The son of Liverpool FC’s legendary former manager Jürgen Klopp is behind plans to open a new £500,000 padel facility in South Liverpool.

Marc Klopp is one of four partners at Padel FC, the company named by Liverpool City Council as the preferred bidder to construct six indoor and three outdoor padel courts on a plot of land at the Liverpool Tennis Centre in Wavertree.

Padel FC, which also lists Liverpool-born former footballer Bradley Orr as a director on Companies House, plans to construct a dome-shaped interlocking steel structure with plastic sheeting to cover an area currently occupied by five disused outdoor tennis courts, an overspill car park and two grass verges.

According to documents published by the council ahead of a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, 6 May, Padel FC has committed to a £500,000 investment during the initial construction phase. The company has offered an annual rent of £70,000 in the first year, rising to £140,000 per year thereafter, with rent reviews every five years.

The local authority’s cabinet will be asked to approve a 25-year lease to Padel FC, generating rental income of more than £500,000 across the term.

As freehold owners of the site, the council identified the plot of land within the tennis centre which would be suitable for use as a padel tennis facility and began marketing the site in July 2023. After three months, the council received two Expressions of Interest from Padel FC and 40 Love Padel Club Ltd.

40 Love Padel Club’s proposal was to redevelop the site into seven indoor and one outdoor padel courts covered by a large canopy. Its initial investment was to be in the region of £670,000.

Padel FC and 40 Love Padel Club presented their bids to a panel from the council in September 2024. The panel consisted of representatives from property, leisure services and finance. The panel evaluated the presentations based on their proposal, financial offer, design quality, organisation information and social value. Padel FC received a higher score from the panel than 40 Love Padel Club and was subsequently selected as preferred bidder to take a lease of the site.

Thought to have been invented by Enrique Corcuera in Mexico in 1969, padel is widely regarded as the fastest-growing sport in the world. A racquet sport combining elements of tennis and squash, it is typically played in doubles. With smaller courts and faster-paced games, padel is accessible to players of all ages and skill levels, which contributes to its increasing popularity.

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