Golden Goose sponsors padel arena, launches Star sneakers line, picks four banks for its Milan IPO

Italian high-end sneakers brand Golden Goose has entered the world of padel, an emerging sport akin to tennis, celebrating its history and community. The Golden Goose-branded Atlante Arena padel pavilion is set to open in the last quarter of 2024 at CityLife, one of Milan’s greenest districts, a haven for sports enthusiasts. Meanwhile, Golden Goose has launched Star, a new sneakers line designed specifically for fans of this spectacular racquet sport.

To create the Atlante Arena’s padel pavilion at CityLife, and with the aim of expanding the franchise worldwide, Golden Goose has teamed up with Italian sport personalities Demetrio Albertini and Lorenzo Alfieri, two padel pioneers in Italy and abroad, founders of the City Padel Milano club in 2017.
 
Atlante Arena will host an innovative retail concept by Golden Goose, showcasing an exclusive range of sneakers and apparel as well as specialised padel equipment. The products will be customisable via the innovative co-design service deployed by Golden Goose, whose headquarters are located in the commercial and industrial port of Marghera, close to Venice.

In the meantime, according to Reuters, Golden Goose has chosen Bank of America, Mediobanca, JPMorgan and UBS as the joint global coordinators of its planned listing on the Milan Stock Exchange, scheduled for 2024, as reported by two sources close to the matter.

Golden Goose was acquired by private equity firm Permira in 2020. In Q3 2023, it recorded revenue of €145 million, equivalent to a 16% increase over the same period the previous year. In fiscal 2022, the brand posted a 39.5% revenue rise, up to €387.27 million. Gross operating profit was €160.4 million (up by 60%), while net profit fell by 13%, down to €76.9 million. In 2022, the company’s employees increased from 303 to 377. In the same year, Golden Goose acquired its main sneakers supplier, Italian Fashion Team.

Last week, the Financial Times wrote that Permira selected three of the banks for Golden Goose’s IPO. The IPO is expected to value the company at approximately €3 billion.
 
Back to the Atlante Arena, the padel pavilion’s digital experience will be curated by padel app WeSmash. The pavilion will be home to six indoor courts, one indoor Pro court, and two vintage-style outdoor courts, all equipped with state-of-the-art technology. A lounge area on the second floor will give visitors a full view of the courts.

According to Golden Goose, the structure designed by Novembre Studio will be more than a sports facility. It will make the padel experience unique, both pre- and post-match, with a range of exclusive products and services focused on health, personal care, beauty and sustainability, as well as on nutrition for improved sporting performance. The Arena’s outdoor area will feature a post-match space for hosting special events.