After Cologne Exit: Dominique Heintz Starts as Managing Director with a New Club

After his departure from 1. FC Köln, Dominique Heintz has already launched a new project. The 32-year-old is co-founder and one of four managing directors of the Padel Club Weinstraße in Maikammer (Palatinate). How things will continue for him as a professional footballer remains open.

The padel location started on June 1, 2026 – at a time when Heintz, after the end of his stint in Cologne, is looking for a new station. While transfers and contract issues in professional football are often characterized by short-term planning security, Heintz is simultaneously focusing on a long-term project off the pitch with the development of the club.

Hall with Five Indoor Courts, Booking via Playtomic – and a Clear Goal

The club opened on June 1, 2026 in Maikammer (Schwimmbadstraße 6). According to the club, the facility includes five indoor padel courts, rental rackets and balls, as well as a lounge with a bar. Court bookings are made via the Playtomic app.

Heintz describes the project's ambition openly: “We have opened a hall with five padel courts. We are planning cool events for the whole family. There will also be a Ladies Night or After-Work Padel. So, open end.”

And further: “We want to be the best padel club in our region, in the Palatinate and beyond.”

The idea, according to him, arose during his time in Cologne. “Almost two years ago, I played padel for the first time in Cologne. After that, a fun idea became reality because we wanted to present something beautiful to people here,” Heintz explained. The step from hobby to hall is more than just a celebrity side job: Anyone who invests as a (co-)managing director takes responsibility for occupancy, offerings, staff, and a stable membership model – exactly those structural issues at which many sports projects fail after the opening hype.

Memberships as a Management Tool – and Guests Are Also Welcome

The Padel Club Weinstraße relies on a mixed model of memberships and open slots for guests. Non-members can also book, but with a shorter lead time. This is a key lever in padel halls: The tighter the capacity, the more planning security is organized through advance booking windows and member retention.

The club specifically mentions two membership levels:

• Basic membership “Der Uffsteiger”: 4.99 euros per month, advance booking window of two weeks
• Membership “Der Profi-Paddler”: 14.99 euros per month, bookings up to four weeks in advance

This creates incentives for regular players without excluding occasional guests – a model that works especially in regions where a permanent community still needs to be built.

In its self-image, the club emphasizes the community spirit: “We believe that padel is more than just a sport. For us, community, fairness, and passion are at the center – on and off the court. Whether beginner or pro, member or guest: everyone is welcome. Together we create a place that connects people and brings joy and movement to the region.”

Social Focus with “Pink Court” and Connection to Adidas Initiative

The facility also includes a pink court, which is linked to the “Adidas Pink Padel Movement” initiative. According to the club, part of the proceeds from this court will go to breast cancer research projects. The Maikammer location is listed as part of the network in the initiative’s partner overview – a building block that can give the club visibility beyond sports operations and also expands its profile beyond a pure leisure business.

Football Future Unclear – 161 Appearances for FC

While the padel project in Maikammer is already tangible, Heintz’s future as a professional remains unclear. For 1. FC Köln, the defender made a total of 161 appearances between 2015 and 2018 and from 2023 to 2026. Where he will play in the future is currently unknown.

His involvement in padel alongside football seems less like a farewell to professional sports and more like a second pillar – and one that he is visibly pursuing with ambition.

About his own padel level, Heintz said: “I have no chance against professionals, but some opponents say I have a good feel for the ball.”

And the competitive spirit remains: “Everyone who knows me knows I don’t like to lose. That starts with board games at home and ends with padel.”

For Heintz, the move to Maikammer marks a clear change of role: away from the pure player profile towards entrepreneurial responsibility – while the next stage of his football career is not yet determined.