Tipton Sports Academy is set to be rebranded as Sandwell Rackets Centre, marking a significant shift towards establishing the venue as a regional hub for racket sports. Operator Kore has announced plans to expand facilities and increase opportunities for tennis, squash, badminton, and padel.
Rebranding and Expansion Plans
The rebrand aims to position the centre as a leading destination for racket sports in the West Midlands. The venue will offer coaching, tournaments, and activities designed for players of all ages and abilities. Currently, the centre boasts three indoor tennis courts, two outdoor tennis courts, squash and badminton facilities, a recently refurbished gym, a sports hall, and an athletics track.
Six dedicated padel courts—including five doubles courts and one singles court—are being installed and are expected to be completed later this year. Further outdoor development is also planned, according to the announcement.
Kore's Commitment to Racket Sports
Mark Braithwaite, CEO of Kore, highlighted the strategic importance of the rebrand. "Sandwell Rackets Centre represents a bold statement about our commitment to rackets sports and the role they can play in improving health, wellbeing and community connections across Sandwell," he said. "Whilst the rapid growth of padel has been an exciting catalyst for change, our vision extends far beyond any single sport."
Braithwaite added: "We are committed to supporting and growing tennis, squash, badminton and padel, ensuring that existing players continue to have access to high-quality facilities while creating opportunities for more people to get involved."
Community and Junior Development
The centre will also provide opportunities for junior development, community programmes, and competitive events. Centre manager Simon Stokes emphasised the existing strengths of the venue. "This is about building on the strong foundations already in place," he said. "We have passionate tennis players, dedicated squash communities, regular badminton users and growing interest in padel."
Kore, formerly Sandwell Leisure Trust, operates leisure facilities on behalf of Sandwell Council, including Sandwell Aquatics Centre and Tipton Leisure Centre. The rebrand is expected to solidify the centre's role in the local sports landscape, with the new padel courts set to be a major draw upon completion.