Journalist Pavel Zingan in an interview with Dorin Alexei, SportPark founder.
SportPark has become one of the largest and most modern fitness clubs in Chișinau, constantly updated and changed according to trends and new technologies. When did you found the club?
In 2013, we recently celebrated our 10th anniversary. Initially, the idea was different from what we have today, but even though the project has undergone several changes, everything has been done precisely.
What was the initial idea?
This project was conceived from the start as a school for performance tennis. I implemented the idea, and in the first year, we operated as a tennis school. Still, the maintenance costs were too high, so I started looking for alternatives to continue the business. The solution was to expand our range of services. So SportPark became a fitness club with several areas - a gym, group training rooms, a swimming pool and more.
Is tennis still played, or have you given up on the idea?
Tennis continues to be played. We have a court where children and adults train. The main idea remained as in 2013 - a tennis school to train children. We have several experienced coaches who train the children, and adults can train during the hours when the little ones' training does not take up the court. Our primary focus in tennis is on children and their professional training.
Why did you decide to focus on tennis?
The fact is that I'm not a businessman but a sportsman. I am from Strășeni and studied at a sports boarding school in Chisinau, where I did judo for a long time. When I was 30, I discovered tennis and fell in love with the sport. I started to train hard, persistently, participated in competitions, and travelled abroad, where I saw how the training system for tennis players should work. What I had in Moldova was very different from what I saw in Europe or neighbouring countries, and, to my regret, I was far behind foreign countries. One of the main problems in Chișinău was the need for indoor tennis courts. You have to train all year round to get results, not just when the weather allows it on an open court. The quality of the surface also left a lot to be desired. In addition, we must remember that being a tennis player is not just about coming and playing for an hour on the court but is a complex of activities - from the conditions for strength training to the recovery and rest area after training. The whole range can only be in a specialised school or club. For a long time, no courts in Moldova met the standards of the International Tennis Federation. SportPark was initially opened to provide an opportunity primarily for children to play tennis at a high level.
What services does SportPark offer today?
We offer almost the full range of fitness services. SportPark has a state-of-the-art gym with the latest equipment from the best producers worldwide. We have several group exercise rooms, a 25-metre saltwater pool, and a tennis club, and the latest addition is our newest SPA area, which we will be opening to the public shortly. We offer various activities for visitors of all ages, from children's programs to special classes for seniors. We are proud that around 60% of our visitors are loyal customers, many of whom have been with us since the club opened. Of course, we create all the conditions to provide the best quality service and always be current. At the same time, we don't cut corners on quality and good conditions, but we are always looking for solutions to help us maintain an appropriate pricing policy. One of these solutions has been the installation of solar panels.
It's an impressive investment. When did you install the panels?
In autumn 2023. A loan was quickly approved from maib on convenient terms, so we started installation immediately. Given how much electricity and gas prices have risen recently, the panels were our best solution, and we have high expectations from this investment.
Last year, you installed solar panels and started building an SPA area. What will this new area be like?
It will be a recovery and relaxation area of over 300 square metres. The area will include two hammams, a dry steam sauna, two special whirlpools with a water massage function, a phytotherapy bath, a Kneipp bath, massage rooms, a contrast shower and sun loungers. The project has been made possible thanks to a loan from maib. After receiving approval for the solar panels, we almost immediately applied for a second loan.
What other plans do you have for developing SportPark?
There are always plans because the sports sector is constantly developing. To be in demand for 10 years, we must continuously change something and work on certain aspects. Every project and decision we make aims to make all club members feel good. This applies not only to the conditions for sport but also to the atmosphere we create inside. Our visitors are a community where they make new friends, communicate on various topics and have a good time. It is precisely for this atmosphere that we strive to become better year after year.
