Padel is far more than just a trend: it is a sport that inspires people of all ages, promotes a sense of community and has already established itself as a lifestyle in many countries. The growing enthusiasm worldwide shows that padel is and will remain an integral part of the sports landscape. In this blog post, André Navratil, Senior Category Manager Training at SPORT 2000 Group International, and Niko Schulz, Category Manager Training, Lifestyle and Team Sports at SPORT 2000 Group International, share insights into the development of this booming racket sport.
Padel, a sport that combines elements of tennis, squash and badminton, has developed in recent years from a fringe sport to an integral part of the international sports landscape. Originally popular in South America and Spain, padel is now also enjoying great popularity in Scandinavia, the Netherlands, France and Italy. “After football, padel is the second largest sports community in Spain. This makes Spain the largest padel nation in Europe, followed by Italy and France. Padel is also becoming increasingly important in Germany, where the sport has not been so widespread up to now,” says André Navratil, Senior Category Manager Training at SPORT 2000 Group International, providing insights into European growth. The first German Padel Open and the rapid expansion of padel courts in Germany confirm this development.
New opportunities for the sports industry
“Padel is one of the fastest growing sports in the world,” says Schulz. In addition to court construction and hire, the market for shoes, textiles and equipment is also booming. “We are currently seeing more and more big brands launching special padel collections on the market to keep up with small, specialised brands,” says Niko Schulz, Category Manager Training, Lifestyle and Team Sports at SPORT 2000 Group International. The target group for padel is diverse, with the main group being 20 to 44-year-olds who also enjoy playing tennis. “Many parents bring their children to padel, which means that young people come into contact with the racket sport at an early age. As a result, padel is increasingly becoming a family sport,” explains Schulz.
Padel is becoming increasingly popular in stationary sports retailers
Online retailers and specialised shops currently dominate the padel market. “As demand is constantly growing, we recommend that our specialist retailers offer a basic selection for beginners. As the market becomes more established, new opportunities will open up for retailers in the form of an expanded range and even greater specialisation,” says Navratil, who emphasises in this context: “For retailers who already stock tennis clothing and equipment, it is almost essential to expand their range to include padel products.” The opportunities for retailers are promising.
Growth driver: Easy to learn, to experience together
The growth of padel can be attributed to several factors. The combination of being quick and easy to learn and the opportunity to constantly improve technical skills makes the sport extremely attractive. “Padel is more technically accessible than tennis. You also play in doubles teams, which encourages interaction and community,” says Navratil. Well-known tennis players, footballers and celebrities have also contributed to its popularity by playing padel themselves and showcasing this on social media – sometimes even with their own collections.
Dynamic development worldwide
The growing popularity of padel offers trade, industry and business scope to realise a wide range of innovations. The padel infrastructure is already well developed, particularly in Scandinavia and the southern countries of Europe. “Germany still has some catching up to do, but is making significant progress thanks to the massive expansion of padel courts in 2023. While Spain is the undisputed leader with over 15,000 courts, the number of padel facilities in Germany is also expected to double by 2026,” says Schulz. Developments like these are a clear indicator of the dynamic growth of this sport. In addition, intensive efforts are being made to win padel as a discipline for the 2032 Olympic Games in Brisbane.
André Navratil – Senior Category Manager Training at SPORT 2000 Group International
Niko Schulz – Category Manager Training, Lifestyle and Team Sports at SPORT 2000 Group International
Picture Rights: Oliver Sjöström (Pexels) / Berend van der Weijden (Pexels) / Bruno-Vaccaro Vercellino / SPORT 2000 Group International
