Valencia, the city where padel never sleeps – At the heart of the “almost” biggest club in the world

There are trips we take to escape, others to understand. My getaway to ValenciaShe reminded me why this sport has become a true passion.
Head south of the city, towards Massanassa, where there's a place that literally blew me away: Sportcity Valencia, the world's largest indoor club.

A chance encounter with a “cathedral of padel”

Sportcity was built in 2010Originally, it was just a football club. Then, one day, the founders had a stroke of genius: to transform their pitches into padel tracks.
From six courts at its inception, the club has grown, again and again, until it now has several 30 todayincluding 20 indoors et 10 outdoors.
When I first entered it, I had this strange feeling of being in a padel cathedralThe height, the light, the energy of the players… everything about it is monumental.

A well-oiled machine

The club belongs to a Spanish group that manages a dozen complexes in the country, or more than 140 courts in totalIn Valencia, a team of about thirty people keeps the machine running: reception, logistics, coaches, maintenance… everything works with millimeter precision.
The bar is spacious, bright, with a direct view of the first three indoor courtsThere you'll find players, families, and curious onlookers who have come simply to watch.
The changing rooms are spotless, the pitches brand new. You can tell that nothing is left to chance.

Valencia, the city where padel never sleeps - At the heart of the world's largest indoor club

A day at Sportcity

On average, nearly 500 players pass through the club's doors every day. Children, amateurs, competitors, and even visiting pros.
On padel schools gather there nearly 300 young people, and seven teams participate in regional championships.
I booked my internship with a simple WhatsApp message to Davidwho organized everything for me. Efficient, warm, available — typically Spanish.

When the sky fell on Valencia

What we often forget is that just a year ago, in October 2024a flood everything destroyedThe roof collapsed, the grounds flooded, the machines out of service.
When I listened to the team recount those chaotic months, I understood what they meant. to rise from its ruinsThey rebuilt everything, redid everything.
En May 2025The club reopened, brand new. And even today, you can see that pride in the eyes of the people who work there.

Around the club, an ocean of padel

The club is located in an industrial area, ten kilometers from the airport. Nearby, there are restaurants, shops, hotels – everything you need for a 100% padel holiday.
And within a five-kilometer radius, there are nearly one hundred tracksIn other words, in Valence, you don't have to look far to find a match.

For those who want to take the experience to the next level, I recommend an exceptional sports physiotherapist: Juan de Los Reyes, based at SedavíHe speaks English, understands padel injuries, and has hands of gold. His practice, Back to BalanceIt literally put me back on my feet after three days of intensive training.

A Spanish lesson

This trip reminded me of what makes padel so magical: passion, simplicity, and that human warmth that the Spanish cultivate as a second nature.
À Sportcity ValenciaEverything breathes play and life.
And when we leave the place, we say one thing to ourselves: Here, padel is not a sport. It's a culture.

Fabien Conjat

Padel fan and itinerant traveler, I offer you my point of view on padel sites around the world. Have a good trip!