Padel's Empire Strikes Back: Xcel Unveils Florida's Mega-Court Conquest

Xcel Padel is dropping the mic—or should we say, the racket—with their shiny new Westlake facility, claiming the throne as the U.S.'s largest indoor padel spot boasting 10 courts, lounge vibes, and a restaurant slinging wine and beer for that post-match glow-up. But wait, there's more: come November 2025, their West Palm Beach sibling rolls out with 12 courts and cold plunges to ice those sore egos (and muscles). Spearheaded by padel godfather Marcos del Pilar and managed by Iryna Ryzhuk, these Florida gems are turning the Sunshine State into the ultimate padel power in the universe.

Primetime Take: A facility of this scale is a statement of intent—it’s a landing strip for major professional tournaments and a sign that big-money investors are finally seeing the U.S. market as a future powerhouse, not just a curious side project. This move officially kicks off the padel "facilities arms race," and for us players, that means better courts, bigger events, and a whole lot more clout for the sport stateside. Game on. But remember what happened to the Empire when they built a massive statement project? Could the interest rates on the capital to build this death star be its proverbial ventilation shaft?

Your Padel Racket is Now a Passport.

This article covers how padel is leveling up from backyard rallies to jet-set tourism gold, with Spain's Marbella Club Hotel dropping luxe vibes like private coaching on the Príncipe Alfonso Pádel Court amid beaches and bougie dining.

Over in Dubai, the Ritz-Carlton's rooftop courts serve skyline stunners alongside competitive play and chill sessions, making it a magnet for globe-trotting ballers.

Meanwhile, the US is exploding with padel fever in hotspots like Miami, Houston, and LA, where spots like Texas' Pelota Padel Club mix pro lessons, social hangs, and economic boosts to redefine active escapes.

Primetime Take: if padel's turning resorts into rally kingdoms, we're swapping our passport stamps for court bookings—Spain for that Euro flair, Dubai for desert drama, and the US for homegrown hype; forget FOMO, this is the ultimate smash-and-splash upgrade that's got us booking flights faster than a drop shot.

Ronaldo's Racket Revolution: CR7 Dives Deep into Padel with Lisbon Takeover

Cristiano Ronaldo is trading cleats for courts (kinda) with his €5 million scoop-up of the Lisbon Racket Centre in Oeiras, turning it into a padel paradise complete with 17 courts, 11 of 'em covered, a 2,000-seat stadium, and swanky fitness vibes—construction kicked off in February 2025, all on his dime. While still chasing that 1,000-goal soccer dream and World Cup glory with Portugal in 2026, CR7's daily padel obsession and billion-strong social media army are set to skyrocket the sport's global glow-up, as per Portugal's padel prez Ricardo Oliveira. This marks Ronaldo's first big non-soccer splash, fueling buzz he might hit the World Padel Tour post-retirement, while padel's 30 million players (up 150% in a decade) prove it's the racket rebellion we didn't know we needed.

Primetime Take: Alright, squad, if Ronaldo's padel power move isn't the ultimate flex, I don't know what is—dude's basically turning Lisbon into the new Mecca for smashes while still bossing soccer; we're low-key jealous of those daily court sessions, but hey, with CR7's Midas touch, padel's about to go from niche to Netflix-level drama, and we're booking our flights to rally with the GOAT.

Padel Is The New Power Lunch: Property+Padel Serves Up a New Way to Network

Forget stuffy boardrooms and boring happy hours—Property+Padel is changing the corporate networking game by bringing business leaders onto the court. The new platform hosts events where professionals from real estate, finance, and other industries can compete in a "Corporate Padel Cup" to build relationships and spark new business opportunities. By fusing the world's fastest-growing sport with the corporate world, co-founders Rohit Grewal and Ben Nichols are turning traditional networking into energized, social encounters.

Primetime Take: This is genius. Padel is already so social and fun, it's the perfect way to break the ice and build real connections without the pressure of a formal meeting. It's a total game-changer, proving that the best business deals are made on the court, not in the corner office.

Padel's Calorie Crunch: Pro Coach Spills How to Torch 400 in Just One Hour of Fun

Padel, the globe's hottest racket rebellion now smashing through over 90 countries, lets you burn around 400 calories per hour—matching spin classes or steady runs—thanks to non-stop movement that keeps the ball in play, as per pro coach Lucas from Padel Stars St Albans. This full-body fiesta blasts legs and glutes with explosive sprints, cranks your core for killer balance, and amps up arms and shoulders via volleys, blending HIIT-style aerobic and anaerobic perks for a sneaky workout disguised as a game. Stack it against tennis (400-600 cals), squash (500-700), or running (600), and padel's beginner-friendly vibes—like underhand serves and wall assists—make it a social superstar, with even Messi, Ronaldo, and Nadal joining the rally.

Primetime Take: Alright, crew, if padel's turning our lazy game nights into 400-cal bonfires without the gym dread, we're trading our couch scrolls for court conquests—because who knew sweating could be this social and sneaky? Lucas is basically our fitness fairy godfather; time to level up and lob those excuses away.