Most padel court buying decisions don't happen at the extremes. Not every project needs the flagship competition spec. Not every project should cut costs to the minimum. The Classic Court is where the majority of serious operators land: professional competition quality, factory-direct pricing, 30 years, own factory. Maximum structural rigidity for outdoor installation, at a price that makes sense for a four-to-eight-court project.
This article explains when the Classic Court is the right choice — and when it isn't.
The honest case for classic design
The padel industry has been moving toward panoramic courts. Glass-to-glass, no vertical posts, the look audiences see during Premier Padel competition broadcasts. That trend is real, and the panoramic aesthetic has genuine appeal for clubs that want a specific visual identity.
The Classic Court does not try to compete on that aesthetic. It makes a different argument.
In a classic design, a structural post sits between every glass panel around the full court perimeter. That means the wind load on any single glass panel is transferred immediately to a post on each side. The rigidity that results from this geometry is not achievable in a panoramic design, which relies on corner connections and the horizontal rail to carry lateral loads.
For outdoor installations in exposed locations — hillside sports complexes, seafront clubs, facilities in valleys with wind funneling — the Classic Court's structural geometry is what Orion recommends. It is not that panoramic courts cannot handle outdoor conditions. It is that classic courts handle them with more margin, and for operators building four to eight outdoor courts that need to perform for ten years without structural surprises, the structural argument matters more than the aesthetic one.
Technical specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Model | Classic Court — posts between every panel |
| CE certification | Glass EN 12150 · Structure EN 1090 |
| Structural design | Posts between every glass panel — maximum classic rigidity |
| Glass | 12mm tempered · 18 panels · 2×3m each |
| Main column profile | 100×100×3mm Q235 steel |
| Glass-area pillar | 100×50×3mm — structural post between every panel |
| Frame profile | 50×30×3mm Q235 |
| Surface finish | Zinc + powder coat (standard) · Hot-dip galvanizing upgrade available (+$950) |
| Playing surface | 20 m × 10 m FIP regulation · 4 m structure height |
| Grass | Curly mono turf · 12mm · Dtex 13.500 · PU backing |
| Lighting | 8 × 240W LED |
| Structure weight | 2.050 kg |
| Manufacturing warranty | 3yr structure+LED · 5yr turf |
| Production | 10–12 days from order confirmation · Freight depends on destination, not promised |
| Pricing | EXW $14,300 |
The Classic Court is one of only two models in the catalog carrying structural CE certification to EN 1090, alongside the Shelter. Most of the catalog is CE-marked on the glass (EN 12150); the EN 1090 structural certificate is an additional technical argument in public tenders and projects where the specification evaluates structural durability alongside price.
Who the Classic Court is for
Operators building four to eight outdoor courts. The Classic Court's price-to-specification ratio is strongest at this scale. Four or eight courts deliver a competitive outdoor club experience — Dtex 13.500 grass, CE-certified structure (EN 1090), FIP dimensions — at a total project budget that works without requiring the Apex Superpanoramic or Crest Panoramic specification.
Clubs on exposed outdoor sites. Hillside, seafront, valley, or any site where wind is a regular variable rather than an edge case. The classic design's structural geometry handles outdoor conditions with more margin than panoramic alternatives at the same price level.
Tennis clubs adding padel courts. The classic padel court is visually familiar in a tennis club environment — posts, nets, a defined court perimeter. Operators making the transition from tennis to padel often find the Classic Court easier to present to their existing membership than a fully panoramic design.
Municipal projects and public tenders. Tenders that evaluate structural durability alongside price often favor classic designs. The post-between-every-panel construction and the EN 1090 structural certificate are a straightforward argument in a technical evaluation.
The Classic Court is not the right choice for operators who have decided they want the panoramic aesthetic. If the glass-to-glass look is a project requirement, the Apex Superpanoramic (indoors or temperate outdoor) or the Arc Panoramic (entry panoramic) serve that need better.
Classic Court vs Debut Panoramic vs Crest Panoramic: the mid-market decision
| Classic Court | Debut Panoramic | Crest Panoramic | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 20×10m FIP | 20×10m FIP | 20×10m FIP |
| Glass design | Classic — posts between every panel | Panoramic — corner posts only | Panoramic — corner posts only |
| Column wall thickness | 3mm | 2.5mm | 3mm |
| Grass fiber | Dtex 13.500 curly | Dtex 10.000 monofil | Dtex 13.500 curly |
| Surface finish | Zinc standard · HDG +$950 | Zinc standard | Hot-dip galvanizing standard |
| Lighting | 8×240W | 8×240W | 4×480W · 750 lux |
| Benches | — | — | 2 included |
| CE structure | EN 1090 ✅ | — | — |
| EXW | $14,300 | $11,500 | $15,900 |
Classic Court vs Debut Panoramic: the Debut Panoramic is Orion's entry-level model — same FIP dimensions and 12mm glass, but 2.5mm column walls (vs 3mm) and entry-grade monofil grass (Dtex 10.000 vs 13.500). For an operator whose primary constraint is absolute minimum cost, the Debut Panoramic answers that need. For any operator running those courts for more than three years outdoors, the Classic Court's structural, grass, and certification specification holds up better.
Classic Court vs Crest Panoramic: the Crest Panoramic is Orion's mid-premium model — hot-dip galvanizing standard, wind-reinforced structure, 4×480W at 750 lux, 2 benches included. For clubs that need the full competition package, the Crest Panoramic delivers it. The Classic Court is the right choice when the Crest Panoramic's full specification is more than the project requires.
Use case: a sports complex building eight outdoor courts
The operator profile the Classic Court was built for typically looks like this: an existing sports facility — tennis club, fitness center, sports complex — expanding into padel. Four to eight courts. Outdoor installation on a site that gets wind. Budget that needs to work across multiple courts, not just one flagship.
A sports complex builds eight Classic Court courts for its outdoor padel expansion. The classic design holds up in the site's exposed conditions. The Dtex 13.500 grass provides the playing surface quality that keeps members coming back. The CE EN 1090 structural certification satisfies the facility's insurance requirements.
Three years in, the courts look and play the same as at installation. No structural intervention. No grass replacement. The per-court economics of the original decision held. That is the Classic Court's proposition: the right specification for outdoor mid-market projects that need to perform over time.
What the Classic Court costs
The Classic Court is EXW $14,300. The final delivered cost depends on configuration (hot-dip galvanizing for coastal) and shipping route to your market.
For coastal markets, the hot-dip galvanizing upgrade (+$950 per court) provides superior anticorrosion protection. For any installation near salt air, we recommend including it.
Payment terms: 30% advance at order confirmation, 70% balance before container loading. Production: 10–12 days from confirmation and advance. Four courts ship in a standard 40-foot container. Freight timing depends on destination, not a fixed promise.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the Classic Court and a panoramic court?
The Classic Court has posts between every glass panel, maximizing structural rigidity for outdoor use. A panoramic court has posts only at the corners. For indoor competition clubs or temperate-climate projects where the panoramic aesthetic is a priority, a panoramic model is the right call. For exposed outdoor installations where structural durability over time is the primary variable, the Classic Court is Orion's recommendation.
Is the Classic Court FIP compliant?
Yes. 20×10m regulation dimensions. 12mm tempered glass. CE certification on glass (EN 12150) and structure (EN 1090).
What grass comes with the Classic Court?
Curly mono turf, Dtex 13.500, PU backing — competition-grade turf. Five-year manufacturing warranty.
Does the Classic Court need the hot-dip galvanizing upgrade for a coastal installation?
The standard finish is zinc + powder coat — adequate for most outdoor environments. For coastal markets with significant salt air or humidity, the hot-dip galvanizing upgrade (+$950) is worth the additional cost.
How is installation managed?
Installation is carried out by the operator's contractor — but we support every project: we ship the complete kit to your destination port, provide a detailed assembly plan, and answer technical questions throughout installation. If you need an installer, we help find a solution in your area.
Configure your Classic Court project at orionxsport.com.
→ Debut Panoramic Padel Court — entry-level for first projects with tighter budgets → Arc Panoramic Padel Court — full panoramic if the open-glass aesthetic is the priority