MIAMI — Known for more vices than virtues, Miami may be trading in late nights for time on the padel court.
The racket sport has been on the rise nationwide, but no other U.S. city seems as smitten. Being at the crossroads of Latin America and Europe — padel was born in Mexico and reigns in Spain — it makes sense that Miami would take the lead Stateside in clubs and events. March alone saw the inaugural Publix Padel Cup at the Miami Open, where the Miami Open Padel Lounge curated by Sporting Club Miami also popped up for the public to play with Ultra Club coaches on a Padel Lux-designed court; the Miami Beach Convention Center concurrently hosted RacquetX festival, Qatar Airways Premier Padel Tour’s Miami Premier Padel P1, and the Show, a new trade show for men’s and women’s fashions that offered padel clinics and a padel capsule collection collaboration by Sporting Club Miami and U.K-based activewear upstart Palair.
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“Whenever I design a new piece, I always have Miami in mind,” said Palair founder Sarah Horrocks, who’s made the rounds to clubs here, like Reserve and Sunset Padel, and plans to return this year for Pro Padel League events and Armani EA7 World Legends Padel Tour’s final. “Everyone is so passionate about padel there and very appreciative of the line.”
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Having recently become addicted to the sport herself, she relates to its social and wellness aspects. She also likes that it’s more inclusive to women and easier for nonathletes to progress and feel confident. Whereas her friends got together over shopping and coffee before, they play padel now. The collection came about when she and her contemporaries wanted fashion-forward, transitional looks to wear on and off the court to be ready to play at a moment’s notice.
“Since you need four padel players, we’re all praying for that call [to join a game]. It’s that crazy,” she said.
As established sports apparel and athleisure brands enter the space, Horrocks stays ahead with lush technical fabrics and elevated details like the Airskin jacket’s side hooks and Power hybrid vest’s mini back zipper. Pieces, including a smaller men’s array, retail for under $350 online and at select pro shops worldwide (including Los Angeles Padel Club and the Club by Bamford in the Cotswolds, England).
Miami clubs also produce their own apparel and equipment, among other categories, as they evolve into lifestyle brands. Adding to its shirts, hats and socks, Reserve launches a bag and racket collaboration with third-ranking padel pro Ale Galán and e-commerce in May.
“Our hats have become trophy pieces,” said the young company’s founder Wayne Boich, regarding the tremendous growth potential.
Originating with his personal residence’s court, Reserve expanded to multiple pop-ups — Miami Seaplane, Miami Design District, Hudson Yards — and long-term spaces, including the Upper East in New York and SoLé Mia, a newly constructed, 100,000-square-foot wellness flagship with everything from cold plunges to a Pura Vida restaurant in North Miami. His all-encompassing vision extends to an agency (Recruit), charity arm (Reserve Cares), youth programs and a multicity, pro-level series that began as the celebrity-heavy Reserve Cup. It laid the groundwork for him to recruit Spanish padel player Arturo Coello, who’s ranked number one, to move to Miami and train at SoLé Mia.
“Now that we have the GOAT of padel and Miami is on the map from a padel perspective, we want SoLé Mia to be the padel club of America,” Boich said.
More Miami padel clubs are coming to a city near you. The U.S.’s biggest padel club, Ultra’s Magic City flagship in Miami, boasts 28 indoor and outdoor courts and is slated to unveil a state-of-the-art fitness center and spa this summer. According to Priscilla Alvarez, director of guest services and operations, the brand aims to expand to 34 clubs with 280 courts by 2028. Upcoming locations include Brickell, the Miami Design District, South Beach and Aventura, with plans to enter new markets like New York and Las Vegas.
“People are looking for organic interactions, and we cater to community,” she said, of creating a third space for all ages and abilities. “Members and nonmembers experience the same level of service and amenities.”
Inspired by loyalty programs, Ultra’s Rewards launches this year. The club also introduced the League ranking system for players to track their progress and compare game stats, as well as hosts competitions for a range of levels (Ultra Circuit’s Masters Final tournament in May, Armani EA7 World Legends Padel Tour’s final in November).
“We don’t see this as a hobby but a lifestyle to take seriously and invest in,” Alvarez said.
Sunset Padel founding partner Rafi Gibly thinks the sport’s Miami takeover is just the start. Named for its Miami Beach neighborhood of Sunset Harbour, his members-only concept with four indoor courts, a gym, juice bar and pro shop has a waiting list of 1,200 people since opening in September. Two other founding partners — Michael Stern, founder and chief executive officer of JDS Development Group in Miami and New York, and Gianluca Vacchi of GV Development Group, a U.S. real estate division of Cofiva Holding — are bringing Sunset Padel to their pending properties in Brickell: the mixed-use Mercedes-Benz Places and 888 Brickell Dolce&Gabbana residences and hotel.
“F1 drivers, soccer players, NBA guys in the off season — they’re all playing. The club was a success right away,” said Gibly, who was surprised by the strong response from women. “We didn’t think it would be that big, but women are 40 percent of the business and why we have indoor courts. They didn’t want sun damage.”