New Year’s Eve, Padelbase, and How It All Started
On December 31st, 2025, we stepped onto a padel court for the first time. The idea was simple: do something sporty before the big New Year’s Eve feast. We’d been wanting to try padel for a while — ever since we saw people playing at a friend’s place in Spain and thought: that looks really fun.
So off to Padelbase, rented some rackets, and gave it a go. We were hooked instantly. Since then, we play nearly every week. At some point we discovered Padelzone, which is closer to home — and that’s been our go-to ever since.
Padelzone Is Great — But Summer Is a Problem
Padelzone is my home court. The vibe is right, the courts are well-maintained, and with 6 doubles and 2 singles courts, it’s the biggest facility in Upper Austria. Since opening in August 2025, a solid community has built up around it.
But it’s an indoor hall. And if you’ve ever played in a hall during the height of summer — you know it gets seriously hot. On top of that, there’s the booking problem: on weekends, you need to book at least a week and a half in advance to get a slot. Before 10am or after 8pm usually works, but that’s not exactly prime time.
We prefer playing on weekends around midday, or weekdays around 4pm when we can leave work early. Exactly the slots that are always gone first.
This Year: Finally Going Outside
I’ve actually never played outdoor padel. This year, that changes.
The option I’m most excited about: Padelbase Pichling. Three outdoor courts near the Pichlinger See lake, including a panoramic court with an open view. That sounds like a completely different experience from playing indoors — and that’s exactly what I want to try.
There’s also the Padelbase location in Kleinmünchen (also outdoor) and their indoor facility on Pestalozzistraße. So Linz has options — but honestly, not enough.
Linz Needs More Courts
This isn’t an exaggeration. With Padelzone and three Padelbase locations, Linz has more padel than most Austrian cities. But the demand is there — and growing. When you have to book a week and a half ahead for a weekend slot, it’s pretty clear: there aren’t enough courts for the number of people who want to play.
I’m curious to see if anything new opens in 2026. Until then, the strategy is: book early, and head to Pichling when summer comes.
My Plan for the Summer
- Try Padelbase Pichling — lakeside scenery, panoramic court, first outdoor experience
- Compare indoor vs outdoor — how does the game change? Wind, sun, different surface?
- Book earlier — outdoor season is short, courts will fill up
If you play padel in Linz and have outdoor tips, let me know. I’ll report back once I’ve played my first match at the Pichlinger See.
Never played padel? → What is padel — and why is everyone trying it?
Ready to play? → Find padel courts near you
Published: 29 March 2026 · Updated: 2026-03