Global Padel Report 2025 Release Dear community, As a company immersed in building this industry from the ground up, w e can say this w ith full conviction: the future of padel will be defined by the performance the current business, and by the collective responsibility of every key stakeholder in this ecosystem. Yes, the numbers are exciting. A 26% increase in club openings, 7,000 new courts built The future is w orldw ide, and record-breaking player retention. But w hat really matters now is not just w hat w e build, but how w e build it together. Because the truth is: w e are not just competing w ith other sports. We’ re competing w ith every being shaped possible w ay people can spend their time and attention. In a w orld of overw helming entertainment options and deep uncertainty, the relevance of padel w ill depend on our ability to create not just courts, but compelling experiences, sustainable, inclusive, and digitally now, and it's in native. This is a shared mission. Clubs are the frontlines, but federations, racket and apparel brands, court manufacturers, digital platforms, and players themselves all carry part of the w eight. The our hands transition from exclusive to accessible, from traditional to tech-enabled, is already underw ay. We are no longer just grow ing, w e are professionalizing. What lies ahead is an opportunity to position padel as a global sport of the future. One that unites passion, innovation, and community. But seizing that opportunity means embracing a higher standard, from operations to storytelling, from user experience to long-term vision. At this stage, excellence is not optional. It's w hat w ill separate industries that thrive from those that fade. Let’s rise to that challenge, together. With conviction and commitment, Pablo Carro Antonio Robert Elena Martín Co-Founder Managing Director Partner Pablo Carro Co-Founder PlaytomicGLOBAL PADEL REPORT 2025 Index 1 Introduction 2 Market Analysis 3 Club Economics 4 Professionalization and role of software 5 Olympic Track 6 Conclusions Introduction Padel continues to drive increasing global interest 18% Base 100 Index – Relative weight of “padel” over Google searches 100 90 201624 80 70 60 50 The volume of “padel” 40 Google searches has 30 continued to rise, with a significant increase since 20 2016, indicating a surge in 10 worldwide interest 0 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 Source(s): Google Trends for keyword “padel” worldwide (as of May 2025, Strategy& analysisIntroduction As more regions embrace padel, the sport gains momentum Top emerging padel search countries ⁽ ¹⁾ #1 Lithuania #2 Tunisia #3 Croatia #4 United Kingdom #5 Colombia #6 Morocco #7 Ireland #8 Switzerland #9 Mexico Interest based on searches from: #10 Serbia #11 Austria Very strong interest in Google searches #12 Venezuela Strong interest in Google searches #13 Malaysia Moderate interest in Google searches #14 Germany New countries Weak interest in Google searches #15 Indonesia Note(s): 1) Ranked by interest growth 23' vs 24'), weighted by each country’s share of global search volume, excluding leading countries. Source(s): Google Trends for keyword “padel” worldwide (as of May 2025, Strategy& analysisCHAPTER 1 Market Analysis Padel’s global expansion remains strong and sustained. In 2024, 3,282 new clubs were opened, averaging nearly 9 per day, representing a 26% increase from the previous year 7 per day in 2023. Over 7k new courts were built, bringing the global total to 50,017 courts, above forecast. Growth has now stabilized along a pre-COVID trajectory, with regional dynamics evolving. While growth rates vary across countries, padel is now growing both faster and more sustainably.Market Analysis Club openings increased by 26% in 2024 Number of clubs built yearly 15,933 +26% club openings In 2024, 3,282 new clubs were added, translating to 12,651 nearly 9 clubs opening every single day, reinforcing the sport’s momentum and global adoption 3,282 new clubs 9,994 Building on strong growth in 2023, new padel club 9 clubs/day 8,001 openings in 2024 have increased by 26% year-over- year, a clear indication that padel is far from 5,895 saturation 4,927 3,956 3,317 2,811 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 Source(s): Court manufacturers, Strategy& analysisMarket Analysis More than 7,000 new courts were built globally +7,187 Number of courts installed yearly 50,436 50,416 The number of courts has multiplied fivefold since 2016 and is expected 43,249 +17% to continue growing at a rate of 17% over the coming years, with new 37,432 +16% markets emerging. 29,232 20,188 16,638 13,678 11,774 10,096 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 Total 2024 Forecast 2024 The 2024 forecast has been surpassed, with the number of courts reaching 50k, a 17% increase compared to 2023 and consistent with the previous year’s growth rate (16% in the 2022-23 period) Source(s): Court manufacturers, Padel lands, Strategy& analysisMarket Analysis New regions are gaining relevance while in developing ones, growth is picking up New courts built in 2024 by country While Asia is still emerging, it presents a major long-term Demand is high, driven by clubs opportunity for the sport 7,187 offering additional services and 522 high occupancy rates 270 Padel is gaining significant traction, especially in the 873 southern regions 1,148 365 431 Latin America’s padel 548 expansion is driven by 329 Mexico, new markets like 352 Brazil are emerging slowly 1,272 Padel is growing steadily, Slowing growth potentially 1,077 with major expansion driven by increased competition expected around 2027 from other alternatives Iberia France USA UK Benelux DACH Italy Rest of Latam Asia Middle East Total 2024 Europe and Africa Source(s): Court manufacturers, Padel lands, Strategy& analysisMarket Analysis Increase in popularity has been accompanied by an increase in gross monetary value GMV Gross Monetary value evolution €k per court and month] 2023-24 saw the UK The undisputed GMV +74% rise to the top of the leader for 2023-24 was 2023 2024 GMV per court, after a Indonesia, reaching over 9.7 74% increase €6k after a 173% increase GMV has risen by double digits across all European countries, +173% with Germany standing out with a 48% increase +40% 6.3 +12% 5.6 5.4 +48% +11% 4.2 4.0 3.8 3.8 3.1 2.7 2.8 +16% 2.3 1.1 1.2 Spain Germany Italy Benelux UK USA Indonesia Source(s): Court manufacturers, Playtomic internal analysis, Strategy& analysisMarket Analysis Padel growth rates vary across countries Growth stage by country This reflects the general growth curve of padel across countries, typically starting gradually and accelerating over time, but the pace and steepness can vary significantly depending on local investment, infrastructure, and legal restrictions. Varying Projected growth for the US is expected to be more exponential, while steepness* countries such as the UK are projected to see a more gradual trend. Beginning Growth Consolidation Maturity Source(s): News Reports, Strategy& analysis Market Analysis Padel is now growing faster and more sustainably, with stronger foundations in place Number of courts Today, it is expanding more rapidly, helped by USA technology, often establishing solid foundations within 56 years, while following a more sustainable path, Germany learning from rapid-boom cases like Sweden. France Padel’s growth used to take longer to gain traction in new countries, as seen in Spain’s early development Spain 1974 2015 2020 2025 2030 2035 Source(s): Court manufacturers, Strategy& analysis Market Analysis Rising hubs across Europe, US, APAC and Latin America drive dynamic growth USA Latin America: Europe: Middle East: APAC and Africa: • Growth remains scattered, with • Argentina stands out as a • Italy faces a slowdown in growth, • Qatar: Government • Early-stage growth in countries hotspots like Miami and Texas traditional, active padel market likely due to tennis popularity like Indonesia and Thailand restrictions for new club • Faster expansion expected in • Countries like Mexico are openings 2026, with real acceleration • France continues to grow , • Australia faces slower growing steadily, Brazil is showing potential for projected for 2027 emerging, with signs of • UAE consolidated markets, development due to bureaucracy acceleration and competition from pickleball digitalization with new openings Number • The UK is becoming a solid restricted to large indoor 0.8k • While chains emerge in Mexico, • China remains focused primarily of courts market despite its struggles with clubs multiclubs rise in Colombia on manufacturing bureaucracy • Saudi Arabia: rapid growth Number 44k encouraged by government • India is emerging, fueled by of courts tournaments support Number 1.6k • South Africa is the biggest of courts market in Africa, with no legal barriers and strong consolidation Number 2.7k of courts Source(s): Court manufacturers, Playtomic, Strategy& analysis Market Analysis US padel is concentrated in a handful of locations Small but emerging padel scene in larger cities in the US market dynamics and trends north with a few larger clubs in NYC, a handful in Boston and Chicago Padel clubs located 1–2 miles apart, show alarming performance differences, with one outperforming its neighbor by 3–5x due to stronger digital infrastructure, better site selection (e.g., safer neighborhoods), and skilled management. Safety and zoning concerns influence lot Digitalization and club operations selection Crime rates and neighborhood perception Booking systems, customer experience play a significant role in club success platforms are key competitive advantages Emerging padel chains Mostly in Southern California, with some activity in San Francisco, while activity in LA is limited but experiencing a “back to front growth”(1) Miami is the US padel hub but padel Led by Houston, future is expanding to the north of Florida, to projects pending in Austin cities such as Fort Lauderdale Note(s): 1) Padel in LA has been a big private court sport and is now beginning to be publicly available Source(s): News Reports, Strategy& analysisMarket Analysis Pickleball and padel: a healthy coexistence “ Any racket sport, I think they all help each other out. I see the same w ith 92% pickleball players trying padel for the first time. The conversion in most cases is one w ay, meaning people try padel and they just want to play padel; they don’ t Retention rate for w ant to go back to tennis or pickleball. We have a 92% retention rate in terms of padel after first try people w ho come to try this sport for a second time returning for a third time.” - Santiago Gomez, CEO of Padel Haus Pickleball, the American sport, is more widely known in the US than padel, however, that is starting to change…In 30% addition, its smaller courts attract different player profiles compared to padel Of padel clubs have pickleball courts Padel requires strong cardiovascular endurance, agility, and strength to sustain performance levels. While pickleball also demands good footwork and quick reflexes, its smaller court and lighter ball require less physical exertion. Source(s): News Reports, Strategy& analysis Market Analysis Brazil grows while facing beach tennis competition, and Colombia via multiclubs Brazil Colombia Bucaramanga “The Brazil padel market is growing at a speed of 3 courts per day” – Región Costeña President of the Brazilian Padel Federation 6 15 21 62 Cúcuta Digitalization Argentina Perception Medellin 4 12 Proximity to Argentina Padel is often seen as Brazil has a high level 36 117 Bogotá has influenced the an upscale sport due of digitalization, bookings, communities, sport’s growth in to its strong 40 126 southern Brazil. But association with Spain and communication for cultural rivalry with and exclusive clubs. Eje Cafetero Chía/Cajicá both sports are mobile- Argentina makes Beach tennis is first padel feel “foreign” viewed as accessible 12 33 13 36 Cost level Beach tennis Professionalization Valle del Cauca Villavicencio 21 Lower average ticket Transition from beach A lot of padel 21 for padel compared to tennis to padel is academies are 61 Europe, but there’s relatively easy due to emerging, mostly linked Ibagué 21 growing demand as similar skill sets. Beach to investments in the more people want to tennis has an edge in professionalization of 9 Clubs try the sport. affordability new generations 21 Courts Source(s): News Reports, Strategy& analysis Market Analysis In Mexico, padel is experiencing solid growth in major cities and outside urban centers Main trends of padel in Mexico Mexico’s dynamics vary across cities, Monterrey showing a highly developed market, while Mexico City presents growth opportunities due to Appearance of Strong growth in a lower current club presence new chains several cities - Comparatively high prices in relation to mature markets such as New chains such as Golden There has been a significant increase in the number of clubs Italy or Spain : Some padel clubs operate with a 5-year lifespan but Point and Spider have emerged. However, most in major cities, which presents a manage to become profitable quickly clubs remain independent, Main new challenge: speeding up the occasionally opening a trends in adoption of padel by new - With many clubs and a mobile player base, clubs are forced to create players and attracting more second location Mexico coaches, as the lack of both engaging products during off-peak hours: open matches, rankings, creates friction in the market Americanas Geographical Diversification of Emerging padel chains capillarity activities Padel has reached cities The clubs are offering with less than 200,000 activities related to padel inhabitants, demonstrating as well as other sports with its expansion beyond urban similar audiences, such as centers Pilates or yoga, to attract potential players Source(s): News Reports, Strategy& analysisMarket Analysis The Padel Riviera - France’s padel boom continues Number 3.4k CAGR CAGR22-25 22-25 31% 74% Fondness for racket sports (similarities with tennis) of courts Initially tennis clubs opened padel courts, transferable skills Padel courts Celebrity role models driving interest Zidane and Tony Parker as examples of investors and players Appearance of padel in Roland-Garros Premier Padel Tour held at the tennis stadium, increasing visibility Lack of Marketplace App Limits accessibility and connections between players and clubs The most dynamic region is the Southeast of France (Montpellier, Marseille, Affiliation requirement to play tournaments French Riviera) followed by the Paris region and the Southwest (Bordeaux) Limits participation, discouraging newer, casual participants Source(s): Court manufacturers, Playtomic, News Reports, Strategy& analysis Market Analysis Padel has entered mainstream society in the UK Number 0.8k CAGR22-25 CAGR CAGR22-25 22-25 50% 74% Padel in the UK is steadily growing, with regional chains expanding of courts into nationwide ones. In addition to celebrity money, brands like Slazenger are increasingly engaging with the sport, either through Padel is also beginning to emerge acquisitions or organic growth. in Glasgow, which has grown from 0 to 6 clubs in the past 6 months and is still underserved, due to its population of 3.5 million “Slazenger to open its first UK padel club” The Padel Paper, September 2024 Leeds “Slazenger are to open their first UK padel club in Leeds on 11 October with the wheels already in motion on a further 11 locations. Slazenger Padel Clubs are backed by Frasers Group, the UK’s largest retail group, which owns the likes of Sports Direct, House of Fraser, Top 5 counties Manchester Everlast Gyms and Jack Wills.”. #1 London #2 Manchester Derby “Britain now third biggest market in world” #3 Bristol City AM, June 2025 “Britain is now one of the top three padel markets in the world by revenue, fuelled by new #4 Leeds Bristol club openings and ever-increasing demand for court bookings. By games of padel played, #5 Derby Britain ranks as the fifth biggest market in the world, while it has also been dubbed the “most social” nation because it has the highest ratio of open matches to regular bookings London worldwide”. Source(s): Court manufacturers, Playtomic, News Reports, Strategy& analysis Market Analysis Padel expands across APAC, led by Indonesia 1 Expat-Driven Growth CHINA JAPAN Expats sparked early interest, with locals joining as Mostly involved as a manufacturer federations and motivated by seeing international exhibition INDIA though a few clubs are located there matches develop Taiwan 2 Hong Kong High real estate prices are driving clubs to open outside the city Collaborative Spirit THAILAND PHILIPPINES Clubs often team up to grow the sport and reach wider Largest growth is taking place in communities Indonesia, Thailand and Singapore, with 3 local businesses beginning to expand to Malaysia and the Philippines Payment Challenges MALAYSIA Adapting to local payment systems is key to enabling smooth bookings 4 INDONESIA Multi-Site Club Development Successful clubs often expand by replicating a proven model Most are frequented by expats across new sites and located in Bali, while 5 Jakarta has +50 clubs, High Demand for Bookings in Advance underserving their 25M AUSTRALIA inhabitants Courts fill quickly and months in advance due to strong interest in academies and social play Source(s): Playtomic, News Reports, Strategy& analysis Market Analysis Major tournaments are driving court infrastructure in India In spite of higher infrastructure and attendant Celebrities with large follower bases, including Bollywood actors, cricket players and tennis champions, as well as the organization of tournaments, including official ones by costs, the sport is spreading from big cities to the FIP and amateur events, are playing a large role in promoting padel. small towns, though significant growth is not expected in the short term “India Padel Open: Spain dominate, win men’s and women’s pair titles” Hindustan Times, November 2024 Padel is making waves, especially in corporate India and exclusive members-only clubs who now have more options than golf for cardio and camaraderie. “Greater Noida: At the Bennett University, on the balmy Sunday evening, the men’s and women’s pair from the tennis-mad nation walked away with titles as the first edition of FIP Promotion India Padel Open drew to a close.” Chandigarh UP-AND-COMING Delhi • House of Padel "Padel is growing quickly in India, and it is great to bring such High Ranking Padel • REPPP players to our country. This should give a boost to all sports fans and Padel fans. With a • Vasant Vihar Club 400 % growth of Padel courts in the country and the sport will continue to grow.“ • Panchshila Club Mumbai Hyderabad - Mahesh Bhupati, Indian tennis champion Hotspot for padel with 50-60 UP-AND- courts in 2024 COMING Chennai Even though only around 5% of India's population is considered affluent, Padel Park is on track to become the largest country operator… Bengaluru 60M meaning they have sufficient disposable income for premium leisure activities, that still translates to over 60 million people – which is equivalent to the entire population of countries like Italy or Spain, where padel is booming. Source(s): News Reports, Strategy& analysisMarket Analysis In the Middle East, the future of padel is indoors Qatar United Arab Emirates Saudi Arabia • High seasonality, with indoor clubs filling up while outdoor clubs lose momentum • Service driven, with employees that work to drive up demand, low digital value Commonalities • Local investors but high number of international players (expats) • Competitive sports have little tradition, but padel is gaining traction thanks to its ease for newcomers and royal involvement Almost none due to government Only very large clubs emerging, Only very large clubs emerging, Club openings, restrictions that attempt to limit highly consolidated government incentives for sports consolidation number of clubs based on users infrastructure Mature market, clubs distinguish Very mature, consolidated market, Maturity stage themselves through very high- small outdoor clubs closing down Golden years, high growth quality services (e.g. Sports Dom) and very few new openings Separate courts for women or Fewer and fewer separation by Gender aspects Almost no gender separation differing playing times gender Women remain a minority, more female expats than local padel players Source(s): Playtomic, News Reports, Strategy& analysisMarket Analysis The sport is expected to continue growing at pre- covid levels Total number of courts by year, historical and forecasted Forecast +17% Limited access to other sports, an easy learning experience and compatibility with social distancing led to interest in padel increasing significantly in pandemic times and bottlenecks in padel court construction in 2020 led to rapid growth in 2021-22 +16% 81,555 +36% 70,274 59,524 +19% 50,436 43,249 37,432 29,232 16,638 20,188 10,096 11,774 13,678 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 After a significant acceleration during and following the pandemic, the rise of padel has stabilized, returning to the pre-covid path with a similar growth rate, which padel is expected to maintain in the next years Source(s): Court manufacturers, Padel lands, Strategy& analysisCHAPTER 2 Economics Padel economics show a clear evolution from beginner-focused activities to competitive open play. In early markets, bookings are dominated by classes and social events, helping players get started. As participation grows, players shift toward self-organized matches, boosting bookings. This trend reflects rising confidence and skill levels. Indoor and outdoor court balance also affects pricing and availability, with weather conditions influencing court usage and overall revenue. Economics Booking share shifts from social events and classes to open matches over time Classes and social events Open matches Bookings by type Social events such as ladies' morning or americana plus academies represent 70% of 74% open matches and bookings private reservations Time since introduction of padel Beginning Growth Consolidation Maturity Exhibition matches Social events Advanced training Regular play Beginner classes Increased participation Social tournaments Advanced competition Celebrities Introductory leagues Open matches National/international tournaments Casual play Friendly competition Leisure leagues Over time, various stages of growth often progress concurrently; for instance, reaching market maturity does not imply the discontinuation of beginner-level offerings Source(s): Strategy& analysisEconomics Booking types vary by region, with open matches usually favored by experienced players Occupation by booking type % Player and club bookings Academy • Emerging markets (e.g., Indonesia) show higher booking Open matches Leagues & tournaments rates for single and course classes (academy), since players are new to the game 8% 15% 12% • As players improve their skills, they begin to lose interest 25% 13% 25% in classes and start booking more direct matches 10% reservations, so that their level increases and is more accurately reflected 7% 11% • Once a country reaches full maturity (as in the case of Spain), experienced players tend to continue playing 93% through private bookings, while newcomers typically 88% 82% 80% enter the sport by enrolling in classes 74% 67% 63% • Social factors have a significant impact on the appeal of open matches, as reduced safety undermines users’ trust in playing with strangers. This issue particularly aDects open matches in South Africa and Mexico Indonesia Germany UK France Spain South Africa Mexico Source(s): Playtomic, Strategy& analysisEconomics Open matches are the most profitable booking, though only popular in mature markets Since leagues & tournaments include recurring games, they Booking types a % of gross value are more expensive Player and club bookings Academy Price per hour by booking type €/h Average ticket1 € Open matches Leagues & tournaments 5% Player and Open 8% 10% 6% Country Academy Leagues Tournaments 8% 15% club bookings matches 11% 25% 17% 10% Indonesia 33 € 33 € 54 € N/A 51 € 11% Germany 43 € 48 € 44 € 50 € 71 € 49% UK 52 € 65 € 75 € 125 € 70 € 90% South Africa 23 € 30 € 22 € 47 € 68 € 85% 81% 9% 74% 72% Mexico 34 € 49 € 24 € 27 € 64 € 63% France 29 € 32 € 30 € N/A 25 € 34% Spain 24 € 27 € 28 € 26 € 42 € Indonesia Germany UK South Africa Mexico France Spain Avg. ticket 28 € 30 € 34 € 55 € 56 € Note(s): 1) The average ticket is the average price per reservation and not per hour (a reservation may be for a period of time longer or shorter than an hour), though 6090 minutes matches are the norm Source(s): Playtomic, Strategy& analysisEconomics Indoor vs outdoor courts: prices and availability Avg. ticket1 by court Indoor courts 25 € 57 € 40 € 39 € 49 € 32 € 25 € 37 € 70 € 90 € Outdoor courts 23 € 48 € 36 € 29 € 37 € 24 € 22 € 33 € 53 € 60 € Indoor courts Outdoor courts South Africa has recently experienced booking challenges due to frequent rainfall and a high proportion of outdoor courts, vulnerable to weather disruptions 21% 35% 36% 48% 44% 58% 55% 58% 56% 63% 79% 65% 64% 52% 56% 42% 45% 42% 44% 37% South Africa UK Netherlands Mexico Italy France Spain Belgium Australia USA Achieving higher occupancy levels depends heavily on accurately balancing indoor and outdoor court availability, taking into account price sensitivity and weather patterns to optimize both accessibility and revenue Note(s): 1) The average ticket is the average price per reservation and not per hour (a reservation may be for a period of time longer or shorter than an hour), though 6090 minutes matches are the norm Source(s): Playtomic, Strategy& analysisCHAPTER 3 Professionalization & role of software Padel’s business model has evolved from exclusive, membership-only clubs to a more inclusive, pay-to- play ecosystem, driven by urban demand, regulatory adaptation, and commercial potential. This shift has unlocked broader access, replacing long-term fees and entry barriers with flexible, app- based bookings. As a result, participation has surged. Digital platforms now play a central role, enhancing user experience, enabling data-driven coaching, and fostering community growth. Professionalization and Role of Software Padel has evolved from a membership-only to a pay-to-play model… The sport breaks out of private clubs and becomes accessible to the wider public through commercial “pay-to-play” venues, Shift to Indoor Facilities especially in urban areas Governments and local Growth administrations begin to A surge in popularity leads recognize padel’s growth many clubs to convert and adjust licensing, zoning, Rise of Pay-to-Play Model Padel enters countries through exclusive country underused tennis/soccer and funding accordingly, clubs, often tied to private courts into padel courts, a making expansion faster membership culture (e.g., more space-efficient, low- barrier move Puerta de Hierro in Spain) To increase year-round Regulatory Adaptation revenue and mitigate weather, indoor padel Membership-only clubs Court Conversions becomes the dominant format in countries like the UK and northern Italy Time Source(s): News Reports, Strategy& analysisProfessionalization and Role of Software …with different access and experience types Membership model Pay-to-play model Requisites: Usually require recommendations for Requisites: Open access entry, family tradition of belonging to the club or Fees: : Pay per use; rates vary based on location, someone leaving to take their place time slot, and court type Fees: One time entry down payment and No long-term commitment required recurring monthly membership fee Prices often reflect local real estate value, Real Club Puerta de Hierro Hurlingham Club premium areas may charge significantly more Entry down payment: €300k Entry down payment: £400k More digitalized: booking and payments are Trimester quota: €333 Trimester quota: £1,400 typically done through apps or online platforms Optional add-ons: Equipment rental, coaching, Use of the courts: included at no extra charge, lighting (for evening play), recording of match though no-shows may incur a penalty highlights etc. System is generally less digitalizedProfessionalization and Role of Software Digitalization, advantages for padel development Increased Accessibility and Participation Lower barriers for new players lead to regular play, encouraging skill development Data and Analytics for Clubs and Coaches Professional infrastructure and personalized experiences improve, making clubs and coaching more viable and scalable Community Building and Competitive Ecosystem Creates a sustainable ecosystem that mirrors more mature sports. Professional Pathways and Talent Identification Creates a bridge between recreational and professional play, increasing career opportunities in padel Source(s): News Reports, Strategy& analysisCHAPTER 4 Olympic Path While padel is aligning well with Olympic values, such as gender equality, ethical standards, and growing international reach, its path to inclusion is hindered by the fact that only Spain and Argentina currently play the sport at a truly elite level. Nonetheless, the FIP’s The International Padel Federation) active efforts to globalize padel through youth programs, partnerships, and expanded tournaments show strong intent to close this competitive gap. Olympic inclusion would bring major benefits, including increased funding, visibility, and athlete support. Olympic Track Requisites to be an Olympic sport Compliance Global Reach Well Established Rules Ethical considerations Approval time frame -Olympic Charter Practised by The sport must have standard Related to the ethics of the A new sport needs to be -World Anti-Doping programme rules that are applied Olympics, promoting peace, approved 7 years prior to the Countries and -Olympic Movement Code on the 60 3 continents internationally at all respect and fairness for all Olympic Games it will be Prevention of the Manipulation competition levels required to participants. It should not included in. of Competition have a history in hosting promote any form of competitions and events. discrimination or violence. Chief Sport Officer of the Brisbane 2032 Organising Committee, Kit McConnell stated that, “We had a very clear vision about the games being more youth, more urban, more women.” Source(s): Olympic Charter, SportAccord, News Reports, Strategy& analysisOlympic Track 2025, a key year for padel “The IOC Executive Board, meeting today in Costa Navarino, Greece, has decided that the initial sports programme of the Olympic Games Brisbane 2032 will be determined at an IOC Session in 2026.” The Olympic Charter's Rule 45 states that the Olympic Programme is decided by the IOC Session "in principle seven years prior to the opening of the concerned Olympic Games." The one-year extension was agreed upon by the IOC and the Brisbane 2032 Organising Committee. Source(s): Olympic Charter, News Reports, Strategy& analysisOlympic Track Where Padel stands on the Olympic track 87 2 National federations are currently Padel also has (1) well established rules that affiliated with the FIP are applied internationally and a history of tournaments, including Premier Padel and Hexagon Cup and (2) promotes peace, respect and fairness 5 3 Continents where padel is currently Complies with (1) Olympic Charter, (2) played, with the highest representation World Anti-Doping Code, (3) Olympic of players in Europe (59%) Movement Code on the Prevention of the Manipulation of Competition 40 Percent of padel players were Since January 2025, 16 National Federations have female in 2024, reflecting the FIP's adhered to the FIP, reaching 87 federations. Gender Equality Policy, further reinforced by the IPF Code of Ethics Source(s): Olympic Charter, Strategy& analysisOlympic Track Olympic politics: additional factors Click to add title Host Preferences Facility Legacy TV Appeal Next Generation Cultural diversity In the new process of There is a very strong push As broadcasting rights Attracting young athletes Promoting global reach selecting sports, the IOC to eliminate the need for represent the primary uninterested in traditional by including sports that has given a lot of costly facilities that later revenue stream for the sports and ensuring long- engage underrepresented flexibility to the local fall out of use, a strong Games, the IOC aims to align term relevance by regions, such as cricket organising committee to criticism of the 2004 Athens with broadcasters’ and selecting sports that appeal that may spark interest in make recommendations. Olympics. audience’s preferences. to next-gen viewers. South Asia. Moreover, it is problematic for a sport to be played proficiently only in Spain and Argentina to become part of the Olympic Games. Countries where the sport is still emerging struggle to compete with those where players have trained their entire lives. Source(s): News Reports, Strategy& analysisOlympic Track The FIP is highly involved in the Olympic goal FIP Strategic Priorities 20252027: “FIP strengthens ties with Padel America “FIP looks to the future: President Carraro and Padel Asia to drive globalisation of at the European Olympic Committees “Increase the number of players and the countries padel and its Olympic pathway mission” (EOC) Assembly” where padel is played in the world and in particular International Padel Cluster, April 2025 FIP News, March 2025 the number of national federations affiliated with the FIP” “At the Qatar Major Premier Padel 2025, the “President Carraro met with Bach, President FIP and Padel America and Asia formalized “Monitoring and supporting the growth of new of the IOC and Samaranch, candidate for the their partnership, focusing on infrastructure, upcoming presidency to reinforce a shared generations is one of FIP's primary objectives on a youth development, and expanding into new vision for padel’s continued global expansion global level” markets.” and prominence.” “Giving more visibility to senior athletes as custodians of great experience, technical skills and values” “IOC President Thomas Bach visits BNL “Premier Padel, Hexagon Cup and FIP strike Italy Major Premier Padel” strategic partnership as padel targets Padel FIP, June 2025 Which they plan to achieve through 5 programs: Olympic inclusion” SportsPro, February 2025 1 Sports Programme 2 Communication and Digital plan “Buenaventura, founder of the Hexagon Cup, stated “Together, we have the goal of “The International Padel Federation (FIP) and Premier Padel were delighted to meet 5 Social globalising the sport and achieving its International Olympic Committee (IOC) 3 4 Development Sustainability Programme Olympic inclusion at the earliest President Thomas Bach at the BNL Italy Major Programme Programme opportunity.”” Premier tournament today at the iconic Foro Italico.” Source(s): FIP, Strategy& analysis Olympic Track Impact of becoming an Olympic sport Olympic status offers institutional… … as well as commercial benefits Regulations by the National Sports Comission The commercial New Olympians are Sport-related posts Example of Spain appeal of the Games gaining massive show significant is expanding. social media visibility. increases. Top priority at National High-Performance Centers: • Elite infrastructure, specialized coaching, and advanced medical and scientific support Benefits for athletes: • Reserved educational spots and merit-based advantages in public sector job access • Tax exemptions, special Social Security agreements, grants Preferential Access to funding for Olympic Sports Annual ordinary subsidy Next Generation EU funds allocated in 2025 Max per federation 60% 8M New Social Media 75% #Surfing posts after by the CSD to all out of 6M for Uplift in sponsorship 60M sports federations, 500K technological followers for Brazilian surfer Gabriel Medina’s revenue in the Paris priority for Olympic upgrades skateboarder after performance in 2024 disciplines Olympics Olympic performance Olympics Source(s): News Reports, Strategy& analysisCHAPTER 5 Conclusions Padel continues its global rise, with strong growth in 2024 and projected increases in court numbers in the near future. Interest is spreading fast, especially in the US, APAC, and Latin America, with digitalization emerging as a key differentiator for club performance. With 92% player retention and increasing tournament activity, padel is evolving into a sustainable sport with strong Olympic ambitions for the Brisbane 2032 games.Conclusions Key takeaways 1 Club openings increased by 26%, with 7k new courts built globally in 2024, signaling sustained growth across multiple regions 2 Even though growth rates vary by country, with some seeing gradual increases and others accelerating more rapidly, padel is now growing at a faster and more sustainable pace 3 Growth has now stabilized along a pre-COVID trajectory, after reaching an all-time high, likely due to a backlog of court installations postponed during the pandemic 4 Pickleball and padel are expected to coexist healthily, with 30% of padel clubs in the US also having pickleball courts, and a 92% retention rate among first-time padel players 5 While classes and social events are the most common types of bookings in countries where padel is still emerging, private reservations and open matches become predominant as players improve their skills Source(s): Strategy& analysisConclusions Key takeaways 6 Open matches allow clubs to charge higher ticket prices than classes, though player and club SaaS bookings remain the main source of revenue due to their strong popularity 7 Achieving higher occupancy levels relies heavily on effectively balancing indoor and outdoor court availability, taking into account price sensitivity and weather patterns to optimize accessibility and revenue 8 Padel has evolved from a membership-only model to a pay-to-play approach: a more digitalized way to experience the sport that has accelerated its expansion and development through greater accessibility 9 2025 is a key year for padel’s Brisbane 2032 Olympic track, with the FIP highly involved advancing this goal. However, it remains challenging for a sport played at a high level in just 2 countries to be added to the Olympic programme. 10 Becoming an Olympic sport would bring benefits both institutionally (increased funding, grants and improved training facilities) and commercially (greater sponsorship revenue and wider social media visibility) Source(s): Strategy& analysis#FINDYOURPERFECTMATCH