From this Friday, January 30 and for three days, Troyes (Aube) will be the French capital of padel by hosting the French Interclub Championships of National 1, the elite of French clubs. After Strasbourg last year, some of the best French players will hit the slopes of the Palatium complex in Lavau (Aube), north of the Trojan area. If 16 men’s teams and 8 women’s teams are expected, “between the players, the team staff, the staff of the French tennis federation, 250 to 300 people will be present”, rejoices Didier de Amorin, the owner of the place.
And yet, the Palatium was not predestined to host this meeting. Candidate for hosting several competitions in the national padel calendar, the site did not initially meet the criteria of the French tennis federation (FFT) which organizes them. While it should have 12 tracks, it only has 10. But this criterion was finally modified, as the entrepreneur explains: “The federation called me fairly quickly, confirming that I would have the right to a competition. They also asked me to apply for these championships… and we were accepted. »
If France has a few rare complexes meeting sporting criteria, few are equipped with such complete facilities: cozy lounge, a large bar and restaurant for replaying the match, a fitness area upstairs and a seminar room for businesses. “It’s recognition of the project that we have had since the beginning, and of the image that we want to project of Troyes, Aube and the region,” enthuses Didier de Amorin.
If the championship will contribute to the economy of the region for an entire weekend, it also offers a big spotlight to the Palatium, open since September 7, 2024. An investment of 5 million euros was necessary to build this 4,500 m2 complex which external observers could then judge to be a bit ambitious, around an emerging sport. But the results are there. “From the start, we told our partners that we would have around 300 people per day. I think we have them largely,” confirms Didier de Amorin. “Financially, we are well above forecast. We are almost surprised by the enthusiasm and activity we have from the first year, and we have not even touched half of our potential! »
“The padel is very addictive because you progress quite quickly”
With plenty of room for development in catering and hosting seminars and other “team building” sessions, the Palatium now intends to move up a gear, first on a sporting level by pushing padel players towards excellence. “We have a competition tool,” recalls the investor. “We also have two very good coaches: Kévin Audo, our best Aube player, ranked 195th French, and Paolo Sousa Barbosa, who also has a very good level of play (former n° 90 Portuguese, Editor’s note). He came to us from Porto to bring his experience. He has just spent a few days in one of the biggest Spanish academies to complete his coaching training course. »
By creating the Palatium Academy association, Didier de Amorin wishes to both financially support Kevin Audo in his tournament program and create a structure intended to help his best players progress while attracting new fans. “The padel is very addictive because we progress quite quickly,” develops the boss of the Palatium. “As soon as we progress, we say to ourselves: Oh my goodness, that’s good, but maybe I can still progress a little more! And we realize that, when we follow a training program and we are lucky enough to have the infrastructure and coaches who are capable of taking us to that level, we have demand. »
For the moment equipped with a team at regional level, the Palatium is not skimping on resources, including by focusing on artificial intelligence. Currently being installed on one of the complex’s courts, AIBALL technology is recognized by the international padel federation, and is used in the biggest Spanish clubs by the best players in the world.
“We have two cameras which constantly film the game. And software equipped with an AI which will analyze all the movements of each player, the position on the field, the shots practiced, the team work”, explains Didier de Amorin. “Am I in a good position compared to my partner? Am I offensive enough or too defensive? Is my play area good? Each customer will be able to capture the video on the site concerned. And the goal is for our coaches to be able to use AI to analyze the learning of each player. »
More fields… and more sports
At the same time, Didier de Amorin will move up a gear thanks to the acquisition of the business and the walls of the neighboring Stadiopizza complex, with indoor soccer fields, the premises of a former fitness center as well as 11,000 m2 of land. The whole, which belonged to the Decathlon store, will make it possible to build a new extension of 2,800 m2 at the Palatium. “An opportunity that makes sense compared to everything we have done so far,” he assures. Already equipped with two outdoor beach tennis courts for sunny days, the owner of the Palatium will thus be able to diversify his activities.
In addition to the two indoor soccer fields which will be preserved and supplemented by a third playing space, Didier de Amorin plans to create two padel single courts, a practice also booming in France. “If we have to find a disadvantage to padel, it’s that you have to be 4 to play, and it’s not always easy to find four people available in the same slot,” he explains. “The advantage of single, 1 against 1, is that you only need 2 players! »
At the same time, three badminton courts will be created, which can also be used for pickleball, “a racket sport with plastic balls which is played 2 against 2, widely practiced in the United States and which is making a strong impact in France”. A 3×3 basketball court will complete the whole thing. Delivery planned by early 2027… just before the organization of a first international silver padel tournament. It promises!
