About Bay Padel

Bay Padel was founded by two friends from Argentina, Lucas Tepman and Matías Gandulfo, who grew up playing padel. During the pandemic, Lucas called Matías in the middle of the night to revive an idea they had long discussed – opening a padel club in San Francisco.

At that time, padel was booming across Europe and Latin America but was still relatively unknown in the United States. Lucas and Matías saw this as a unique opportunity to introduce the sport, along with its vibrant social culture, to the Bay Area.

From the beginning, their vision was about more than just building courts. They wanted to create a community hub with world-class facilities, professional coaches, social and corporate events, and modern amenities like lounges, co-working areas, and pro shops.

What Makes Bay Padel Unique

Bay Padel believes that running a successful club goes beyond simply having the right features; it requires daily commitment and community-first thinking. Their key value propositions include:

• Strongest academy and competition in their region
• Community-driven culture, helping people feel a true sense of belonging
• Prime locations
• A combination of padel, pickleball, and fitness offerings
• Professional delivery of events at every level

Facilities & Experience

On the court, Bay Padel offers top-quality padel and pickleball courts, led by highly experienced international trainers working under the Bay Padel Academy framework. Players also have access to fully equipped gyms, recovery stations, and warm-up areas to complement their training.

Off the court, visitors can enjoy modern facilities including dressing rooms with showers, a boutique shop featuring the latest gear, a snack bar, a game zone, and plenty of lounge spaces to relax and connect.

But what truly sets Bay Padel apart is its welcoming community spirit – a place where people come not only to compete in good spirit, but also to meet new friends, share experiences, and feel at home no matter their level or background.

Community

Everything Bay Padel does is designed with community in mind. Their group programs and special events combine sport, food, and social time – reflecting the belief that padel is as much about friendship as it is about competition.

Level-based Open Plays make it easy for players to meet new partners, many of whom become long-term friends. A 1,000+ member WhatsApp group keeps the community buzzing 24/7, while the Bay Padel League brings people back week after week.

Unique events such as She Slams, Recharge, and Glow in the Dark ensure there’s always something inclusive, fun, and memorable happening.

What’s Next

Bay Padel’s focus for the coming years is to strengthen its leadership on the West Coast. Expansion is underway across the Bay Area, Los Angeles, and Orange County, with additional opportunities under review in major cities nationwide.

As early movers in a rapidly growing but still immature U.S. market, they see it as their responsibility to ensure the sport is introduced and marketed the right way – driving demand while maintaining strong margins and staying true to padel’s values and roots. Their strategy is to continue building and owning their own clubs, with franchising or partnerships a possibility further down the line.

Looking ahead 5 or so years, Bay Padel envisions a stage where private equity investment and franchising could accelerate consolidation and national growth. For now, their focus is firmly on building authentic, community-driven clubs that set the standard for padel in the United States.