Royal Jaarbeurs is the hotspot for the avid padel fan this summer. An exhibition hall has been transformed into an indoor padel court with six competition courts. Together with Rekré Sport, Majesty Padel, The HEINEKEN Company and Ondernemersfonds Utrecht, a sporting dream has become reality. For two months, both recreational and competitive padel players in Utrecht will be able to enjoy themselves and the city will have another facility of the popular padel game. We look back on the realisation of this unique initiative with the parties involved.
Setting up a padel court in an empty hall
Turning an empty exhibition hall into a padel court, how do you do it? An intensive collaboration between Rekré Sport, Majesty Padel and Jaarbeurs. Rekré Sport took care of the construction of the six padel courts. Majesty Padel supplied the padel gear such as rackets, clothing and accessories, and Jaarbeurs provided the venue. The HEINEKEN Company and Ondernemersfonds Utrecht also contributed significantly to the creation of the indoor padel court. How was the padel court actually rigged? "Well that's the blacksmith's secret," says Donja van Tiggelen of Rekré Sport. "A number of things are very important, such as a level subfloor, the height of the hall and, of course, the space around it. You want to use the space optimally so that as many padel courts as possible can be placed in the right way. This way, every player, from amateur to professional, can play the best game possible. At jaarbeurs, you can hit the best lob and perfect smash!"
The perfect smash
The first impression for the parties involved at Jaarbeurs was mindblowing. Donja van Tiggelen: "The height makes Jaarbeurs a perfect location for both recreational and professional padel. Because of our years of experience, we know exactly how to build and place padel courts in the right way. We have found that the exhibition hall lends itself perfectly to padel courts." Jeroen Winters of Majesty Padel adds, "The space around the padel court is sufficient and the exhibition hall gives many possibilities for different activities and activations. Jaarbeurs offers a charming location. It is an industrial hall that perfectly suits the innovative nature of padel".
Dreaming big
With the indoor padel court, the parties are taking the Utrecht sports summer to the next level. Donja van Tiggelen: "Jaarbeurs offers Utrechters a new point to play padel. Everyone knows Jaarbeurs so the court is easy to find for everyone. A top location if you ask me." Despite the indoor padel court already being a huge success, Majesty Padel dreams of even bigger. Jeroen Winters: "The visibility for all parties is huge. The network of all parties involved can work advantageously, which will hopefully allow us to create an annual event. Ultimately, I would like to create a major event with Jaarbeurs in this capacity, in which we claim the summer for a game of padel in the most beautiful and fun setting in the Netherlands. We can then roll out this concept internationally together with Jaarbeurs. Rotterdam already has such a padel event, why not Utrecht?"
Company outings and tournaments
Not only individual players are welcome; companies can also rent the padel courts for company outings or tournaments. For example, The HEINEKEN Company was recently in action. Jeroen Winters: "The HEINEKEN Company organises padel tournaments throughout the country for its customers and its own staff, the winners of which will compete at the prestigious Premier Padel P-1 tournament in Rotterdam Ahoy Convention Centre. With zero-point nought in hand and a bitter garnish, we were able to provide an insane tournament." Company outings and tournaments offer a unique opportunity to promote team building and bring colleagues together in a sporting way.
A wonderful sports initiative
The Utrecht sports summer erupted in early July with former Olympic hockey star Fatima Moreira de Melo and well-known padel player Maaike Betz at the indoor padel court at Jaarbeurs. Samantha Huismans of Ondernemersfonds Utrecht: "The city gets even more colour with the indoor padel court. A wonderful sports initiative that we embrace and support with great enthusiasm."
Asked if the indoor padel court is up for repeat business, Jeroen Winters responds, "I would say, bring it on! I am convinced that next year we will be completely sold out. Surely everyone must have played a game of padel once in Utrecht at Jaarbeurs."
