New Padel Club in Chicago's Near West Side Offers Community Hub for Fast-Paced Game
A new padel club has opened its doors on the Near West Side of Chicago, marking the city's latest entry into the fast-growing sport scene. Union Padel Club, founded by Fabian Gosselin and Peter Goldman, boasts five courts, a bar, restaurant, coworking spaces, and lounges.
Gosselin, who moved to Chicago from Mexico six years ago, had no place to play padel until he co-founded the club with Goldman. "We just thought that Chicago would be next," Gosselin said, "and it would be a nice place to open a padel club, given its international community for sports."
The 30,000-square-foot facility is designed to cater to the growing demand for padel courts in the city. With membership packages starting at $110 per month, non-members can play for $35 an hour.
Gosselin credits the pandemic for creating a need for community spaces like Union Padel Club. "People are craving getting out and seeing people more now because of the change in the work environment," he said. "We're trying to meet the need of people finding social avenues outside of the work environment."
The club aims to be a hub for padel enthusiasts, offering leagues, tournaments, open play, and private events. Its multicultural atmosphere is expected to attract players from diverse backgrounds.
Union Padel Club's founders found the warehouse at 207 N. Paulina St., which was built as a former photo studio, ideal for their needs. The building allowed them to incorporate additional amenities like cold plunges and saunas.
The club's opening comes after Cube Padel, the first padel court in Chicago, opened in the southwest neighborhood of New City last year. Iker March, who has played at both clubs, praises Union Padel Club for its central location and expanded facilities.
As the sport continues to gain popularity worldwide, Gosselin is excited about the prospects of padel taking off in the US. "The [US] is kind of like the last place where it needs to grow," he said. With a strong community focus, Union Padel Club aims to become a leading destination for padel enthusiasts in Chicago and beyond.
A new padel club has opened its doors on the Near West Side of Chicago, marking the city's latest entry into the fast-growing sport scene. Union Padel Club, founded by Fabian Gosselin and Peter Goldman, boasts five courts, a bar, restaurant, coworking spaces, and lounges.
Gosselin, who moved to Chicago from Mexico six years ago, had no place to play padel until he co-founded the club with Goldman. "We just thought that Chicago would be next," Gosselin said, "and it would be a nice place to open a padel club, given its international community for sports."
The 30,000-square-foot facility is designed to cater to the growing demand for padel courts in the city. With membership packages starting at $110 per month, non-members can play for $35 an hour.
Gosselin credits the pandemic for creating a need for community spaces like Union Padel Club. "People are craving getting out and seeing people more now because of the change in the work environment," he said. "We're trying to meet the need of people finding social avenues outside of the work environment."
The club aims to be a hub for padel enthusiasts, offering leagues, tournaments, open play, and private events. Its multicultural atmosphere is expected to attract players from diverse backgrounds.
Union Padel Club's founders found the warehouse at 207 N. Paulina St., which was built as a former photo studio, ideal for their needs. The building allowed them to incorporate additional amenities like cold plunges and saunas.
The club's opening comes after Cube Padel, the first padel court in Chicago, opened in the southwest neighborhood of New City last year. Iker March, who has played at both clubs, praises Union Padel Club for its central location and expanded facilities.
As the sport continues to gain popularity worldwide, Gosselin is excited about the prospects of padel taking off in the US. "The [US] is kind of like the last place where it needs to grow," he said. With a strong community focus, Union Padel Club aims to become a leading destination for padel enthusiasts in Chicago and beyond.
I'm not sure about this whole padel craze... Like, what's so special about a sport that's just like squash or racquetball? 
And $110 a month is kinda steep, you know? Not everyone can afford that. Plus, it sounds like they're more focused on being a social hub than actually teaching people how to play the game. I mean, what if you don't have anyone to play with? 
Don't get me wrong, community spaces are great and all, but I need some convincing about why padel is gonna take off in Chicago. 
Where's the data on that?
and I'm super stoked! It sounds like they're creating a real community hub for people who love the sport 
. The fact that it has coworking spaces, lounges, and even cold plunges and saunas? Game changer 
. I think this is exactly what Chicago needs – a space where people can come together, socialize, and get some exercise 
. And with the pandemic changing the way we work and socialize, I'm all for it 
. It's going to be really interesting to see how it grows and becomes a hub for padel enthusiasts in Chicago and beyond 
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Just read about this new padel club opening up on Chicago's Near West Side and I'm already dreading the traffic it'll bring... 
Plus, who needs more expensive places to play sports when there are already plenty of other gyms and rec centers around? 
And what's with all these new "community hubs" popping up everywhere - just a fancy way to charge people for socializing, if you ask me 
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OMG you guys!!! I am literally SOOO excited about this new padel club opening up on the Near West Side of Chicago!!! 30k square foot facility with courts, bar, restaurant, coworking spaces, and lounges?!?! it's like a social hub for padel enthusiasts! 
. And Iker March saying it's the central location with expanded facilities? YAAAS PLEASE! 
this is gonna be a game changer (pun intended) for padel in Chicago! I'm already imagining myself playing on those courts, sipping on a drink from their bar, and meeting new people who share my passion for the sport 
. Can't wait to try it out and be a part of this amazing community! 
they're doing everything right from 5 courts to coworking spaces, it's like a community hub in itself 
i love how fabian gosselin and peter goldman saw the need for social spaces post-pandemic and created something that caters to the growing padel community 
their multicultural vibe is gonna attract players from all over, can't wait to see the leagues and tournaments 
. Think about it, they're creating a hub for community, with coworking spaces, lounges, and bars - all designed to attract people looking for something beyond their work environment. It sounds like a clever way to get folks out of the house and into each other's company, but what's really going on here? 
Is this just another attempt to normalize our increasingly isolated society? And those membership prices? $110 a month? That's some serious profit motive right there... 
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. And Fabian's right, the US is kind of like the last place where padel needs to grow - we're already seeing huge growth in popularity worldwide 
! Bring on the padel madness, Chicago! 
the fact that it's got a bar and restaurant is like, totally genius - who doesn't love a good padel game followed by a cold drink or some tasty food?! 
i'm also loving the coworking spaces and lounges - it sounds like the perfect spot for people to hang out and be productive (or not, lol) while still getting their padel fix! 
. i'm also stoked about their focus on community and social events. we need more places to hang out and meet new people outside of work 
. plus, the cold plunges and saunas are a nice touch 
. can't wait to check it out and play some matches! 
! The fact that they're creating a community hub where people can come together and play a sport they love is just what our city needs right now. It's like the club is trying to bridge the gap between work life and personal life, which is something we need more of in this fast-paced world 
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. I wonder if they'll have to revisit their budget plans now that there's a new hub for recreational activities in the area 
And the best part is that they're all about community, which is perfect for this post-pandemic era where people just wanna hang out and socialize 
. I'm all about supporting local businesses and entrepreneurs who are creating unique spaces for us to socialize and have fun.
. I'm already planning on checking it out with my friends!
It's like, exactly what the city needed - more spaces for people to get out and have fun with their friends and community! I mean, who doesn't love a good game of padel, right? 
And with it being a central location, I'm sure we'll see a lot of locals (and tourists too!) checking it out. The fact that they're including coworking spaces and lounges is genius, like, what's next - ping pong tables in the office break room? 
. With its 30,000-square-foot facility, this club can easily accommodate the growing demand for padel courts in the city, especially considering that Chicago is one of the most international cities in the US 
. The membership packages seem reasonable, with starting rates at $110 per month, which will likely make it accessible to a wide range of enthusiasts 
. Overall, I'm excited to see how Union Padel Club will contribute to the growth of padel in Chicago and beyond 
i mean, who wouldn't want to play padel with friends and make new ones while also getting some exercise 
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