These days it seems a new padel club opens practically every other day in places like California, Florida, and Texas. Yet there are numerous other states around the country that have had one — and only one — padel club to speak of for some time now.
Which is why, while they might not get the same big headlines as these other newcomers, I wanted to take a moment to highlight the handful of padel club operators around the country who’ve brought the sport to their respective states and continue to be the one and only game in “town” — for now, anyway…
Among them:
Missouri
Almost three years ago now, I had the chance to chat with longtime friend and squash legend Mike Puertas about bringing what was, at the time, the largest indoor padel and pickleball club in the world to the greater St. Louis, MO area.
Nearly three years later, Padel + Pickle — which Puertas co-founded along with two other squash-world legends and features six padel courts and eight pickleball courts along with a huge bar and social area — is still the only place to play padel in the Show-Me State (despite some AI-powered sites suggesting there are several other clubs have opened around the area).
And not only is Padel + Pickle the home club of fellow padel scribbler and friend Aris Sevastianos of the El Remate newsletter, but they also just hosted a USPA 500-level “St. Louis Slam” tournament this past weekend.
Of course, you might be wondering if there isn’t anywhere to play padel in Kansas City, Missouri, too? Which brings us to the next state on the list…
Kansas
Yes, the Kansas City area has been home to a two-court, outdoor club known as La Casa del Padel for some time now, but technically it’s located in Overland Park, Kansas — making it the first (and still currently only) club in the Jayhawk State.
Another notable thing about La Casa del Padel — which I explored in an article back in April 2024 — is that it’s one of numerous padel clubs around the U.S. that is owned by current and/or former professional athletes (in this case, current and former pro soccer players including Andreu Fontas, Daniel Salloi, Johnny Russell, Graham Zusi, Roger Espinoza and Uri Rosell).
Speaking of clubs launched by former professional athletes…
Michigan
Michigan’s ZMash Padel is yet another example of both a padel club owned by former pro athletes (namely, a group of retired NHL players and Stanley Cup champions) and a pioneering club that continues to be the only place to play padel in its respective state.
(Though I have heard recent rumors of both a second ZMash location and other clubs in the works in the Wolverine State.)
For now though, the original ZMash Padel location and its eight pristine indoor courts in Sterling Heights, MI (north of Detroit) continues to be the one and only place to play padel in Michigan.
Louisiana
Still another example of a club founded by former superstar athletes is Pickle N’ Pins in Metairie, LA (just west of New Orleans) — which, as I discussed in a July 2024 article, is backed by former NFL quarterback and Super Bowl champion, Drew Brees, and features two indoor padel courts.
While I personally know of at least one other padel project currently taking shape in Louisiana (which I’m personally very excited about given that I used to be a resident of the Bayou state and still get back there often), for now the Brees-backed Pickle N’ Pins is the only place to play padel between Houston and (soon) Jacksonville.
For more insights on other states with only one padel club (including Arkansas, New Mexico, and Oregon) and the pioneers that brought the sport there, please be sure to stay tuned for Part Two — or, better yet, just make use of the “subscribe-now” button below.
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