#339: Growing America’s Padel Community with Dan Fitzgerald, Army Veteran

Service Academy Business Mastermind

Dan Fitzgerald is the Founder of the 40Forty Padel Club, a company bringing one of the world’s fastest growing sports to South Carolina and beyond. A Citadel graduate and former Army Infantry Officer, Dan went on to serve as a TAC officer at West Point, teach leadership, and build executive teams as a recruiter before discovering padel during his travels to South America.

Hooked from the very first game, Dan saw an opportunity to introduce the sport to the U.S. market in a way that was both affordable and community-driven. Today, he leads 40Forty Padel Club with the mission to make padel accessible, grow the sport across universities and population centers, and create spaces where people connect through play, fitness, and community.

In this episode of the SABM podcast, Scott chats with Dan about:

• The Rise of Padel: Why this international sport is exploding worldwide and how it differs from tennis, pickleball, and racquetball.
• Founding 40Forty Padel Club: Dan’s journey from Citadel cadet to Army officer, to entrepreneur building the first designated paddle club in South Carolina.
• Building Community: How paddle brings together men and women of all ages, fostering friendships, fitness, and healthy competition.
• Scaling Strategy: Starting with two courts at the Pickle Yard in Malden this fall, then expanding to a flagship six-to-eight-court facility.
• Long-Term Vision: Positioning paddle as an NCAA and Olympic sport, while growing clubs regionally and nationally through partnerships and creative land use.

Timestamps:

00:31 The Correct Pronunciation: Paddle or Padel?

02:24 Founding 40 40 Paddle Club

04:02 Discovering Paddle: A Personal Journey

05:29 What is Paddle?

07:44 The Growth and Popularity of Paddle

10:19 Launching 40 40 Paddle Club

16:15 Future Plans and Expansion

29:03 Community Building and Health Benefits

32:08 Challenges and Opportunities

37:32 Conclusion and Contact InformationConnect with Dan:

• LinkedIn | Dan Fitzgerald

• www.40fortypadel.com

• [email protected] | [email protected]

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A special thank you to Dan for joining me this week. Until next time!

-Scott Mackes, USNA '01