Victory Ground Tennis Club, a fixture in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, since the 1950s, is at risk of closure. The club's current annual rent of £4,000 for its two courts is under scrutiny as the landowners have reportedly received an offer of £25,000 to replace the facilities with four padel courts. This situation reflects a broader tension emerging in the UK between the established sport of tennis and the rapidly growing popularity of padel.
Steve Daniel, a spokesman for the 180-member Victory Ground Tennis Club, expressed concern that a community sports facility would be replaced by a "money-making venture." He noted the uncertainty of padel's long-term appeal compared to tennis, which has centuries of history. Daniel suggested that padel courts could potentially be integrated elsewhere on the Victory Sports Ground, which also features football and cricket pitches, a sports hall, and other amenities. The club, with a significant proportion of its members under 18, is determined to fight the potential eviction but acknowledges financial limitations.
Victory Sports Ground itself has a long history, founded 106 years ago. The land was originally donated by a Greene King Brewery director and was later transferred to a not-for-profit Community Interest Company (CIC). In 2020, the ground celebrated its centenary. Paul Whittaker, a director of the CIC and chairman of Bury St Edmunds Cricket Club, confirmed that a "national organisation" had made an offer to invest "hundreds of thousands" in padel courts. However, Whittaker declined to disclose the organization's identity due to a Non-Disclosure Agreement, stating that discussions are informal. He also disputed the £25,000 rent figure, without providing an alternative amount.
Whittaker explained that the sports ground needs to secure sufficient income, having experienced a financial loss the previous year despite a total income of approximately £50,000. He pointed to a decline in council grants, which have fallen from £40,000 a decade ago to £15,000 last year. He stated that the club's current rent was "hardly worth looking at" and that the landowners had previously offered Victory Ground Tennis Club a long-term lease and encouraged them to propose a viable financial plan. According to Whittaker, the club's counter-offer of an additional £500 per year was insufficient. He also mentioned the availability of other tennis facilities in the town, including one with 13 courts.
Padel, which originated in Mexico in 1969, is often described as a hybrid of tennis and squash and is played in an enclosed court, typically as doubles. The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) reports that approximately 400,000 people now play padel in Britain, a significant increase from 15,000 in 2019, with the LTA investing over £6 million in the sport. Supporters highlight its accessibility and tactical emphasis. However, the sport's expansion has led to conflicts, with tennis stars like Novak Djokovic expressing concern about traditional facilities being converted.
Residents near padel courts in various locations have also raised complaints about noise. In Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, a sports club was ordered to pay substantial legal costs after a noise abatement notice was issued due to the disruptive sound of padel. Homeowners in Winchester, Hampshire, have described the noise as akin to "gunshots," while residents in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, have cited constant "zinging of balls" from new courts as ruining their enjoyment of outdoor spaces. Plans to replace existing tennis courts at the Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre in London with padel courts were previously shelved following public backlash.
The LTA stated its support for padel facilities coexisting with tennis but does not endorse the direct replacement of tennis courts, especially in areas with strong existing tennis participation. The organization expressed hope for a resolution that would preserve the Victory Ground's tennis courts while allowing for new padel development.