2024-04-20 04:06:28
The Lhoist brothers are buying the Belgian tennis club together with logistics real estate investor LastLink. The padel will replace the little yellow ball at this classified site, located a stone’s throw from Avenue Louise in Brussels.
Located in the middle of a residential block in Brussels, just a few steps from the bustling Avenue Louise, Belgium Tennis Club has been part of Belgian and world tennis heritage for 70 years this year.
Built in 1954 and designed in the modernist style of the time by the architect Émile Goffay, it was first covered room of this type in Belgium. Protected monumentit was the scene of events – including the Davis Cup – and high-level exchanges, with a central capacity of 1,000 seats.
His three very fast courts were trampled by legends of the little yellow ball, from Rod Laver to André Agassi to Bjørn Borg, Jimmy Connors, John McEnroe or Boris Becker. It also served as a national training center for more than twenty years.
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The buyers will officially receive the keys at the end of June, before carrying out work in the months of July and August, with a view to reopening in September.
A need for renewal
After more than forty years at the helm, the owners, Gilbert Elseneer (ex-national coach and former tennis teacher for the royal family) and his son Gilles (which appeared in the world top 100 20 years ago) was looking to breathe new life into the site although the club still shows a small profit. A sales process was initiated last year and several parties were contacted.
We now learn that the operation has ended. It is the Tero group, of brothers Arthur and Nicolas Lhoist, that wins the bid, accompanied by logistics investor LastLink for the real estate component. Co-founded by Maxime Xantippe (Alphastone), Julien Vandeleene (BePark) and Guillaume Gosse (Nestin., ex-Immobel), the latter is specialized in local city warehouses.
The buyers will officially receive the keys at the end of June, before carrying out work in the months of July and August, considering reopens in September.
However, anyone who visited the place in the past should expect change. Beyond a few cosmetic renovations, it is the very heart of the activity that will be renewed. LThe three tennis courts are to be replaced by seven padel courts. Another sign of boom in this growing sport.
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“Strategic Step”
“In addition to a dire lack of padel courts in the Brussels-Capital Region, the existing infrastructure is mainly outside or partially covered.”
When asked regarding this new development, Nicolas Lhoist speaks of a “strategic step” for his group. “Outside a serious lack of padel courts in the Brussels-Capital Region, the existing infrastructure is mainly outside or partially covered, as well as often connected to tennis clubs where the problems with the neighborhood are many. Here we have one unique opportunity to distribute indoors, in an ultra-central district since it is close to Châtelain or even Flagey”.
The summary
- Mecca for the little yellow ball in Brussels, the Belgium Tennis Club has been trodden by the greatest champions.
- It has just been taken over by one group of investors piloted by the Lhoist brothers.
- Its three covered courts will be converted into padel courts.
- Reopening is planned at next September.
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