Miami’s $900bn Real Estate Sector and US Padel Industry Unite for Landmark Property+Padel as Leria declares: “We must build more than just courts”
Mar 24, 2025
Some of Miami’s $900bn Real Estate industry’s biggest hitters joined forces with the leading names from the American padel industry on Thursday, for Property+Padel at Padel X in Downtown Miami.
Staged on Thursday during the heart of America’s Racquet Week, the 200-strong capacity audience descended on one of Miami’s most successful padel destinations in what was considered a landmark moment for the sport in the United States.
With an unparalleled calibre of speakers from across the real estate and padel industries, it was Padel X Co-Founder and CEO Juan Pablo Leria who set the tone and summarised the state of the game in America aptly, by declaring “For this sport to grow, and fulfil the hype, we must - I repeat must - build more than just courts.”
With the United States’ focus so far being on court and club building, Leria highlighted his point to the watching developers, club owners, architects, government officials, private equity groups, and tech entrepreneurs, adding: “We have a responsibility to build the entire ecosystem—not just courts, but the technology, the apparel, the supply chain. This market needs long-term thinking.”
This call for holistic development was echoed by five-time French National Champion and fellow Padel X Co-Founder, Nalle Grinda, who returned to the Property+Padel stage to share lessons from Miami: “We’ve built facilities all over the U.S., but the sweet spot is 10 to 14 courts. Any fewer, and you can’t deliver a real club experience. Anymore, and you risk losing the community vibe.”
Across five sessions, the afternoon explored the many layers of padel’s growth—from infrastructure and club operations to tech, real estate development, and fan engagement. The event featured a standout speaker line-up, including Astrid Thams (Hexagon Cup), Rob Mitchell (Premier Padel), Robyn Duda (RacquetX), Dora Puig (Luxe Living Realty), Joseph Magazine (Miami Beach Commissioner and Loop Capital), Pablo Carro (Playtomic), David Gutstadt (Ballers & Fitler Club), and Barry Falcon (Conquer Padel).
In the second session, attention turned to the global calendar, as Premier Padel and Hexagon Cup took the stage together for the first time since the recently announced strategic partnership between the two leading pro padel organisations and the International Padel Federation (FIP). Rob Mitchell called for “smart collaboration” between rights holders, while Astrid Thams explained how the Hexagon Cup’s team-based format and celebrity involvement are helping draw new audiences: “This sport is still young. We have a chance to build formats that engage fans in new ways—and bring new eyes to it.”
The infrastructure session that followed offered practical insights for developers. Eric Loftus of Padel Solutions emphasised the complexity of U.S. permitting and urged investors to engage with local experts early. David Moxley from Sportsfield Specialties outlined how court design, wind loads, and logistics are critical in Miami’s coastal zones, while Siux CEO Iñigo Colomina described infrastructure as “the backbone of the sport—we’re not just selling rackets (at Siux).”
In the final session, technology came into focus. Playtomic Co-Founder Pablo Carro detailed how the platform is using AI and analytics to improve court occupancy and player retention, stating: “We’re obsessed with data. Our tools help clubs understand behaviour, optimise pricing, and make the sport sustainable.” David Gutstadt, founder of Ballers and Fitler Club, connected padel to broader urban trends: “Country clubs are adding padel. Our job is to deliver that experience in the city—and help retain talent in urban centres.”
Reflecting on the Miami event, Property+Padel Co-Founders Rohit Grewal and Ben Nichols said: “Property+Padel Miami raised the bar. We had developers, city officials, engineers, franchise founders and technology leaders all under one roof in Downtown Miami’s leading club—each approaching the sport from a different angle, but aligned by the same ambition: to build this sport with substance. Padel is no longer just a sport. It’s a business model, a wellness product, and a cultural phenomenon that is on the cusp of taking America by storm. Property+Padel is where those ideas come together, and where new ones are sparked. Our showpiece event on Thursday proved that America’s time has come.”
With the sun setting over downtown Miami, the day concluded with a lively networking mixer competition on court with the winner receiving a special racquet provided by hand-crafted, premium padel racquet company, Wallich. Alongside Wallich, sponsors include, Playtomic, Portico Sport, Padel 22, Omega Media, PadelGo, Wallich, USA Padel Directory, 6Lovesport and Cage 91 Co.
Key Takeaways from Property+Padel Miami
Building the Ecosystem
Juan Pablo Leria (Co-Founder & CEO, Padel X Miami) called on the industry to think bigger than just courts, urging leaders to consider the full business ecosystem—technology, logistics, and long-term supply chains.
Event Innovation & Global Collaboration
Astrid Thams (Hexagon Cup) and Rob Mitchell (Premier Padel) highlighted the importance of fan-first event design and international coordination. Both underlined the need for diverse formats, integrated scheduling, and partnership across competing properties.
Infrastructure is Everything
Padel Solutions’ Eric Loftus and Sportsfield Specialties’ David Moxley addressed the practical challenges facing U.S. developers, from shipping and wind loads to state-by-state permitting. Siux’s Iñigo Colomina reminded attendees that scalable infrastructure is what will “unlock the sport’s true potential.”
Padel as a Real Estate Driver
Dora Puig (Luxe Living Realty) and Joseph Magazine (Loop Capital) showed how padel is impacting both private and public sectors—from waterfront home sales to public rooftop proposals. Padel’s value in driving wellness, community, and real estate ROI was clear throughout.
Data, Tech & the Future of Clubs
Playtomic’s Pablo Carro provided insights from 6,000+ clubs globally, sharing how data is unlocking club profitability. David Gutstadt (Ballers) predicted a wave of multi-sport clubs in cities, likening them to modern-day country clubs for a new generation.
Where Property+Padel is Heading Next
Following its high-impact debut in New Jersey and a sell-out Miami edition, Property+Padel will return to the UK this summer for its next event, hosted in Leeds, before returning to the US in Q4. The series continues to build a global platform at the intersection of real estate and the world’s fastest-growing sport—bringing together the visionaries shaping padel’s future on and off court.