• Padel newcomer Hexagon Cup held its anticipated official launch today at Madrid City Hall. Mayor of Madrid José Luis Martínez-Almeida, pledged the city’s support to the event which will run Jan 31st to 5 February 2024 at the city’s Madrid Arena.
• Spanish superstars, Paquito Navarro (ESP) and Alejandra Salazar (ESP), become first confirmed players. The pair join the event’s first confirmed Hexagon Cup team, for which the fans will play a key role in selecting its remaining players.
• Tournament reveals one-million-euro prize fund, with guaranteed even distribution to male and female players. This detail finalizes Hexagon Cup’s innovative equality-based sporting format, which will see the world’s best male, female and ‘Next Gen’ players joining forces to compete together in this annual team competition unlike any other.
The world of padel witnessed an exciting milestone today with the Hexagon Cup’s first official presentation. The newcomer to the sport launched at the Palacio de Cibeles with support of José Luis Martínez-Almeida, mayor of Madrid, and unveiled superstar players Paquito Navarro and Alejandra Salazar as its first signings.
The Hexagon Cup, taking place 31 January to 4 February, 2024, at the Madrid Arena, is an annual and global padel exhibition, which will see the world’s top male, female and ‘next gen’ players join forces in teams to compete for the one million euros prize fund. Born under the slogan "For the Fans. For the Players. For the Game", this innovative project will seeplayers combine with leading names from global sports and entertainment to create a truly exciting new team competition and fan experience.
Carlos Almazán, Legendary Spanish padel player and Hexagon Cup’s Sporting General Manager, said: "Hexagon Cup’s goal is to celebrate the sport we know and love, whilst alsotaking it to new global heights. Here you will find the world’s top players, the most inclusive sporting format, and a truly memorable ‘big show’ fan experience. Mix this with a host of sporting legends and celebrity team owners, and fan-driven decision-making abilities, and we are creating a sports and entertainment experience unlike any other which exists in padel.”
Adding, Carlos Almazán said: “We would like to express our sincere thanks to the Mayorfor his unconditional support for Madrid to host the inaugural Hexagon Cup. This choice highlights the importance of this city as the world capital of our sport and innovation thanks to a tournament that is born with the ambition of becoming a benchmark in the world calendar, as well as the firm objective of becoming a celebration in which everyone has a place."
Spanish superstars Paquito Navarro, who holds 25 World Padel Tour titles, was World Number 1 in 2019, and a World Champion with the Spanish National Team, and current World Number 1 Alejandra Salazar, a six time-time World Champion with 52 World PadelTour titles, are the event’s first confirmed players. Both will represent the Hexagon Cup teamas its franchise players.
Once all six teams have revealed their franchise player pairings over the coming weeks, theseplayers will select their four team mates; one male, one female, and two ‘next gen’ during thePlayer Draft, taking place in November.
One major and exciting feature regarding the Hexagon Cup team is that it will be the fanswho will be in charge of this team’s player draft selection, putting them at the heart of crucial sporting decision making.
Paquito Navarro commented: “All padel players love to play team competitions, and this event combines everything that a player likes. Teams, top players, fun and relaxed environment playing alongside our female teammates and future stars is very compelling. Plus we are all fighting for big prize money. The moment is also perfect, just before the official season starts will give us the opportunity to train at a competitive level while we have a lot of fun.
“Hexagon Cup is going to increase padel’s fan base around the world and will help padel to become even stronger. This is an event where everyone will have fun, the players and especially the fans!”
Alejandra Salazar commented: “The Hexagon Cup will be a fantastic event. I love to play team competitions and this one is very special and different. I like the equality for all playersaspect and the option to give an opportunity to share the teams between top players and future stars. It's an honor to be the franchise player of the Hexagon Team alongside Paquito.
“I can’t wait to interact with fans to choose the rest of our players and compete against the other five teams. I’ve heard the names of some of the owners of the other teams and it’s impressive! I can’t wait to meet all of them and of course we plan to beat their teams on court!”
Padel is one of the world’s fastest growing global sports, with conversations increasingly moving towards it becoming a future Olympic sport, and Spain is undeniably the leading padel nation with over 3.7 million players.
For its first event, the Hexagon Cup will take over the country’s historic Madrid Arena and create a big show experience. This will include an engaging Fan Village filled with player autograph sessions, player training courts, coaching sessions, live concerts and entertainment,shops, exhibitors, food trucks and top gastronomy offerings, plus world-class VIP hospitalityofferings, all aimed at creating a truly memorable experience for sports and entertainment fans.
The tournament itself will see the six teams split into two qualifying groups. These two groups will do battle in a series of head-to-head matches. Only the top two teams from each group will advance to the Finals Weekend, where the inaugural Hexagon Cup champions will be crowned and claim the top share of the one-million-euro prize pot.
Another of the most innovative aspects of the Hexagon Cup lies in its team model, in which each of the six teams will be chaired by a world-renowned figure from different sporting, business or entertainment industries, with exciting names set to be revealed over the coming weeks.
Hexagon Cup’s visionary founders are rooted in the sports industry. Based on an idea born and developed by the main founders of Formula E, it was then turned into a reality by the best professionals of the padel and sports ecosystem.
Well-known for having founded Formula E, Extreme E, and E1, the Hexagon Cup foundershave sports disruption, innovation, and creativity built into their dna. They are passionate about respecting the true heritage of padel, whilst using their collective sporting experiences to drive the fanbase for the sport to new global audiences.
Concluding, Carlos Almazán says: "The popularity of padel is growing around the world and the visionary team behind the Hexagon Cup will use its knowledge and experiences in global sports management to help drive the transformation of the sport of the ten by twentyfaster and further, ensuring that it is inclusive, accessible and engaging in equal measure.
“We are thrilled with the confirmation of Paquito Navarro and Alejandra Salazar as our first confirmed players, and this is just the start. I truly believe Hexagon Cup represents a turning point and a new era for the sport I love, and that its Madrid debut will be the catalyst for this exciting transformation.”
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