Los Angeles - November 22 - Renowned actress, director, entrepreneur and activist Eva Longoria has expanded her sports ownership portfolio, this time venturing into the world of padel, with the announcement of her ElevenElevenTeamUSA, set to debut in the upcoming Hexagon Cup in Madrid next February.
Padel is the world’s fastest growing global sport, with conversations increasingly moving towards it becoming a future Olympic sport. Most of the players are based in Spain, where the Hexagon Cup will initially take place, which has over six million registered padel players. Whilst the USA is a newcomer to the padel market, there has been a fifty percent increase in players in the last three years, and the number of courts has more than doubled in the previous two years, with huge growth still predicted.
Padel holds a special place in Longoria's heart as she is a big fan of the sport and is excited to help amplify and bring it internationally on a professional level. As an entrepreneur who co-founded Casa Del Sol Tequila and has already made a mark in the sports ownership arena, being an investor in Angel City FC, owner of Necaxa FC and a pickleball team, this partnership makes clear sense. With the event taking place at the historic Madrid Arena, her love for Spain comes full circle having also recently filmed Land Of Women in the region.
Eva Longoria, Team Owner of Hexagon Cup’s ElevenElevenTeamUSA, says, "I am so proud to launch my own padel team in the Hexagon Cup. This is a sport I am deeply passionate about and love to play, so I can’t wait to share it on a wider international scale.”
“The event’s inclusive nature, taking the top male, female and next gen players to form teams which play together equally for success, was something that really attracted me, and I immediately wanted to get involved.”
Explaining the personal significance behind the team’s name, Longoria explains. “Eleven eleven is a special number which holds plenty of meaning for me. It’s known as the angel number and represents trust that the universe will deliver what is needed, at the right time. Along with a strong and competitive approach, this positive mindset is something that I want my team to embody as we had onto the court in the Hexagon Cup and beyond.”
Teaming up with Longoria in this new venture is renowned US padel professional Dani Homedes, Founder of Dara Sports and owner of the Miami-based Wynwood padel club.
Born under the motto "For the Fans. For the Players. For the Game", the Hexagon Cup is an innovative new padel tournament that brings together male, female and next generation players, along with other top teams, including tennis superstar Andy Murray’s Team AD/vantage, Barcelona FC soccer player Robert Lewandowski’s RL9, and the Rafa Nadal Academy by Richard Mille. All compete for an impressive €1 million prize money, creating an exciting team competition and a thrilling experience for fans.
Enrique Buenaventura, founder and member of the Hexagon Cup Advisory Board, says: "We are thrilled to welcome Eva Longoria and her ElevenElevenUSPadel team to the Hexagon Cup family. Eva's passion for the sport and commitment to sharing her love for padel with her fans, aligns with our goals to grow padel participation and popularity worldwide.
“We look forward to an exciting collaboration that exemplifies the positive spirit of padel and elevates the game we all love to new heights."
Each team owner will select two franchise players who act as team captains. Once all six teams have revealed their male and female franchise player pairings over the coming weeks, these players will select their four team mates; one male, one female, and two ‘next gen’ (under 22 years old).
Following the presentation of all six Hexagon Cup teams and their franchise players, a Player Draft will be held at the end of November where each team will select their remaining players. In a unique decision, the fans will have the final responsibility to choose the players who will make up the Hexagon Cup team.
During the tournament itself, the six teams will be divided into two qualifying groups, competing in a series of exciting head-to-head matches. Only the top two teams from each group will advance to the finals, where the inaugural Hexagon Cup champion will be crowned, with a prize purse of €1 million up for grabs.
The first edition of the Hexagon Cup will take place at the historic Madrid Arena, an ideal setting to create a great spectacle. The event will include an attractive Fan Village with autograph signing sessions, player training areas, live concerts, entertainment, shops, exhibitions, food trucks and fine dining options. World-class VIP hospitality experiences will also be on offer, all designed to provide sports and entertainment fans with a truly unforgettable experience.
About Hexagon Cup
Under the motto “For the Fans. For the Players. For the Game”, this revolutionary competition was born with the ambition of offering a new and disruptive approach, as well as the firm purpose of transforming the sport of padel. To do this, it has designed a completely new format in which six teams made up of three couples each (one male couple, one female couple and one made up of stars of the future) will compete to win a one-million euro prize fund.
About Eva Longoria
Eva Longoria is an award-winning actress, Emmy-nominated director, producer, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and activist, leading the charge of diverse and female representation since her starring role in the hit ABC series Desperate Housewives. She made her feature directorial debut in June 2023 with the Searchlight biopic Flamin’ Hot, which was the most watched Searchlight Pictures streaming premiere ever. It was also recently announced that she and leading entertainment executive Cris Abrego formed a new media holding company and premium content studio, whose first title will be Land of Women for Apple TV Plus, which Longoria is set to executive produce and star opposite Carmen Maura.
In September 2021, Longoria launched Casa Del Sol Tequila, a luxury sipping Tequila, inspired by the magic of the golden hour and the legend of the Aztec goddess of agave, Mayahuel. Named by People Magazine as one of the “Women Changing the World,”, Longoria is a dedicated philanthropist and activist who has consistently lent her voice to the issues she is passionate about, ranging from immigration to STEM education. She is also a co-founder of Latino Victory Fund, Momento Latino, and Poderistas.
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