The Blockchain.com Miami Padel Open Tour 2022 Highlights
The inaugural Blockchain.com Miami Padel Open kicked off the World Padel Tour 2022 season in Miami, at Island Gardens, from February 22nd-27th, bringing together the best within the sport of padel, first-class entertainment, premium dining, and beverage programming, curated shopping experiences, and exemplary luxuries. Led by prominent businessman and Miami-based investor, Wayne Boich of Boich Investment Group, the premier lifestyle sporting event brought together the top professional padel players from around the globe to compete in an unparalleled six-day tournament experience in what has become the fastest-growing sport in the world.
Luxury Swiss watchmaking brand, Richard Mille, presented the event’s exclusive VIP experiences all week long. The Richard Mille Luxury Boxes housed 76 individual VIP Boxes coupled with a special boutique activation by culinary titan Major Food Group’s exclusive private membership destination, ZZ’s Club. In addition, luxury wine label La Fête du Rosé featured a specialty pop-up bar serving its signature rosé. Pura Vida, South Florida’s beloved wellness-driven destination, served guests within their own dedicated area on-site, along with Vietnamese-inspired eatery, Behn Mi. Guests of the event enjoyed daily/nightly live music programming and celeb performances, including an intimate special performance by Rick Ross on Thursday, Ludacris on Friday, Gianluca Vacchi on Saturday, and Wyclef Jean on Sunday.
Attracting the who’s who from Miami and beyond, Actor Vince Vaughn attended day one of the Blockchain.com Miami Padel Open (Tuesday, February 22), eagerly watching and cheering from his Richard Mille luxury VIP box. Italian entrepreneur Gianluca Vacchi was also seen enjoying the matches each day along with model Vita Sidorkina-Morabito. Then on Wednesday, February 23rd, Miami HEAT’s Jimmy Butler, who also serves as the event’s official Honorary Chairperson, came to support Miami Padel Open partner, Wayne Boich, during his first padel match. Butler also played some padel during match breaks and even partook in playful one-on-one games with several journalists who came to cover the event.
On Thursday, February 24th, the tournament’s highly-anticipated charity pro-am, and celeb match took place, starring Shane Battier and Bob Bryan vs. Sandy Meyer Woelden and Michelle Alvarez Bryan (wife of Bob Bryan). The girls excitingly took home the win for the night’s match.Eva Garzón, CEO & Owner of The Grand Lion, also played against social media personality, Twan Kuyper, in which Eva proudly took home the night’s win. Also spotted in the crowd was Miami HEAT legend, Alonzo Mourning, and famed Margaritaville singer, Jimmy Buffet.
As the quarterfinal and semi-final matches continued on Friday and Saturday, actress Claire Holt, Celebrity Chef Marcus Samuelson, and the fifth-ranked Austrian tennis player in the world, Dominic Thiem, were among some of the notables who came to watch the anticipated matches.Jimmy Butler and Jimmy Buffet also returned to show their support.
On Sunday, February 27th, guests gathered in excitement to watch the most anticipated matches of the week - the tournament finals. Immediately following the Women’s Finals, Wayne Boich invited Shane Battier onto the court and challenged him to a world champ vs. world champ match against the two Finals winners of the women’s padel match, Gemma Triay and Alejandra Salazar. Wayne proposed, if Shane was able to score a single point against the women, then Blockchain.com Miami Padel Open would donate $25,000.00 to his Battier Take Charge Foundation. Shane accepted and in the HEAT of the moment, tapped in Jimmy Butler to serve as his padel partner. After a few “practice” rounds, the two champions were able to score their point and graciously accepted the generous donation.
Following the Men’s Finals Award Ceremony, honoring titlists Fernando Belasteguin and Arturo Coello, Wayne Boich (Founder & CEO of Boich Investment Group), Stuart Miller and Eric Feder (on behalf of the of Lennar Foundation), Josh Wander (Founder & Managing Partner of 777 Partners), and Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler, presented Mayor Levine Cava with a $500,000.00 donation on behalf of the Blockchain.com Miami Padel Open. The donation will help fund the Miami-Dade County Peace and Prosperity Plan, Mayor Levine Cava’s monumental initiative committed to making investments in people and the places they live to create positive youth opportunities and safe neighborhoods. An additional $1,500,0000.00 was donated to multiple other local charities, which resulted in over $2,000,0000.00 in donations given on behalf of the Blockchain.com Miami Padel Open. Some of these other charities include Overtown Youth Center, Mt. Sinai, The Battier Take Charge Foundation, Style Saves, No More Tears, and more.
Wyclef Jean closed out the night with a high-energy performance for over two hours for the crowd.
Celebrities spotted in the Richard Mille VIP luxury boxes that day/evening include: Miami HEAT legends and star athletes Shane Battier, Alonzo Mourning, Tyler Herro, Jimmy Butler, Udonis Haslem, Max Strus, Gabe Vincent, Ludacris, Mayor Francis Suarez, actress Claire Holt and captain of the National Hockey League Florida Panthers, Alexander Barkov.
Titans of the business world who also attended the event include: Barry Sternlicht (Starwood Capital), Dan Sundheim (D1 Capital), Alan Howard (Brevan Howard Asset Management LLP), Jackie Soffer (Turnberry), Jim Pallotta (Raptor Group), Jeff Zalaznick (Major Food Group), Rob Pohly (Samlyn Capital), Peter Smith (Blockchain.com), Adam Fisher (Commonwealth Asset Management), and Adam Neumann (WeWork).
Full list of all celeb attendees include: Miami HEAT Legends/Stars: Shane Battier, Alonzo Mourning, Tyler Herro, Jimmy Butler, Udonis Haslem, Max Strus, Gabe Vincent; National Hockey League Florida Panthers Captain: Alexander Barkov; Fifth-ranked tennis player in the world: Dominic Thiem; Musicians/Performers: Jimmy Buffet, Ludacris, Rick Ross, Wyclef, Gianluca Vacchi; Actors/Actresses: Vince Vaughn, Claire Holt; Chefs: Celebrity-Chef Marcus Samuelson.