/ ARTICLE
Padel Up makes debut at Coachella and Stagecoach
INDIO, California (Apr. 20, 2026) Padel Up, alongside Playbypoint and SIUX, successfully completed a first-of-its-kind month-long padel activation in Indio, California during the Coachella and Stagecoach festival weekends, introducing the world’s fastest-growing racquet sport to hundreds of thousands of festival-goers in the California desert.
From April 9-20, two purpose-built padel courts operated just steps from the festival grounds, blending sport, wellness, hospitality, and entertainment into a large-scale cultural activation that brought new audiences into the game. Throughout the month, guests participated in social matches, and competitive tournament programming while experiencing padel alongside some of the country’s largest music and lifestyle events.
According to Padel Up co-founder Peter Worton:
“The Coachella activation had been part of our thinking for some time. People who attend the festival are open to new experiences, and that’s a demo we need to capture to grow the sport in the U.S. So when the opportunity presented itself, we moved quickly. The goal was to introduce padel to a new audience in a high-impact way. We wanted to make a splash.”
Worton’s co-founder and Padel Up CEO Andre Brown added:
“Padel has a way of hooking people the second they step on the court, and there are millions who just haven’t had that experience yet. Bringing padel to the desert during one of the biggest cultural moments of the year is exactly the kind of bold move this sport needs. We wanted people to walk off the festival grounds, pick up a racket for the first time, and understand why the rest of the world is already obsessed.”
The activation launched with a 12-team mixed Pro-Am tournament on April 11, featuring elite male professionals paired with top female amateur players competing for an $11,000 prize pool. The winning team of Valentin Mussi and Paige Cline earned $6,000 following a day of competition that highlighted both the athleticism and accessibility of the sport.
“The pro am was my first real experience in the world of padel and I get why the sport has so much momentum,” Cline explained. “The venue was perfect, competition was high level and drew an amazing crowd. Padel Up created the perfect event.”
Designed to create more pathways for women into competitive padel, the Pro-Am format emphasized mentorship, participation, and exposure to high-level play in a welcoming environment. The event drew players and guests from across the United States and internationally, while also attracting celebrity and influencer participation throughout the month.
“The pro am was my first real experience in the world of padel and I get why the sport has so much momentum,” Cline explained. “The venue was perfect, the competition was high level and drew an amazing crowd. Padel Up created the perfect event.”
An assortment of DJs, including Louis the Child, Nyjah Houston, Jonas Blue, Arlo, Juicy J, performed on the estate during the activation. Additional notable guests included Adriana Lima, who was the first to step on court.
Jad Elam, Director of U.S. Sales and Marketing for SIUX, echoed this sentiment, telling me:
“At SIUX, we’re always looking for the most exciting and unexpected ways to connect with players and introduce padel to new audiences. Activations like what we built in Indio are more than marketing moments for us, they’re investments in the growth of the sport and in the future of the U.S. padel community.
We’re focused on pushing the industry forward in new ways, doubling down on the American market, and creating the kinds of experiences that make people want to be part of padel. If we can help grow the sport while becoming one of the most relevant and aspirational brands in the space, that’s exactly where we want to be.”
Throughout the activation, Playbypoint powered all booking, scheduling, player matching, and operational infrastructure while also showcasing its Game Match technology designed to help players connect and organize games socially.
Jo Vos, the CMO at Playbypoint, explained:
“This activation wasn’t just about putting padel courts next to a music festival. It’s about proving that padel belongs in the mainstream cultural conversation.
Hospitality and wellness experiences were integrated throughout the month, including lounges and recovery activations from partners including CÎROC, Erewhon, Pause Studio, amp, LVBL, HAESKN, AM Radio. Additional sponsors included Recover 180, Prima, and Discovery Land Company.
According to Pause Studio,
“Festival culture moves fast. So we focused on creating moments that helped people slow down, reset, and find balance. It felt special to bring intentional recovery into such a high-energy environment.” “The space became a thoughtful blend of performance, culture, and wellness.” “There was a natural balance between energy and restoration.” “This is the direction wellness is heading. Embedded in culture, social by design, and meeting people exactly where they are.”
The activation reflects Padel Up’s broader strategy for growing padel in the United States through large-scale experiential events that merge sport, culture, hospitality, and entertainment. Putting courts next to one of the country’s biggest cultural events was not just clever marketing. It was a statement: padel does not have to wait for Americans to discover it at a club or see highlights on YouTube. It can go where the culture already is. And fit right in.
Activation Partners
The Padel Up Indio activation is presented by Playbypoint with support from SIUX, Ciroc, Erewhon, Pause Studios, Discovery Land Properties, Recover 180, AMP AI, HAESKN, LVBL, Prima.
Key Dates
April 11–12: Mixed Pro-Am Tournament + LVBL Party
April 18: Industry Tournament
April 23–24: Clash of the Clubs Championship (postponed)
Email info@padelup.club for more information or visit indio2026.padelup.club
Discover clubs, find games, book courts, and explore the world of racquet sports by downloading the Playbypoint app on iOS and Android.
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ABOUT PADEL UP:
Padel Up is an Los Angeles-based padel club operator and community that has established itself as a leader in the sport. With rooftop courts at Westfield Century City and the only indoor padel facility in the LA and Orange County area, Padel Up focuses on community-driven play, training, and exposure to one of the fastest-growing global sports.
The club hosts tournaments, brand activations and community events designed to introduce new audiences to padel while supporting the sport’s rapidly expanding presence in the U.S. As tournament host and director, they bring community players with a curated on-court experience for guests and partners.
ABOUT PLAYBYPOINT:
Playbypoint is the leading club management and player experience platform purpose built for racquet sports. Serving 1,000+ facilities across 35+ countries and connecting over 2.6 million players, Playbypoint provides comprehensive software solutions including court booking, payment processing, member management, and white-label mobile apps for tennis, pickleball, padel, and squash clubs. Founded in 2016, Playbypoint partners with clubs of all sizes to increase revenue, streamline operations, and deliver exceptional experiences for players.
ABOUT SIUX:
Founded in 2012, Siux has grown into one of the world’s leading padel brands, known for its high-performance rackets, apparel, accessories, and professional-grade courts. With iconic models such as the Siux Diablo and partnerships with top professional players, the brand has established a strong international presence and continues to play a major role in the global growth of padel through innovation, competition, and premium player equipment.
