How PATL Atlanta Built a Padel Community from Scratch (Kevin Ye Interview)

Kevin Ye breaks down how PATL Atlanta grew padel in a tennis/pickle market by building community-first programming, then scaling via smart facility partnerships and expansion (Charleston next).

Kevin Ye (PATL Atlanta) breaks down the real blueprint for growing padel in the U.S.—starting with a small early community, converting tennis + pickleball players, and building programming that keeps people coming back.

In this conversation, Kevin shares how he discovered padel through social media, how PATL Atlanta built momentum with beginner clinics and Americanos, and what it takes to scale—staffing, coaching pipelines, zoning/permitting, and choosing the right locations. We also talk pricing strategy, membership value, and PATL’s next move: a fully indoor Charleston facility built for year-round play.

If you’re a club operator, coach, investor, or a player looking for a thriving padel community—this episode is loaded with practical insight.

Follow/Connect:
PATL Atlanta — https://playpatl.com/atlanta-chamblee/
Padel Smash Academy — https://www.padelsmashacademy.com/

Chapters:
00:00 Kevin’s background + discovering padel
03:30 How PATL Atlanta built community
05:30 Bootstrapping + partnering with existing facilities
08:30 Pricing + membership strategy
11:20 Expansion: Charleston plans
14:30 Staffing, coaching gap, and growth challenges
17:40 Programming: clinics, levels, Americanos, tournaments
20:40 Final thoughts