The proposal by Glasgow City Council to turn two of the eight indoor tennis courts at Scotstoun Leisure Centre into padel courts has drawn more and more criticism, including from British number one Jack Draper. Draper signed a letter asking Glasgow Life to reevaluate the transfer with teammates Jacob Fearnley, Maia Lumsden, and coach Jonny O’Mara.
According to the letter, “young players rely on purpose-built, top-notch tennis venues like Scotstoun which offer the perfect environment for them to develop their games.”
Regulatory Authorities Warn of Long-Term Effects
The initiative has raised serious concerns from Tennis Scotland, the regional governing organization for padel and tennis. The future of tour-level tournaments staged at Scotstoun, such as the ATP Challenger and ITF World Tennis Tour competitions held yearly in February and October, may be in jeopardy due to the loss of courts, chief executive Blane Dodds cautioned.
Dodds remarked, “Removing indoor courts is counter to this national strategy,” alluding to the larger objective of expanding tennis facilities that are accessible to the community throughout Scotland.
Dodds also calculated that, after accounting for court rental fees, local expenditure, and lodging income, the city will lose about £60,000 if the padel conversion goes forward.
Compatibility Issues Among Sports
Tennis Scotland argues that padel is incompatible with tennis in shared settings, despite admitting the sport’s explosive expansion, with over 30 million participants globally. The group contends that there is no proof that cohabiting facilities are feasible and that player development programs need a specialized area.
The players’ letter reads, “We have the utmost respect for padel, but… the two sports are not compatible in a shared space where player development programs are considered key.”
A Different Idea for Padel’s Growth
Tennis Scotland and its partners have provided an interest-free loan to construct a separate four-court padel facility on the Scotstoun grounds in order to maintain the current tennis infrastructure. According to the governing organization, the loan may be paid back in three years, enabling both sports to flourish separately without impeding one another’s development.
