The developer and Latvian tennis star Ernests Gulbis are jointly developing one of the largest and most modern tennis and padel centres in the Baltics. An important milestone in the centre’s construction was celebrated with a topping-out ceremony, during which a message for future generations was also placed within the building. The centre was designed by Artūrs Čepulis and is being built by MAPRI Būve.
The new centre will become one of the region’s most significant racket sports facilities. It will feature a total of 16 indoor courts — six tennis courts and ten padel courts — as well as five outdoor tennis courts. This will enable both daily training sessions and competitions at various levels to take place throughout the year. The centre, named after one of Latvia’s most successful tennis players, Ernests Gulbis, will also be home to an academy dedicated to supporting the development of young talent. The total investment in the multifunctional sports centre amounts to €13 million.
According to Gulbis, the new centre is being created from the belief that every child and young person should have the opportunity to dream, grow and develop.
“I have played and competed against the world’s best tennis players, and I know that it is possible to reach the very top from Latvia and the Baltics as a whole. After sporting medals come different kinds of victories — the desire to pass on your knowledge, develop the sport and help others. It is important that we take care of our health, maintain discipline and spend active time together with our families and friends,” says Ernests Gulbis, describing the vision behind the centre.
According to Reigo Randmets, CEO and Partner of Reterra, privately funded sports infrastructure projects of this scale are rare and have significant value for society.
“We should value people who have achieved international success and return to share their experience and knowledge with future generations. Ernests Gulbis is a great example of how a truly meaningful legacy is not only about sporting achievements, but also about the desire to create opportunities for others. We are proud to be part of bringing his vision to life and to contribute to the development of future athletes and champions,” says Randmets.