London Rocks – bringing padel to the world’s rock and roll capital

Between July 4th and 7th, the pilot season finale of the Euro Padel League (EPL) is taking place at the Rocks Lane Padel Centre in west London. In a column on Padel Alto, the founder Chris Warren, shares his thoughts on the tournament. 
”We Londoners love our sport just as we do our rock and roll, and so it’s no coincidence that we christened the Rocks Lane team for the newly-created EPL, London Rocks” writes Chris Warren.

This column is written by Chris Warren, founder of the Euro Padel League and Rocks Lane Founder.

As someone that has lived in London for many years, I don’t need to tell you about just how much Londoners, myself included, love their rock and roll. London - which some call the world’s capital, indeed the world’s rock and roll capital- is a true city of fashion, art, rock and roll, and, yes, sport. We Londoners love our sport just as we do our rock and roll, and so it’s no coincidence that we christened the Rocks Lane team for the newly-created EPL, London Rocks. 

And, as we reach the end of our successful pilot season, and as the Founder of the Euro Padel League (EPL), it’s thrilling to see how far we’ve come in such a short time. What started as a dream to create a platform for amateur padel players has grown into a vibrant, competitive league that unites players from across Europe. With the culmination of our pilot season at Rocks Lane Padel Centre later this week (from July 4th - July 7th), I am hugely excited for what lies ahead for European amateur padel.

The Inception of the EPL

My journey in creating the EPL stemmed from a deep-seated passion for padel and the recognition of its untapped potential at the amateur level. Despite the many professional events, there was a glaring lack of competitions for club players, and not a single European competition in sight. Inspired by my experiences playing in world championships and attending amateur events, I aimed to create a tournament that would offer the best experience for players and club members alike.

Padel's uniqueness lies in its ability to resonate with people at the recreational level. Amateur players of all backgrounds, ages, and abilities coming together on the court is what gives this sport an appeal like no other. This inclusive spirit is the foundation upon which the EPL was built – and upon which it will thrive in these important years ahead. 

Leveraging my network within the padel community from my playing days, I successfully brought five of Europe’s top padel clubs on board, including teams from Milan, Marbella, Vilamoura, Stockholm, and London. The 46 players involved come from diverse backgrounds, including a European padel champion and an ex-tennis professional. This pilot season has been an immense success, proving that the EPL concept not only works but will thrive as the sport continues to grow.

The UEFA Champions League has been a significant inspiration for the EPL. I envision the EPL becoming the “Champions League of padel at the amateur level” where club members follow their teams throughout the season on the road around Europe - and beyond - with enthusiasm and dedication and are able to descend on their local club for their home tournament. We’ve incorporated elements from the Champions League, such as clubs swapping pennants before matches and our Golden Padel award, which is our version of the Ballon d’Or, given to the player who best demonstrates the values of friendship, fair play, and fun. Three values that embody padel. 

The Inaugural Finale at Rocks Lane

The highly anticipated finale of our pilot season will take place at Rocks Lane Padel Centre, often referred to as London’s "bastion of padel." From July 4th to 7th, our beloved West London venue will host a series of events that promise to be a true celebration of amateur padel. I can’t wait for the competition and this festival of our sport to get underway, especially during what is arguably the UK's biggest sporting week of the year (Wimbledon and the F1 British Grand Prix to name just two other sporting spectacles this same week). 

Alongside the main event matches, the weekend will feature celebrities, influencers, and corporations coming together to celebrate the world's fastest-growing sport. The event also aims to highlight padel’s community appeal with free Junior Academy sessions and a focus on developing new talent through the EPL Rising Stars Programme.

Looking Forward: The Future of EPL

This year has marked the true birth of European Amateur padel, and I’m thrilled to announce that the first official EPL season (2024-2025) will launch in September 2024. Our expanded roster will include teams from Milan, Marbella, Vilamoura, Stockholm, London, the South of France, Belfast, Zagreb, Roma, Copenhagen, and Amsterdam. To further heighten the excitement of the league, the new season will kick off at Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s Padel Zenter in Milan, a venue co-created by the football legend and Swedish padel pioneer Thomas Sandstrom.

Moreover, aligning with our values of inclusivity, this new season will introduce a women’s circuit and an EPL Academy for junior players. This competition truly will offer something for everyone. 

I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved with the EPL. From vibrant competitions to a strong sense of community, this league represents the best of what padel has to offer. Our goal is to expand the EPL internationally, hosting tournaments across multiple continents, including the US, Asia, and Australasia.

Next season - which will be the first official EPL season - we will have our first international tournament in December at the prestigious Dubai Padel Arts Club. This is a competition that is ripe for growth and success, and we’re looking forward to welcoming the padel community to London, a city that loves its sport like few others worldwide. These are exciting times for our sport.