Glasgow Life have announced that construction of the state-of-the-art indoor facility at Scotstoun Leisure Centre began this week, with the courts due to open in April.
The work will see two existing tennis courts removed to make way for three of the padel courts, a decision that promoted backlash from local sports groups and even Tennis Scotland.
The addition of the new padel courts, Glasgow Life bosses say, is hoped to help get more people active, give players of all ages and abilities the chance to enjoy the sport in a high-quality facility all year round.
Meanwhile, campaigners say when they were consulted on the change, they were not told the new courts would be at the expense of their valued tennis areas.
Famous Tennis star such as Jack Draper, Gordon Reid and Jacob Fearnley have all joined the cause to save the tennis facilities from being chopped.
A petition that started on Change.org and has so far gathered more than 1200 signatures.
One campaigner, Yvonne Graham, previously said: “Glasgow Life sent out a call to people on the app in August, asking if they wanted Padel at Scotstoun and a lot of people did answer yes, but the question wasn’t very clear.
“It didn’t say it would be at the indoor tennis courts. It wasn’t clear that it would be at the expense of another facility.”
The new courts will be bookable via the Glasgow Life app or website and indications of what it might cost have been released by the organisation.
Based on a standard doubles game involving four players, the price to play will be £28 or £7pp for adults and £22 or £5.50pp for juniors and seniors.
Players will be able to hire padel racquets from the venue, meaning newcomers and beginners can play without buying their own racquet.
In addition, players can either bring their own padel balls or buy these from the Sportmax stand at Glasgow Club Scotstoun.
Alan Milner, head of sport at Glasgow Life, said: “Glasgow Club Scotstoun’s new indoor padel courts will give people of all ages and abilities an opportunity to play one of the fastest-growing sports in the world all year round.
“This investment will help more people get active, develop the venue’s overall offer, and ensure Scotstoun remains a flagship location for sport in Glasgow and Scotland where padel and tennis can flourish side by side.”
