Leopardstown Racecourse has officially opened four new padel courts to the public, representing an investment of more than €500,000 and another step in developing the campus into a 365-day destination for sport, leisure, business and community activity.

An Cathaoirleach Councillor Barry Saul of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council formally opened the courts yesterday, with Sport for Business CEO Rob Hartnett hosting the launch event.

The development responds to the rapid growth of padel and rising demand for accessible social spaces outside the traditional home and workplace.

Social by design and normally played in doubles, padel has become popular as a relatively easy sport for new participants to pick up while also providing a strong social element for friends, families, colleagues and corporate groups.

Located within the Leopardstown Racecourse campus in Dublin 18, the four courts are now available for public booking and are projected to welcome more than 25,000 players each year across a broad range of ages and abilities.

The launch brought together representatives from Horse Racing Ireland, Leopardstown, the sporting community, local organisations and businesses.

Officiating at the opening, Cathaoirleach Councillor Barry Saul said:

“I am delighted to officially open these new padel courts and welcome an amenity that will give people of different ages and abilities another way to get active, meet others and enjoy sport locally.

“As our communities continue to grow, accessible spaces that support wellbeing and bring people together are increasingly important. This development is a positive addition to the area and will help make Leopardstown a more active and welcoming place throughout the year.”

Paul Dermody, CEO of HRI Racecourses, said the investment fitted firmly within the longer-term vision for Leopardstown.

“The opening of these four padel courts is an important step in Leopardstown Racecourse’s continued evolution as a 365-day campus,” he said.

“While racing remains at the heart of Leopardstown, our Masterplan vision for the venue is to create a destination that welcomes people throughout the year and offers real value to the surrounding community.

“This investment introduces a highly social and accessible sport to the campus while complementing Leopardstown’s existing racing, golf, leisure, hospitality and business offering. It is a tangible example of the wider transformation now taking place here.”

Alan Dunning, General Manager of Leopardstown Golf Centre, added:

“We are proud of the investments made in recent years, whether that is in the golf course, the driving range and now padel.

“These new courts will broaden the range of activities available at Leopardstown Golf Centre and create another reason for people to visit throughout the year.

“We want the facility to appeal to everyone, from experienced players and local sports clubs to families, first-time players and nearby businesses. We look forward to welcoming people onto the courts and building a thriving padel community at Leopardstown.”

The facility will also form part of Leopardstown’s corporate and events offering, with padel packages being made available for team-building activities and business groups.

 

Sport for Business Perspective

The significance of the investment stretches beyond the arrival of another four padel courts.

For Leopardstown, it represents another way to make the most of the considerable assets of a major sporting venue beyond its core racing calendar. Racecourses, stadiums and other sports facilities increasingly need to think in terms of year-round utilisation, bringing people onto their campuses for multiple reasons rather than only on major event days.

Padel fits that strategy particularly well. It requires a relatively compact footprint, can generate consistent booking income throughout the week and has an obvious crossover into the corporate market through team-building, client entertainment and networking.

The expectation of more than 25,000 player visits annually also creates a new audience coming onto the Leopardstown campus who may previously have had little connection with racing or golf.

Leopardstown’s €500,000 investment is therefore as much a venue-development story as it is a padel story — another indication of how traditional sporting assets are being reimagined for a more diverse and year-round sporting economy.

 

 

 

 

 

Horse Racing Ireland, the Padel Federation of Ireland and Leopardstown Racecourse are full members of Sport for Business. 

If you would like to be part of the Sport for Business community and see your organisation in our content, on our stages, and in the conversation happening every day around the commercial world of Irish Sport, email us today and let’s see what is possible.

Image Credit: Leopardstown and Inpho.ie, Morgan Treacy

ABOUT SPORT FOR BUSINESS

Sport for Business is Ireland’s leading platform focused on the commercial, strategic and societal impact of sport. It connects decision-makers across governing bodies, clubs, brands, agencies, and public institutions through high-quality content, events, and insights.

Sport for Business explores how sport drives economic value, participation, inclusion and national identity, and how your story can be part of ours.

Through analysis, storytelling and convening the sector, it helps leaders understand trends, share best practices, and make better-informed decisions. It positions sport not just as entertainment but as a vital contributor to Ireland’s social and economic fabric.

Find out more about becoming a member today.

Or sign up for our Daily Sport for Business Snapshot email bulletins to get a flavour of the material we cover.

Sign up for our News Bulletins here.