Target opening date of October 2026: what remains to be finalized
On Rue du Stade, the Hazard padel center in Braine-le-Comte is entering its home stretch. The main building has now been promoted and is due to be closed in the next few weeks. The structural work is therefore nearing completion, although several elements still need to be finalized before the first players arrive: the surroundings, access, parking and final interior fittings.
Start-up is scheduled to take place progressively from October 2026, before a more ambitious inauguration planned for the end of November. Thierry Hazard is particularly keen to add a sporting dimension to the launch, with an event that could take the form of a tournament. The timing is not insignificant: at the end of the season, the international padel calendar can leave more room for foreign players.
- Eleven padel courts are announced in the current version of the project.
- Eight lanes will be covered and three will be installed away from the building.
- Four courts will be more competition-oriented, including two panoramic ones.
- A brasserie with terrace will complete the ensemble and give the site a real club feel.
The ambition therefore goes beyond simply renting a track. With its indoor courts, panoramic slopes and catering facilities, the complex aims to cater for leisure players as well as more competitive pairs, young people, families and, in time, events capable of going beyond the local frame.
From the Sans Fond stadium to the Hazard project: a conversion in several stages
This project is part of a strong local history. The Sans Fond site, the former Stade Brainois court, is not a neutral place for the Hazard family. Its conversion marks a turning point: the former landmark of the round ball gives way to a facility geared towards Belgian padel, padel racket sports and a new form of local sporting life.
- January 2023: the project goes public with a survey, demolition of the old infrastructure, ten padel courts, soccer-football and a catering component.
- Early 2024: the single permit is granted for the complex supported by Hazard Boys Team, with indoor and outdoor courts, brasserie, restaurant, event hall and parking lot.
- 2025: the face of the site really changes, with demolition, earthworks, preparation of the platforms and the first technical interventions.
- 2026: the building is completed and the version presented now features eleven lanes, eight of which are covered.
This development is worthy of note. Initial communications referred to ten padel courts and several soccer-football areas. Today’s version seems more focused on padel, with an additional court and a configuration more suited to both club and competition use. Montpellier-based EPUR Architecture is involved in the design of the site, while Ecobeton has communicated water management solutions, including rainwater retrieval.
Noise, access, residents: the sensitive points in the dossier
As is often the case with padel, the question of noise has accompanied the project. The rebound off glass, repeated hits and operating hours can raise concerns, especially when away courts are planned. Thierry Hazard is reassuring, however: the building is designed to cover the noise of the indoor courts, while the three outdoor courts, located to the rear, would benefit from the screen formed by the RAVeL.
The project’s promoter also insists on its local roots. By pointing out that the first homes concerned are those belonging to the family, Thierry Hazard seeks to defuse the idea of a complex imposed on the neighborhood. The message is clear: build an ambitious center, but one that is compatible with the lives of local residents.
Mobility will be the other element to watch out for right up to the opening. Parking, car access, routes to the RAVeL, bicycle traffic and the arrival of players at peak times will all have to be carefully planned. For a site destined to combine training, tournament, brasserie and family practice, the experience will begin long before the first smash or bandeja.
For Braine-le-Comte, the stakes go beyond the opening of an additional club. If the timetable is confirmed, and if the project is successfully integrated into the surrounding area, the complex will give a second lease of life to the Sans Fond, while at the same time making the town part of the padel dynamic in Belgium, with its mix of leisure activities, local competitions and regional appeal.
To remember:
- Gradual opening hoped for from October 2026, with inauguration targeted for late November.
- Eleven courts announced: eight indoor, three outdoor, including four competition-oriented tracks.
- The project has evolved since the initial 2023 announcements, which were broader in scope and included soccer-football.
- Noise, access, parking and integration into the neighborhood remain the key points to watch.
