Conquer Padel has secured a franchise agreement with fitness industry leaders Alex, Greg and Robert Baker, marking the first official padel franchise in the U.S and “a major milestone for the sport’s nationwide expansion.”
The Baker family previously operated 24 Planet Fitness locations across the Midwest and now plans to open 50 Conquer Padel clubs nationwide. The first four locations are slated for the Northeast, with site selection underway by Conquer Padel’s real estate team.
“This was a very easy decision for us,” said Alex Baker. “We truly believe in Conquer’s model and see it becoming the U.S. industry leader. When Greg and I met the team in Tempe, we knew right away that this was a special group of people who aligned with our values, culture and vision. It felt like family, and that’s exactly what we were looking for.”
In a media release, Conquer Padel reported that “With more than 30 million players and a club opening every 2.5 hours globally, Padel is now also surging in popularity across the U.S. with more than 350 padel courts being built across the country in 2024 alone (a 77 percent increase from 2023).
“The level of sophistication Conquer brought to the table in terms of operations and technology was eye-opening for such a novel franchise,” added Greg Baker. “It solidified our view that they’re the right partner for long-term growth.”
Greg, a financial analyst by background, previously handled financial operations for the family’s Planet Fitness portfolio and, most recently, consulted for Vamos Padel. It was during a visit to RacquetX that he connected with the Conquer team, sparking the formation of the partnership.
“The Baker family fit our franchisee profile to a T,” said Barry Falcon, CEO of Conquer Franchise Group. “They’re great individuals, savvy businesspeople, have deep fitness industry experience, and, most importantly, they’re passionate about padel. Franchisee selection is critical to an emerging brand, and this team checks all the boxes.”
Conquer Padel is set to open a club in Tempe, AZ, in the third quarter of 2025 and add facilities in Lehi, UT, and Phoenix, AZ, in the first half of 2026.
Images courtesy Conquer Padel
