While sun-drenched states like California, Florida, and Texas have been at the forefront of the padel boom in the U.S. over the past few years, up until now Arizona has surprisingly remained well off the radar when it comes to the world’s fastest growing sport here in the States.
But that’s all about to change in a big way thanks to the likes of Conquer Padel (which, as we recently reported, has plans to open at least five padel clubs in the greater Phoenix area in the next couple of years) and Padel Alley, which will bring the first dedicated padel facility to Tucson as early as next month.
Paving the Way — For All
As I learned from a recent conversation with the incredibly affable and always joking co-founders, Juan Carlos Quiroz-Zolezzi and his brother Oscar Quiroz, in their minds Padel Alley isn’t just Tucson’s first major padel club. Instead, it’s much more of a living, breathing commitment to building a fun, welcoming community and making the sport accessible to all in Arizona and beyond.
At one point, during our nearly forty minute chat, I ask if there are any main things either of them want our readers to know about Padel Alley, and Juan Carlos immediately lights up, saying, “Yes, there is! Me. Me. Me. I do!” Then he proudly tells me:
“One of our main visions and focuses is to live up to the name of the club. For us, ‘Padel Alley’ is just like where we grew up. We grew up in the street, playing with friends, having fun. We didn’t care who was what, we were all just there to play and not care who was the best. Our vision is for everyone to be welcome and just come play padel. We want everyone in America to come play — and offer padel for all.”
Personally, I think it’s a great sentiment and a very worthy goal, but as we further discuss, it’s one that seems to often be getting lost in the glitz and glamor of the sport’s meteoric — and often largely PR-fueled — growth in the U.S. and around the world.
The brothers tell me, “We keep seeing articles in newspapers — like The Wall Street Journal or The New York Times — that only talk about the super high-end, expensive clubs in New York and Miami. And for us, that’s not padel.”
“For us, padel is a sport we can all play. It doesn’t have to be crazy expensive. And it’s an activity we can all do. It’s not just for the privileged, it’s not exclusive. It’s something down-to-Earth for everyone. And that’s what we want to bring to the club,” they add.
The Details That Matter
Of course, during our chat, the brothers make sure to go over all the “big ticket” items they want our readers to know about the soon-to-open club, as well. Like the fact that there will be eight padel courts… four pickleball courts… a terrace bar and cafe… luxury locker rooms… a fully stocked pro-shop… and plenty of parking.
But it’s also obvious that the small, meaningful details — which many people might easily overlook — are what they are really most proud of. For instance, how they want each individual court’s color and design to symbolize something important to them and the community.
Juan Carlos explains to me, “Oscar and I have been Rotarians with Rotary Clubs for more than 20 years. I’ve been to India to vaccinate kids against polio. We both did a lot of international projects for Rotary when I was in Southern California. I am now a Rotarian here in Hermosillo [Mexico], while Oscar continues to be a Rotarian in Southern California.”
“At Padel Alley, there will be a court that is painted yellow and blue — which are the colors of Rotary. On that court, we will have some stickers and QR codes that explain what the mission of Rotary is,” he proudly continues.
As I learn, the turf on another court will be bright red and will feature a monthly rotation of worthy community charities and causes the club wants to highlight and help promote.
Juan Carlos says, “With that court we’re looking to create alliances. So, one month will be the month of the American Cancer Society. Then the next month will be, I dunno, the Hospital of Hope, and the next month will maybe help support autism. We want something rotating from the community each month to show what these groups are all about.”
Finally, there will be a another rotating court recognizing and celebrating a variety of country-wide organizations like “first responders… emergency personnel… U.S. service members… and medical staff” the brothers tell me, before concluding, “It’s going to be great. We’re excited!”
Two Roads, One Destination
Given how passionate the brothers are about padel, and helping grow the sport, I naturally assume they must be life-long players (especially given that they grew up in the sport’s nation of origin). And that’s where their story gets particularly interesting…
As it turns out, as recently as five years ago, neither brother was even aware padel existed. But then Oscar and his wife decided to move to southern Spain during COVID and Juan Carlos moved back to their hometown of Hermosillo, Mexico.
Oscar recalls, “Both Juan Carlos and I, at the same time, without talking, started noticing this weird sport that was everywhere. In Spain it was such a big thing and in the north of Mexico, in Hermosillo, it was also really picking up. So, we both starting playing, separately, without talking about it. And we kept playing and playing. And we both got addicted — like most people.”
He continues, “Then, when we finally saw each other again at Christmas, we both couldn’t wait to tell to tell each other about this thing we’d both discovered called ‘padel.'”
At this point, Juan Carlos jumps in to explain that unlike his brother, he’s never really played — or even particularly liked — any sports, racket or otherwise. In fact, he jokes that had his wife not begged him to just come be a literal stand-in on a padel court in Hermosillo when she needed a fourth person for a game, he probably never would have even tried it.
“I got hooked. I really liked it. And I started playing like three times a week,” he explains, before very humbly adding, “And this is why Oscar and I decided to go into it and launch Padel Alley. Because I am so bad at sports, yet I love to play this one so often. So, I think it’s a very good alternative for people like me to get active.”
He concludes, “This is also something I think is going to be a big — and good — trend in the U.S. and all over the world. People are starting to be more active and looking for things that require you to move and have fun doing it. And padel is it.”
Once open you can visit Padel Alley daily between 7am and midnight at 5943 E Speedway Blvd, Tucson, AZ, 85712. For opening updates, please be sure to follow them on Instagram.
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