Victory Ground Tennis Club in Suffolk faces uncertainty after 80 years, as a padel operator offers higher rent for its two courts at the Victory Sports Ground Complex.
The club pays £4,000 a year to rent the courts in Bury St Edmunds. A padel company has expressed interest in the site and offered substantially more, prompting discussions about a possible switch.
Victory Sports Ground CIC, which runs the facility, has not made a final decision. Active director Paul Whittaker said the goal is to increase participation and maximize use of the space.
"We do not want to get rid of tennis, but we are trying to increase participation numbers and get maximum use out of the facilities," Whittaker told the BBC. He noted interest from a five-a-side football team as well.
Padel has grown rapidly in England, with the Lawn Tennis Association reporting 860,000 annual players and 1,553 courts across 559 venues. The sport blends elements of tennis and squash and is played on smaller enclosed courts.