recovery and on-court strain.

Primetime Take: Integrating real-time health data into the broadcast and training environment brings a "Formula 1" level of sports science to padel, further legitimizing it as a world-class professional discipline.