Viva Vibes: Padel, Pickleball, and Community in the Heart of Philly

In this special episode of the Padel Smash Academy podcast, recorded during our Northeast road trip, Cesc and Julian sit down with Mehdi Rhazali, CEO and Co-Founder of VIVA Padel & Pickleball Club in Philadelphia—the city’s first exclusive outdoor padel club. Nestled in downtown Philly, VIVA is more than a sports facility—it’s a lifestyle destination blending padel, pickleball, wellness, and community in a high-energy, state-of-the-art space.Mehdi shares the story behind building VIVA, the dedicated team that made it happen, and their impressive early success—already in the black and expanding fast. He also teases a new indoor Padel Club just 30 minutes away. The conversation dives into what it takes to grow a Padel club in the U.S., from community engagement to strategic planning.This episode is a teaser for our full walkthrough and video review of VIVA, dropping next week during Padel Smash Academy’s Week of Padel Club Reviews—proudly sponsored by Fromuth Racquet Distribution.