New York Yankees invest in Padel racket sport’s circuit tour

The New York Yankees are swinging for the next racket sport craze.

Yankee Global Enterprises announced Tuesday it has agreed to buy a stake in the A1 Padel circuit tour.

Padel is not a new sport but is relatively unknown in America. Two people play on each side of what is slightly smaller than a doubles tennis court. There are walls that border the court. Players can hit balls that ricochet off the walls on to the court making it a bit like squash.

Scoring is the same as tennis.  

“We look forward to serving as a strategic partner to elevate the sport of padel and the A1 Padel brand, particularly in raising awareness in the United States and beyond,” Yankees President Randy Levine said.

The investment comes as similar sport pickleball is becoming a national craze. Tom Brady and LeBron James have recently invested in pickleball.

Pickleball is often also played in doubles, and the pickleball rackets look the same as those used in padel. Players in both pickleball and padel also serve underhanded.

Padel started in 1969 and has become a popular sport in countries like Spain and France.

The Yankees are hoping that by airing A1 Padel tournaments on its YES cable network, and setting up US clinics through portable courts it can attract interest, a source familiar with the plans said.

A1 Padel was founded in 2020 by Fabrice Pastor, Chief Executive Officer of Monte Carlo International Sports, with hopes to turn padel into an eventual Olympic sport, the Yankees said.

In 2022, the A1 Padel tour travelled to 14 cities, 11 countries, and three continents.

Yankee Global Enterprises first went international in October investing in the AC Milan soccer team.