The Netherlands has several padel locations, the closest one being in Ulvenhout (near Breda). Companies that build the courts are trying to interest sports centers for padel, and TU/e has been approached as well. The university has said no for now. Wim Koch: “It’s an interesting sport, especially for students. In Spain, many of these padel courts are close to universities, but we don’t have the room for it right now. If we decide to include padel courts, we’ll have to give up others. And the chances that the new courts will be just as popular as the current ones are not that great. When thinking of new courts, you have to be sure it will be used optimally.”

Should the sports center be expanded in the future, there may be room for padel at TU/e, Koch expects.