Serving Up Collabs

As if we weren’t already hype about Swing Racquet + Paddle coming to Raleigh, there’s even more to look forward to thanks to three major partnerships with Wilson Sporting Goods, Fabio Viviani (of Top Chef fame) and Good to Great Tennis Academy (!).

Opening in late 2024, the goliath 45-acre flagship campus is on course to be the largest multiracquet sports facility in the world, featuring 70+ courts for tennis, pickleball, padel and beach tennis.

“Seeing these three significant collaborations come to fruition is a testament to our commitment to revolutionizing the racquet sports experience and creating a world-class sportstainment venue,” says Swing founder and CEO Rob Autry.

In addition to a tennis racquet stringing bar and retail brick-and-mortar, Wilson is bringing cutting-edge technology to Swing with augmented reality, virtual reality and gamification experiences, along with a satellite hub of Wilson Labs, the company’s R&D arm. The collab will also help define Swing as a top destination for national and international tournaments and events.

Wilson president and CEO Joe Dudy says this all-in-one concept is just what the industry needs. “We are very bullish about this project and feel Wilson can play an integral role in Swing’s movement. We cannot wait to see Swing come to life in Raleigh and beyond.”

On the training front, Stockholm-based GTG is joining Swing to create a co-branded academy at the facility. GTG boasts an impressive string of players who trained under its coaching model, including the current world No. 9 Maria Sakkari, three-time Grand Slam winner and former world No. 3 Stan Wawrinka, and former world No. 3 in singles Grigor Dimitrov.

While sports may take top billing, don’t sleep on the food. Celebrity chef and restaurateur Fabio Viviani and his eponymous Fabio Viviani Hospitality will lead the food and bev charge, focusing on healthy meals made with high-quality ingredients to give players an energy boost while encouraging community building off the court.

“Long gone are the days when food and beverage were just an afterthought for sports and entertainment concepts,” says Viviani, going on to explain that his concept will be a “tangible asset” to complement Swing’s appeal.

Autry adds that Swing is excited to bring their vision to life alongside these industry leaders.“These relationships will not only enhance the Swing experience, but they will also help grow the player base and create opportunities for individuals who may not have otherwise had access to these sports.” Now that’s a swing and a score in our book.

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