January 16, 2025
Gustavo Rodriguez
From Mexico to Spain to the USA
Padel originated in Mexico in the 1960s and was created by Enrique Corcuera, a Spanish businessman. Corcuera had a private estate in Acapulco, and wanted to create a tennis-like sport that could be played in a smaller, more confined space. He modified an existing squash court by adding walls and reducing the size of the
court to make the game more accessible in a private
setting. The racquet used is perforated instead of
strung, allowing more control in a confined space.
In 1974, padel was introduced to Spain where it took
off and spread throughout Europe due to its
accessibility and social aspect. Today Spain is
considered the hub of padel with the majority of
court manufacturers and professional competitions.
Spain counts with over 6 million active players and
over 20,000 courts making it the second most
popular sport in the country behind soccer.
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Nevertheless, inroads to the American market are evident as demand for private and public padel courts rises and construction follows suit.
Popularity
The ever increasing desire for padel courts in the USA can be attributed to its ease of play for beginners and intensity and fast pace as players progress. Doubles play allows for a social aspect as well as maximizing usage of space for 4 players while occupying a relatively small footprint. It combines elements of pickleball, tennis, and squash into a refreshing new sport for those looking to change it up.
Growing Infrastructure
One of the main factors contributing to padel’s rise in the U.S. is the increasing availability of courts. There has been a rapid growth in the number of courts being built across the country, especially in areas like New York, Texas, Florida, & California. Several clubs and sports complexes have been investing in constructing padel courts to cater to the increasing demand having recognized its potential.
Appeal
Padel shares several similarities with tennis and pickleball, including the use of rackets, and is often seen as a more accessible alternative for tennis players looking for a different experience. The game’s emphasis on teamwork, combined with a relatively low barrier to entry compared to traditional tennis, makes it an attractive option for tennis enthusiasts.
Pickleball players alike who are looking for the ability to strategize and play at a faster pace have welcomed the sport and continue to help propel its growth.
Squash, futsal, and billiards players relish the use of walls rather than focusing on playing inside of the boundaries set by game lines in Tennis and Pickleball.
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Future Outlook
Padel is still in the early stages of its growth in the U.S. compared to other countries, but with more courts being built, increased media coverage, and growing grassroots participation, it’s likely to continue expanding in popularity. Celebrity endorsement and investment has led to a
meteoric rise in the past few years. In May 2022, the Pro Padel League or PPL began its inaugural season in Tampa with 7 teams owned by global celebrities and professional athletes who actively promoted the sport through social media exposure. After wrapping up its first season, the PPL added three more teams including Daddy Yankee’s Florida Goats, the Houston Volts, and New York Atlantics. New Franchises are selling in the 7 figure range which has led to a 500% increase in valuation since the leagues inception. Tom Brady and Mark Cuban respectively own teams while the Steinbrenner family of NY Yankees lore has invested in A1 Padel which held its first tournament in Central Park in 2022.
Investment and participation in the sports has also been led by former New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, who brought the first padel courts to Louisiana.
Six time NBA all star, Jimmy Butler, is a devout padel player having learned about the sport from Brazilian soccer legend, Neymar. Butler regularly plays with Dwayne Wade who is widely regarded as one of the best NBA shooting guards in history. Butler claims padel complements his basketball skills mentally and physically.
Lionel Messi, regarded as one of the greatest soccer players of all time has built a private court at his residence in Madrid and plays regularly in Miami when not playing soccer professionally for Inter Miami. He has been seen playing Padel with another soccer legend, David Beckham, and claims it was replaced pickleball as his favorite racquet sport.
With so much interest and investment from celebrity and athlete influencers, there is little doubt that padel is set to become the fastest growing sport in the United States. The future of padel looks to be explosive as other investors and players look to get in on the action.