Hey, Cesc here, and today we have some amazing architects that design paddle clubs, yes, paddle clubs. Welcome, Teresa and Jerry. Thank you for having us. Of course, of course. We're very excited, too. Of course, of course. Why don't you tell me a little bit about yourself and how you got into designing paddle clubs. That's a good question. So we're from Argentina. I grew up, um, you know, I grew up playing paddle. When I was in my 20s. It was in the 90s.
Um, I was, you know, I was studying architectural, but in the same time I was playing padel. I love it. So it was a problem because I have to stop my career for two years playing padel because it was just, we, we all get crazy about it. Yeah. Now was paddle your first racquet sport? Not really. I started playing field hockey because the ladies play field hockey and the guys play rugby. Okay. And I play a little bit of tennis.
But when Padel come, come in, they, they came more than a club, they, we have like a bar, restaurant, and they have the, the Padel around, so it's kind of a social event, everybody was going and watch, and we start playing kind of for fun, and we get so addictive. So I stopped my career for two years playing, um, Fidel. Oh my god, wow. And it was, everybody was crazy. Everybody's coming to watch because it was so exciting.
But it was so different because we have, we have hardcore, you know, it was, uh, Hard court and wall in the back. So it was not that visual like right now. So was the wall concrete or was it wood? It was concrete, the floor and the walls concrete. And the paddle was the same like platform tennis here. The paddle was thin, out of wood. So everything start changing.
But when I start, even though it was hard court, excited than now, we get know how people are going state because when I mov didn't have any padel hea tennis again. I love tenn padel is just, it's a gam beautiful game. Jerry, ho did you first start playi I think we, you know, you And your friends were saying, did you guys meet playing paddle? And I said, I don't think so. I think we were playing other sports.
But, uh, but we actually, I think, oh, it was because when I proposed to you, they were saying I went to pick On a paddle court? No, they said I went to pick her up, and she was playing paddle that day. That's right. And they said, oh, Jerry proposed to you on a paddle court or something like that. No, no, but I don't remember exactly.
That's funny, but um Yeah, it was, it was, you know, when, when, when we were young in Argentina, it was kind of like, it was everywhere in the nineties in Argentina. It was pretty much everywhere. I would just, sometimes I would go work and I would stop by, have a coffee at a, at a Padel place or, or have breakfast at a Padel place. And I would kind of like, I just play for an hour with, just with my work clothes, and then go back to work.
But, uh, so I think that the passion came like from how we grew up. So, so how, how do you think that, that kind of boom came with paddle in the nineties? Well, what, what caused that? Do you think that the boom, yeah, the boom of a paddle growth, um, in the nineties, I guess, you know, um, tennis is, is, it was getting challenged, challenging for people like, uh, on their thirties or forties, I would say so.
And, uh, And I always relate it because I, I saw, I see that the age of the people playing, you know, and, uh, and Padel was kind of like a sport that you could play competitive. Gotcha. Or, it's less intimidating. You can actually play a low level and a high level too, right? Unlike tennis, where you have to play, you have coaches and so forth. Do you think that's missing here in the USA? Yes. Absolutely. Absolutely.
But to me, it was a kind of social, like play, you know, friends play, say, okay, let's go and play. So, we just go and play for fun, and it start getting addictive. So, we start for fun first, like a social thing, and because people go have dinner or, you know, coffee, and just, okay, we're right here, just grab it. Kind of like Pickleball right now, here, that was exactly like Padel, but it was a bar or restaurant around. It's a little bit more than a club.
It was a social place with coffee or, you know, in Argentina, everybody, it's like, you know, in other country that you go for a coffee in the morning and maybe we have afternoon coffee before dinner. So it was a social thing for us and we all get addicted and it was a social event. Everybody go and watch it. So it was kind of like that and of course we just get crazy. So that's what I think the clubs here are looking for, that habit.
You know, saying the habit of getting the coffee, okay, you know, it's one o'clock coffee. The habit of saying, okay, it's Tuesday, I'm going to go play paddle. So trying to create that here in the USA, I mean, that's, that's what people are working on here. And I think they're going to get there because as soon as I'm addicted to it, as soon as I love it, I'm going there all the time, you know, it's fun to watch, it is, yeah, it is entertaining. It's more entertaining than tennis.
We wanna see the points, the ball goes out, they go rescue it. You know, there's an amazing shot, a great defense. It's like, wow. You know, and, and for us to be an architect and, you know, I, I play in different part of the country and we played. In in different part of the world too. So we see how they could the club what the things they are missing What they think so we apply all our, you know Architectural knowledge with our sport knowledge the things that are missing.
That's what it's exactly for me Apply, you know, whatever I know whatever I work on and do projects that so let's talk about that Uh for all the paddle club owners or soon to be owners. What do you see? What things do you see that are missing? Let's say things that you see in Europe or South America that they don't have here in the USA that you believe can help, you know, create and promote and, uh, you know, paddle.
When you get into a place, however, like a restaurant, have a nice place to sit and watch viewing areas. Okay. You know, the viewing areas are the key, you know, the space between courts and the space that you can see it and watch. All the perspective of the game, that is key to me. The view and the place that you can sit and have a drink. And even you can bring your computer and have a space that you can work on.
Between the games, sometimes, okay, I'm playing in the morning and I have to play three hours later. Where am I going to work?
When I have a meeting so where I can go that's happened to me intense a good wi fi a space where they can work and watch right and somewhere they can get a drink a coffee or something to eat the level of hospitality I think it has to increase in sports facilities in the U. S. because uh instead of people and go and just play sport and go home or leave I think it's important that people actually enjoys being there yeah a lifestyle
yes social You know, you want great habits, a community, all those things. I think, I think, 100%. You know, I think, uh, most club owners are accustomed to places like Florida or Texas, where you open the club and they'll come. But you open it anywhere else, it's a lot more difficult. And you may have to add different verticals, like the restaurant, or, or other things to keep them there, retention, right? Um, okay, so let's talk about Architect.
How did you When you're going to school, how did you move over to, is it all racquet sports or mainly focused on paddle clubs? At the moment, we are mostly focusing on padel and peek a ball. Okay. As a, you know, as, as a, another activity on clubs. Okay. Um, most of it because to bring revenue, right? Yes. Um, because, uh, in many places in the United States, padel is not, So how important is that? You know, uh, I think people overlook that. How important is that other verticals?
Well, many times investors comes for pickable because they think that attract more people and they're probably right at the moment, but we don't know how that is going to evolve because there is so many people clubs at the moment. That I think it may get to a point of a probably saturation. Mm-Hmm. . And, um, and we think people that are starts with pickleball, they can evolve to padel. So you think there's more potential in, in revenue when it comes to Pat Battle? Oh, of course.
Than, than Pickle, right? Yes. Yeah. Because in the end, it's all real estate. Right? Right. It's like, uh, those, how do you rent your square footage? Right? Right. Either applicable or padel. Right. If you do the numbers, Padel is. It's much better than having pickable. More money per score. For sure. Yeah, for sure. The thing is, when we design the club, we say, okay, we will have one or two padel, so we will have pickable, so people can go and see the padel courts.
But in the future, we want more padel, of course, so convert. So our vision is to convert later, see what's going on. Yeah, but as a, as a, you know, as an sports to see, too. I think pickleball people, uh, people that they can enjoy watching Padel, you know, and, uh, and people that cannot play padel, they can still go to the club and another family member can play padel. I, I think every, every, everyone can play padel. It's just a different level. I think that's why it, but also great.
Somebody comes in, you know, that has never played any sport Yes. But wants to exercised and kind of learn. They can play with that same level. And it's pretty amazing. But then you have somebody at the higher level that really knows all the shots, playing really well. Let's say they're physically perfect, they're young, they're playing at a high level. So there's that whole range there. Everybody can play.
And the good thing is, um, maybe you get older, but you have a second chance to hit the ball. You know, in tennis, okay, you lose the point. Here, you have another chance. So, you know, you can keep playing. You keep learning and you keep growing, even you get older, but you still can, you know, get better. So that's a great thing. If you master the walls and know where it is, you can always meet it, anticipate and meet it there. And tennis, once that ball's passed you, you're done. You're done.
No, and, and, and it's exciting, the new technology, how they, so it was, something happened 30 years ago when I was playing, but this is a new world. It's exciting. This is just all new. I remember when, um, Sarah Boone, she's, uh, part of our team, you know. She owns, um, a racket club in, in Guilford, Guilford Racket Club. She told me that, oh, Tom was doing the first court in Connecticut in a private house in Greenwich. So, do you want to come with me? And I said, of course! Yeah, yeah.
Let's go! So, when I went there I saw the new court. I never see, um, you know, the court with glass and all the, no, that was four. That was three years ago in our mind. Two years ago we were still like, so, uh, I have a really close friend, the, um, Gustavo Spector, he's in Italy. He's, he was the captain of the Italian team. They have a, um, like seven club there. He's an expert. Yeah. So I call him and I do a video. I'm like. What is this?
And he said, well, that's the new court, that's the new technology. So that was new for us. And I'm like, Oh my God, I started playing and the ball, when they hit the wall, when they hit the glass is less harder with when I was playing before. So they have more time. So now the points are longer than 30 years ago. So you're saying the concrete, the bubbles faster than the glass? Yes. Than the glass. So that's a new thing.
So they add that the rackets with the new technology is way better than before to prevent injuries and the surface softer. So, and the glass, that's really good. The viewing, the people can see it. Right. So it's. 10 times better than before. So everything is, you know, going up and up and up. So I'm very excited with it.
That was a game changer at that point, because being able to put on the TV, you know, even YouTube, being able to see it, uh, see all the shots clearly, because how would you view it prior to that? You know, you would have to be on stands. You have to be kind of in the middle, because it's open, but now you have, you know, The whole thing. All right. So, it's Let's talk about your organization. Do you guys have a firm or a company? We have a firm. Yes. We, we do all kind of architecture.
But, uh, at the moment, we're doing a lot of, uh, football clubs and sports facilities. Wow. Uh, we're actually working in Florida, in Orlando, and a, and a, and another like, it's gonna be in the end like a nine courts facility. Awesome. And, uh, and, uh, we're Building in Brantford, uh, a new club. So in Brantford, uh, we are investor too. We have a great team with Tom Hending. They have Hending company. So he built, um, tennis court, paddle courts for 30 years already.
So, and we have great communication with him and we have a great team. We try to have the best of the best in each one of the, you know. Is this his first paddle club? Yes. Yes. That has been a while. Yes. Yes. That's great. Yes. But, uh, yeah, we're really excited. I think, uh, this is going to grow exponentially in the U. S. Um, well, in Miami, if you go, there's a lot of clubs already, but I think it's gonna, you know, it's gonna pick up in the West Coast and, uh, in many other states.
Something that I find out, uh, to me is very interesting. That, um, people in, in, if, I know there is not much international, you know, that they know Padel in here, but a lot of people play Platform Tense. Yes, yes. It's so similar. Very similar, but very different too. You know, I played it, it is similar in many ways, but I feel like, you know, you know, the Platform, people are gonna not like this, but I feel that Padel So much superior and better. But that's what, that's what happened.
People that play platform tennis play padel and say, Oh, this is way much better, much better for my knees, better for the wall, it's so nicer. So people that play platform tennis, they love padel. Right, right. It is very similar. Before, when I was looking for padel, uh, you know, I was driving around looking and, and I In Farmington, there's a couple of platform tennis, and I thought, okay, maybe that's it, I go over there, and I said, I don't know.
No, I know, I exactly, that was my feeling when I started playing here. Right, right. So, but people who play platform tennis, you know, in New England, they love Padel. Yeah, no, I could see that. So that was a, that was a different thing. So, so what's the name of the, the, the firm that you guys have? Um, our firm is GP Architects. Okay. Uh, but the art club that we're going to open is called smash smash like paddle smash, right? No, I know.
Did you kind of get some inspiration, uh, from paddle smash or did you not even know? But it's okay, it's a good thing, you know, it's good energy. It's exactly great. Well, we worked for a long time to figure out what's the right name for it. The name is tough, right? Coming up with a name is a lot harder than one thinks it is, you know, because it has to be quick, catchy, you know, it can't be too difficult. People have to remember and like saying it, you know what I'm saying?
So it, this is a little tough. Okay. So what made you guys invest into this, uh, to smash, uh, uh, paddle pickle club, right? Yes. It's challenging. Well, we, uh, actually we play a lot of racket sports, you know, almost every day. We belong to a couple of clubs. We have a big social network. Especially Teresa, that is all around racket sports, tennis. And, uh, well, we are originally from Argentina and we came here 20 years ago. And racket sports for us, it was just opening the doors. Oh, 100%.
100%. So we're a member of different club here and I play a lot of tennis and we play platform tennis too. So we know a lot of people and, and we love Padel and we really believe that this is going to grow. Oh yeah. I know it's going to be a little bit challenging. It's already growing. It's already hard. But, I really trust, more for the economy part, is for what we love. The passion, I'm the same way. The passion. For the last two years.
You know, I know maybe we're not going to make money the first two years. I don't really, you know, it is what it is. Okay, so let's talk about that with, with club owners. Why do you say that? And, and how do you think, you're saying 24 months is where you can get into the, not a return on investment, but kind of, uh, in, in the black, let's just say, why is that? And how are you going to be able to do that?
Well, we, um, we hired a, a consulting, uh, person who has got more than 30 years of experience running clubs. That is Sarah. You met. Oh, Sarah. Yeah. Yeah. She's a great person. But this is paddle. Yeah, I understand. I understand. Correct. But, uh, we, uh, but she has experience on, on a club itself. Yeah. So we are sort of like adapting her knowledge and putting things together for what paddle and pickable will be. So that's really smart.
And I think the lateral club owners outside of Florida, St. Texas, all kind of overlooked because, um, this person like Sarah or like many other, um, You know, um, club owners for many, many years know what the pitfalls are and what to avoid, you know, that costs you money and time. And so they can tell you what works, what doesn't work, you know, and it could definitely help. And they came from a family. Yeah, they have clubs.
Yeah, we felt like it was, it for our investors to hire a person who knows what she's doing. And she has the passion too. Exactly. I could see it. I felt it. She's a tennis player and, you know, and I play tennis with her. I play in her club. Sometimes we play together. She's better than me, but it's fine. But who's better at padel? I don't know. Yeah. No, that's, that, that would be a question. But, um, so, so I know her for a long time. I know her passion of this.
Yeah. You know, the sport and how passion she put it in her club and how many members she have. That is part of the member that we probably, you know, we will have some reciprocity. So, um, so the whole thing, we try to have the best of the best, you know, like Tom with his experience in, in clubs, in, you know, building clubs, you know, courts. So we try to have every good on everything. That's what we try.
And this is gonna reduce your exposure to, you know, risks like making mistakes, um, getting to be in the black sooner. If you didn't have this group, I mean, you're looking at 24 months, that's what you're saying roughly. If you didn't have that, that group, do you think it would take longer even? Probably. I would say, you know, the network is very important too. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So, um, so bringing the network together with the With a nice team. I think that's probably a secret for success.
A team that you have people from different backgrounds that they can contribute to the team. And that's what we were able to create in here. I saw that. I saw you had, you know, a lot of different people. People that have their different experiences that can contribute to this, this club, which is, I think, looks great. Correct. Yes. And now we, investors are very excited too. And they, you know, they're, um, we have squash players. She's the, um.
The captain, she's the, um, she's the director of the Yale, um. Yeah, one of our investors, uh, Lynn is, uh, she's the manager for Yale, uh, squash team. She's the captain of the Yale team. Okay. So, but, uh, uh, talking about, you know, um, uh, sports across the, you know, the board. Uh, I think in the end, you know, Padel is going to grow as going to colleges, you know. That's what we're hoping for. There's one in California already. Yes. And we're hoping that it's going to spread.
Yes, yes, yes. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I was I read somewhere that there's one in California. Um, I don't know which university, but I'll get back to on that and let you know, but there is one there. So I think if it gets into the schools, right, and this is where we can work with the youth, right, then, then they can, it can grow and people be like, okay, well, maybe there's scholarships for I'm going to talk about, you know, a couple of decades forward, you know what I'm saying?
Not, not tomorrow, but I mean, it is, I definitely do see it. I mean, you're saying 24 months for club owners. Um, maybe, maybe sooner, but we need to be safe. You know, now you talked about network and I think that's also really big. Um, having a network of hundreds or thousands of people that you can obviously. Mark it too and say, hey, come down and, and, you know, try playing paddle and hopefully they, they, they love it and they'll come back.
But what other way, because you're, you're going into an area that nobody knows paddle, right? It's a very small minority. How do you, how do you, how do you get them to really, uh, see what it is and get them excited to come, come down? Besides the network, because I think network's really important, really, but that's going to be very helpful. But, you know, there's a lot more people out in Connecticut or within, let's say a 30 mile radius.
Yeah, I think we are well We have a demographics in areas that we are building That there is already a market for people that plays racquet sports And uh, and it did grow with pickable I have to say but you're pulling them from the same market You're pulling them. They're already playing tennis. They're yes, you're trying to pull them to there. So You Maybe that's a network, but how about people that are not going to the rest of the people?
How are we, you going to show them what what we already know is one of the best sports ever and get 'em into the club? Yeah. That's, that's a, that's a challenge I would say. I think I, I see that with a lot of clothes, you know? I see. That is the challenge. Yes. But I think once you do, once they see that, that's when you get that, that rush, you're gonna see all those court.
It's booked for sure, but one of the thing we want to use as maybe the restaurant, the bar, you know, that could be a way to attract because we were, we've been talking with people that may be going to run the restaurant and the bar. They already have their own network in New Haven, so they can bring people also. Right. Yeah. We are manager is already, you know, we already have higher manager, even though we don't have the clout. Finished. But he's already working on corporate events.
That's great. It's very smart. Because, uh, you know, we think that we can, uh, partner with companies or, you know, they can be, we can offer different type of events for them, you know, for employees. They can gather at the club and they can have like a night that they can socialize. Maybe free, free, free time to play. Definitely. In your dead zones. Oh, of course. Yeah. I mean, you know, market, um, sign up.
You get information more, more, more, uh, more leads that you have and they can come in and try it out. I think people just need to try it out first and see how much fun and, you know, They're just like, I gotta bring my friends, you gotta come, you gotta come and play, you know. When we put a portable court in Sara Club last year, almost at the, you know, it was kind of cold. People say, oh, I don't want to add another sport. So when they start playing, oh, this is so much fun.
Oh, maybe, let me think about it because I'm getting older playing platform tennis and this one is so nicer for my body. So, just, we have to figure out the way that it is. Okay, come, come once. Just, just feel it. And you tell me after. So we need to just bring our friends. You know, and people that we know and they play sport and they say, Oh no, I don't want to add another sport. I hear that all the time. So, okay, just try it. Don't add if you don't want to just try it.
I'm like, Oh, this is pretty good. Oh, I like it. So, so you don't have to play, um, every day. If you come the first time or two times, you already find the rhythm, find something that you like it. So I think you don't have to, you know, tennis, You have to play for a year maybe to start to find the rhythm. This one now. If you have a racket sport before, maybe you're going to play as a tennis player. But you find some kind of a, you know, you like it when you start one or two times.
So that's my feeling. So I'm really excited that we have Smash opening up in Brantford. When do you think that's going to open? December. December. Yes. For sure? That's the goal. That's the goal. But we start from scratch. December 2025. 24. 24. 24. Oh man, you guys are vicious. So the thing is we start from scratch. You know, some club you're looking for like a warehouse because we're an architect, we want to design from scratch. Yeah. So we have a chance now to do that from scratch.
Well, not only that, it was, we have looked for warehouses and none of them had the right height. They're all the same, you know, like 20 feet or less, you know, it's like, yeah, well, there are a lot of them are like 15. So, so, you know, as architects, couldn't you look at that and see how we can then raise the rooftop? Because now, as designers and architects, you can pick out a warehouse in a prime location. That maybe only has 15 feet. Yeah, but then you can raise it.
But the most important thing is everybody knows location, location, location. Yeah, the problem in Connecticut. It's gonna be expensive to do. Right. Yeah. But if you're in the right location. Sure. You get where you have the affluent people, you have a lot of the city, a lot of people coming by. It may be worthwhile. Definitely. Definitely, you know, it's worth to look at it. Uh, there, there are corridors that they're actually warehouses.
You cannot find warehouses like it's it's a huge commodity like right now Companies like Amazon or distribution companies. They they take everything. Yeah, they take everything that they can So if we actually have a friend who builds this kind of a warehouses and we wanted to rent one from him He said no, no, no, no. I got a list.
Yeah, they're paying top dollar, you know Yeah, yeah, but so we felt like So, okay, why don't we build one, you know, it's probably going to be the first build from scratch, but that occurred in the U. S. I don't know, U. S., but yeah, kind of. That, uh, yeah, we don't know. Okay, so let's go over this design. Yeah, this is Smash. This is the drawings of the renders from Elevation.
Uh, we actually conceptually wanted to have, The course in the front of the building, actually on purpose so the people can drive by and see activity. This is something that we, we don't like in many clubs that everything happens inside. We like the, we like the interior to come to outside and show the people that drive by. It's very smart. What is happening. Very smart. And that's why we have some opening too in, in, in the front elevation so you can see through.
And from the top, from the second floor, you can watch too, you know, you can, on the top of the entrance, you can watch the courts too. And outside as well. Yeah. So you can stay inside the A. C. and have a drink and watch. You can have a drink, you can watch if you want to, yes. That's a great idea. Great design. So, the other thing is, imagine this at night, with the lights on. And, uh, and, uh, people surrounding the course and cheering and enjoying.
I think also people who are a little intimidated to go in, they might just drive around and just look. Correct. Right. Sure. Let me just go in. It is. It is attractive. And, um, actually many players likes to play outside. That's the other thing. Yeah, yeah. It is. So we have an option. With a good temperature. Not too hot. Yes. Right. With a good temperature. People like to play outside. So we give them the opportunity to do that.
And, um, in the future, we envision this as like, uh, uh, food trucks coming over and park near the courts and people enjoy having a drink or having food. And we're exposing those people that come to the food truck to pet battle. Yes, you know, so then you get more people Hey, let me try that and you make it go to them. Say here's a voucher to play for free Come, you know what i'm saying? And boom, they all you need them to come. We'll use one time. That's it.
They're gonna come back So after when you get in so we have two Paddle court outside you get in you have two indoor court And we have six pickable courts. So we have a corridor between the two pickable courts. And in the back we can put it like Jerry said, maybe a truck with food trucks and you can use all the middle part for, you know, have some drinks and view. And we have a mezzanine so you can watch the, the paddle courts and you can watch a little bit from the top, um, the court.
Very smart. How tall are the ceilings going to be? At the middle, we are 30 feet. So I want to make sure we have a good high. Oh, yeah. So when you entrance you can see the courts and you have the um, you have a little restaurant Thank you, so that's the middle part that I was mentioned, you know that you can just watch you can have a drink. So, uh, is this separators glass? That's the idea probably glass. Oh, You know for sure we have some yeah That would be nice. It would be very nice, yeah.
That's what we're thinking about. Yeah. And I see the lights here. Are these LED lights? Yes. Okay. Yeah, I want to put exactly around the court. Okay. So, like, you know, like, you see here? Yeah, it's beautiful. Beautiful design. This is I can't wait. I can't wait. I hope you open December Thank you. Thank you. So that's another view from content there Yes, so that's another view from the top so that if you are here you can see the outdoor court too So it's all open to outside.
I love it So that's another view from inside so you can see all the courts What do you call it? What is that for? Yeah, that's the idea. If, if we want to have different events so that you can have rackets, so like a mobile thing, we can have it or not. So we have the flexibility to be flexible. That's part of, um, you know, you can see the top. And this is inside the court.
So in each court, I, I forgot to mention, but we wanna have a a, a screen, so if you wanna repeat the shots, you know, we, we wanna have, in each court of the padel and the pickleball have a big screen. So if you wanna put the score for each one of the, if it tournament, or if you wanna watch the, you know, the replay. The replay. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. We wanna have the option so in the future we can do whatever we want. Great. The players, I gotta say I love the name.
I love the name of your program. Okay, good, good, good. See all the screen here in each chord? In the same chords? So, so that's basically the club. Such a beautiful design. I can't wait. Oh, thank you. I can't wait. Thank you, Jerry. It's going to be in its, in its 45 minutes. It's not too bad. You know, uh, you know, from where I am, so I'm really excited for is it's very accessible from, you know, from the, from the 95. The highway, yeah, yeah, yeah. Very, very accessible.
So it's just right there. So we have a few positive, you know, locations. Okay, so I think that's going to be an amazing club. Um, you know, you just got to get people in there. Once you get people in there, that is it. You're not going to have problems, you know, uh, filling those courts. Um, okay. So how about, um, let's talk about any other clubs you guys designed, uh, prior to this or Anything in the future moving forward?
Yeah, we have designed some pickleball clubs that they're already, uh, working. Is that here in Connecticut? Yes Pickle spot. Yeah. Okay. And how big was that? Um, they have five courts. Okay, and uh, it was a warehouse Um, but, uh, so the design came out really nice and, uh, I think it's working well, you know. Right, right. And, uh, especially in, in New England, you, people look for indoor facilities and they're specifically designed for pickleball.
Okay. Because otherwise you get to play on, on courts that, you know, one line overlaps to other courts. Right, right, right, right, right. Which is, or, or also for safety. Some clubs. Because they adapt to pickable, they don't have the required space in the back of the court, and that's not safe many times. Right, right, right. Um. And also just, uh, being attractive, the place being attractive. Like, tell the people how important it is, the design.
You know, some people kind of overlook it a little bit. But I think if you create that emotion and that feeling when you walk in. You know, sometimes they want to.
They want to add more courts, and I think maybe you need maybe one less, but you feel like the comfort That person says, no, I need all the courts I know, but you want to have filled the court too And you want people to feel comfortable to a nice space around to watch or you know I think that's what's missing because that you know in in the cities the price per square fee is so high that you can't sacrifice that You're trying to fill in everything and then you're missing what you said
before about the social aspect of it. You know, so there's not, if there's not a lot of space to hang out, to do this, to do that, you're just going to go play and then boom, you, you go out. Like I, I've been in, in, in Europe too, in a few different clubs and some of them have clubs everywhere. The, you know, the, the, the courts everywhere and you just, just getting there and other ones are more like restaurant, more like, okay, we want you to stay all day type of feel.
And when I was younger, we played recce, sports, tennis, squash, and every Sunday we'd go to the tennis club and we'd be there all day, you know, so kids would be there playing, doing whatever they're doing, they're playing tennis, afterwards take a shower, they stay the day, they eat, they do whatever they're going to do, take a whole event. And I think that's what works. Trying to get people there to do that is, is uh, I think a challenge right now.
Um, I think, well, uh, you mentioned that you'd be at the club the whole day. That's what, uh, we're proposing to have camps for children. Oh yeah, it's smart. Uh, summer camps or after school programs. You know, I think the kids will love it. Um, if you have the room to do it. What you could do is show the Pan American Games. Thanks. Thanks. That there's a a need for you younger players? Yes. And they get excited and I'm like, oh my God, I could go represent the USA.
Yeah. Let me go, let me, let me, let me do the after school program. You know, let me do this. And then all you need is one person to go there and represent the USA and that, and that person tells in the school, Hey, I did this. Oh my God, you have a line. Of course you have a line out the door. So you know, there's, there's a need for.
You know, the youth right now, you know, representing the USA, you know, when it comes to Pan American games, you know, so there's a lot of little things you can do to attract players. Yeah. And, you know, as I mentioned before, we were in Argentina. Sometimes I get emotional when I see a kid playing Fidel, like a 12 year old kid. So, oh my God, this is, this is what should happen everywhere. Yes. I have my daughter.
I'm going to show you a video afterwards and I'm like, Oh my gosh, both my kids, all my three kids play, you know, and they, and they play pretty well. I mean, for, for their age, uh, and they, you know, as you can see back here, they have been helping me put up this court. They're dying to play, dying to play, you know? Um, so, okay. So how about future stuff, future, um, clubs that you're going to design or are investing in or part of you guys do?
We'll Both investing clubs or this is the only one you're investing in. This is the only one we are investing What what was your responsibilities as an investor? Is it financial or is it more input? Um, it was it was both.
Okay um, we are um, one of the majority owners, okay, and uh So everything actually started with the group as I said as per se but uh But the only one that we actually had to work in the beginning, it was us, which, which, which is fine because we enjoy doing it, but, uh, but now the whole team is working, but what I recommend is like, find a good architect, find somebody that knows to start with the right concepts. Right.
And if you start with the right concepts, you can get investors after they see what the architect has done with the right concepts. Beautiful design that Teresa has done too, and show it to different people. People get excited. It's a visual thing. So, instead of telling you, it's showing you. So, I think it's definitely a big part when you're working with investors, for sure. So, we're working now on a project in Orlando. Okay. So, we start Where in Orlando? Um, it's Lake Nona. Lake Nona.
Lake Nona is awesome. It's a great place. I mean I mean, I go there, you know, um, at least a handful of times, uh, a year, um, it's up and growing. I mean, it's, it's an awesome place, you know, I just can't believe how cool it is. It's very cool. There is a lot of development and, uh, this new club is going to be at first six padel courts, all indoor because, uh, the owner, Pedro did a study, like how many, Hours you lose because of the rain in florida. Yeah, of course.
Yep And he said well if I calculate the amount of hours tell our viewers what that is, you you know What is that? What percentage of it? He was talking about 30 percent. That's that's i've been saying that for a while 30 I've been estimating so that's I think I think that's about right. That's a lot that it is. That's a lot. Yes Yes, you know, so you may have to invest more But that 30 percent could get you the return investment A year and a half.
And after that, you're up 30 percent And you can play any time during the day. It is whatever weather. With the clubs that are outside, as soon as it rains, you get called and they're all filled up. Even, even in the time that it's snowing. Yeah, like the National USTA Tennis Center is there. They have four courts. And we were there, uh, Teresa was getting certified. And, uh, and it started raining. It started pouring rain. That happens to me. I have a Paddle MBA. Okay. Yes. Yeah. Same here.
Yeah. And it started raining too. Same thing happened. So, so that's why, uh, we are proposing this new facility to be all indoor air conditioning. So in case players are playing outdoors somewhere else, they can come to this club and enjoy it. And so how far, what are you guys doing mostly the design and architectural work? Yes. Okay. And, um, how far in, are they, are they, did they get financing? Preliminary stages at the moment.
Okay. And, uh, they have, uh, the owner secured the land already. Oh, oh, that's really important. Yes. He, he purchased the land. Okay. So, yeah, hopefully it's gonna, it's gonna come fast. That's great. That's great. Now, um, you guys are just gonna do the design architect on that, right? Yeah. Yes. Okay. Yes. Yes.
So, uh, I'm excited to To see that when do you think that it's going to um develop when do you think that's gonna It's gonna take probably a year a year the owner would like this to happen a lot right now We're working in the design right now I mean, I see I see this all the time in miami. So we've been talking with the building department They already know so planning and zoning building department. They know what we're doing.
So they are very familiar So we're doing all the preliminary studies. So we're I think that's going to be really helpful Uh, the more clubs open up, the more they, they know what it is, so it's easier for the next guy, you know? And I thought there were more in, in Orlando, and there's not many clubs in Orlando. It's more like in Miami. Yeah, Caribe Royale and, uh, the US, uh, TA. That's it.
Yeah, now that you mentioned about hotels and, and hospitality, I think Padel eventually will grow in places like the Caribbean, uh, with, uh, or resorts. Yes. I think that's something that is worth to explore. A hundred percent. I think the smartest thing that they've, they've done, they're not stressing.
Um, you know, that's just additional revenue, another vertical, small vertical, because they already have, they're established, so not stressing about it, you know, um, and, and I think that's some of the problems these new club owners are going to have, right. They're opening up, um, maybe they don't plan on marketing. They don't have the right people and they're basing everything. There's a lot of different verticals are basing everything in those courts to support.
don't know about that club, and they may be estimated six months, maybe 10 months before they're going to black and, you know, that may not be the case, you know, especially in an area where people don't know paddle. But that is when I saw that I said, man, that is and I've communicated with a lot of sports facility places say, Hey, let me put one in there. You know, pay for share revenue or or you buy it and you know, they're going to help you out.
Um, but they're all, they like it, but they're all It's kind of like, they go to pickle. It's easy, quick, fast, people already know it. But I think that's going to change. Yes, mean, with a club in Norwalk, your club in Bradford, and a couple of other clubs opening up. What is this? Okay, this is what we need to put in our facility. And I have to say, that was crazy 30 years ago in Argentina, when this came up with old technology. Okay. And I saw how they did this.
And, and that's what they're doing all around the world right now. So, it's gonna happen here. Oh yeah. And with the better technology, with all nicer. And the best thing, you're gonna have one of the best clubs there in Connecticut. When it happens. Boom. Exactly. Yes. Anything else besides the, the one that make Lake Mona? Um, no, not at the moment. Again, uh, we are always.
You know, trying to promote the sports, even with, uh, like communicating with potential, um, um, you know, investors or we do render sometimes. Sometimes we do a lot more, uh, like for free Yeah. Than we that we do. Yeah. 'cause you love paddle, you know, it's like we love, lemme just, you know, work on it, you know? I get, I get it. Exactly. And, and, and, and we show things. No, but we try to see if another club, they're interested.
But sometime the building department put some like, oh, it's outside. We were close to put one in a huge, uh, uh, cloud. Okay. And they say no, but. This club is only for indoor, um, you cannot put anything outside because of the neighbor and they don't know the sport yet. They don't know if it's going to be very loud, you know, loud, like, pickable. So, that's one of the difficulties. It's the South Americans, it's going to be very loud.
One of the difficulties we have is because it's a new sport, it's not either, you know, our building codes, Are written for like either a tennis facility, like a, like a tennis court, for example, or Padel is something new. So for many approvals, you have to refer for tennis, but it's not exactly tennis. You're right, right, right. Like, for example, parking spots. Let's say, oh, because of each parking spot for tennis is different. Well, this is Padel. It's kind of different. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
So is it back and forth with the building department trying to, okay, give me another sample of another club similar, what they approve and we have to find another sample. Do you know what works, what works good? No. And then they'll come and you invite them and take them to play paddle. You understand? Everything gets. No problem. No problem. No problem. Yes. That's a good one. Right? That's a good one. Because the only way to know is if you actually go and play.
That's the only really way to know. Yes. Sure. And then, you know, they're going to like it. They're going to. Well this is. And they don't know what's the level of the sound. They don't know anything. Right. Because something absolutely new. Lights. You know lights during the night, you know, is it going to disturb your neighbors if you're close to residential area. Light is an issue. Yes. Yeah, so no, I get it. I got it.
Okay. So can you tell our audience that may be thinking of opening up a club? What services you can provide for them? Well, we provide them many times in the way as we start. It's the feasibility or find the right location. Oh, me too. Okay. So how do you, how do you do that? You work with brokers or just people that help you? Many times we work with brokers. Okay. Many times the workers wants to work with us. Gotcha.
Yeah. Yeah. We had calls from real estate agents calling us saying, Hey, I have this facility in here. That's great. Uh, with a warehouse. Or it's vacant land. Maybe it'll work out a nice facility here. So I think that's one of the biggest things, finding a location. So that's great that you guys do that. Finding a location is very important because you have to check the code regulations to see if, uh, At the moment, what works the best are industrial areas.
Of course, that's where I see most of them, yeah? Or already sports facilities, the ones that already have sports facilities. But there is, there is a little bit of a, um, a secret there. Is that at that industrial area. You need to be able to apply for a special permit to be a sporting facility. Like a variance or something, right? Um, many times it's just a, um, just a quick, um, review. Okay. A quick hearing. Nothing as big as a variance. Not as big as a variance.
No, no. Yes. Yes, that's a difference. Because industrial area is the closest that you can get for a sporting facility. Gotcha. It's very similar for the park. And it's not, it's not next to any residential areas as well. Correct. Gotcha. Yes. Okay. So finding a location, which is I think really big. What, what else is your firm? Well, the next will be coming out with the program. Right? Okay. So the size of the facility is most of the times related to the size of the lot.
Okay. Yep. Because, uh, many times the, this, the, the amount of coverage in the lot is based on the size of the lot. Yep. So that then it's gonna depend how many courts you can put. Yep. Right? Yep. You can put four cords. We recommend to build a minimum of four courts. Minimum, yes. Many times. I know a lot of investors would like at least six to eight possible. Yes, sure, but minimum four. Minimum four, sure. Yes, four or five to do tournaments and of course to return on the investment.
If you do like two courts, you know, maybe you have employees, you have a big investment and you're not going to have a good return. Right, right. So, um, and so then, so because of these, we determine the size of the club and we help with the program, right?
The size of the lockers that you're going to need, um, the level of hospitality, if you're going to have a bar, uh, if you're going to have a full liquor license, if you're going to have food and beverage and what is the, you know, how, how big that is going to be. Are you going to hire like a separate, you know, Contractor for that part or not Many times you would like to have a full restaurant, right?
So we will use all our experience Having a club and do the whole process be an architect and play the sports, right? So we give a little bit of all our experience as a professional and as a player too. So Okay, uh, so right your experience through that. Uh, how about um, Uh, when going through zoning, um, all those things, all those all we do depart permit, we go all the, we do all the process. Okay. We meet all, you know, the town, we do all the Yeah. Gotcha.
Many times we have to do presentations to the town presentations because they don't know what it is. Right. Right. And we have to explain, you know, the rest of the people, uh, that are in the meeting, you know, the sports is, you know, is, is very popular in Europe or any, uh, uh, or South America. And, uh, it's, it's like a rocket sports, people sometimes don't even know if there was a net. Right, right. And then you create the drawings, right, and design it, and then you work with it.
Do the renderings, even we can do videos, we have all the teams. So, our, our architectural team is in Argentina. Okay. So, um, but we work directly, you know, now technology. Yeah, of course, you don't have to pick a building. Yes. And then you guys help finding a GC and contractors. We help finding a GC, uh, depends on the area. And, uh, and without drawings, the GC will come up with the budget. Oh, gotcha. With a quote. And, um, and that's how it goes. Pretty much starts, right? Right.
That's where you have everything put together. Part of your plan is already there, which is the big part right there before you get seed money or funding or whatever. Yeah, funding is, uh, it's, it's, it's, it's, the, the art drawings are very important for the founding part too, because many times the banks wants to see what is going to be built, right?
And, uh, and how that funding is going to get these boards, because, uh, you have to give them like a schedule of, uh, Yeah, for the contractors and stuff, stuff like that. Wow, so you're from the beginning almost all the way to the end. That's great. That's, I mean, that's amazing. And we can go and play too. Of course. That you put in there, some type of, uh, restriction. Play for free forever. I would. That's what your friends in Argentina were saying.
Are you going to play for free for the rest of your life? Oh, now you're going to play for free because, you know, it's very expensive here and everywhere. Oh, here, yeah, it's an expensive sport. In Argentina, too. So how much is it for an hour and a half in Argentina, in dollars, if you think of in dollars? In dollars, I think? It's not as expensive as here. But I think it's Is it like 10 or 12? No, 15, I would say. 15, wow. But the problem is, it's very expensive to build the court.
There, down there Way more expensive than here In proportion. Oh, in these new, new, new type of courts? Yes. They expensive there. They, they don't, they don't, uh, um, produce them there or they still bring 'em by some, some clubs. They have them build like a, like by somebody who is, doesn't build for their courts. Gotcha, gotcha, gotcha. Uh, so it depends, but it's more expensive than here in proportion here. I mean here you see it anywhere from 30. 32.
That's probably the cheapest I've seen to like, you know, 60, 70, 80, even more, you know, depending on location, of course, you know, and so, um, but either way, I don't care. I'll play. All right, guys, thank you for joining us. Um, you know, if you have any questions on design architect, uh, on your new club, please contact Teresa and Jerry will have the information down here. And I want to thank you so much and I wish you guys all the luck, especially with smash. Thank you.
That was really fun. so much. We are all things paddle