New York Yankees Team Up with A1 Padel for First-Ever U.S. Tournament

The New York Yankees have exciting news for all padel enthusiasts! In a big announcement on Tuesday, the Yankees revealed their partnership with A1 Padel to bring the very first padel tournament to the United States. The event is set to take place at Wollman Rink in October.

A1 Padel: A Growing Global Padel Tour

A1 Padel, an international padel tour established by Fabrice Pastor in 2020, has been making waves around the world. Pastor highlights that padel is among the fastest-growing sports globally. With more than 50 successful events in different countries like Spain, Monaco, Brazil, Mexico, and South Africa, A1 Padel is now teaming up with the Yankees to boost the popularity of padel in the U.S.

Pastor expressed his joy, saying, “It’s a dream come true for us to be with an organization like the Yankees.” This partnership is significant for both parties and holds great potential for the growth of padel in the U.S.

Yankees’ Expanding Sports Ventures

The Yankees, known primarily for baseball, have been expanding their sports endeavors. They’ve engaged with various sports organizations, like NYC Football Club and the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl, and have even invested in AC Milan. This collaboration with A1 Padel aligns with their mission to introduce diverse sports to their audience.

Randy Levine, the Yankees’ team president, was drawn to A1 Padel due to its global success and Pastor’s vision. Levine noted, “We, at the Yankees, are always looking for investments that our brand can help bring sports to the core, and this one matched.”

Exciting Plans Ahead

Yankee Global Enterprises first invested in A1 Padel in March, while Ike S. Franco, CEO of Infinity Sports and Yankees partner, joined forces with Pastor in October 2022. This upcoming tournament marks A1 Padel’s debut in the U.S. market. Both Franco and Pastor have ambitious plans to establish padel academies and opportunities across the U.S.

Franco revealed, “We are going to have other tournaments in the U.S. this coming year.” The aim is to raise awareness about padel and build its foundation at the grassroots level. This marks a significant step towards making padel a more recognized and played sport in the U.S.

Exciting Access and Capacity

The tournament will be aired on the YES Network, with additional broadcast partners to be revealed later. Tickets are already available for purchase, and the event can host up to 4,000 attendees. This historic collaboration between the Yankees and A1 Padel is all set to spark a new era of padel excitement in the United States.

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