Ayr United Football Club has announced plans to build four indoor padel courts as part of its Somerset Park expansion. The project involves a partnership with Soul Padel and aims to create a new sports hub for the local community. A planning application has been submitted to South Ayrshire Council.
Ayr United FC is expanding its facilities at Somerset Park, the club's stadium in Ayr, Scotland. The latest development includes the construction of four fully enclosed indoor padel courts on land adjacent to the ground, specifically behind the Railway End. This initiative forms part of a broader project to develop the area into a community sports hub, which already encompasses a new football pitch, gym, and car park.
The club has partnered with Soul Padel, a company promoting the rapidly growing racquet sport. Padel, which blends elements of tennis, squash, and badminton, has attracted over 30 million players worldwide. The game follows tennis scoring rules but is played on courts about one-third the size, typically in doubles format. Players use solid, stringless racquets, and the enclosed courts allow the ball to rebound off the walls, similar to squash. The balls are smaller than tennis balls, and serves are made underarm.
A planning application for the padel courts, along with a portacabin clubhouse, changing facilities, and a gatehouse, has been lodged with South Ayrshire Council. The architectural firm handling the design is Ayr-based Denham Youd.
In an announcement, Ayr United stated: "Ayr United FC are excited to support the next part of the Railway End development and our partnership with Soul Padel to install four fully enclosed padel courts. Soul Padel share our passion to enhance the community and will bring some much needed economic and employability benefits to the area whilst complimenting the sporting offering around Somerset Park."
A spokesperson for Denham Youd added: "We’ve been working closely with @soulpadeluk and @ayrunitedfc to design four covered courts and a clubhouse, bringing one of the fastest growing sports to South Ayrshire. As part of the wider Railway End Development at Somerset Park, this opens up an exciting chapter towards creating a new hub for the sport and the local community."
The project is described as an exciting step toward boosting local sports and economic opportunities.