Padel Crosses into the Mainstream: Playtomic’s Global Report 2025 Highlights a Sport on the Rise

Padel has long been billed as the world’s fastest-growing sport and now the numbers back it up.

According to the newly released 2025 Global Padel Report by Playtomic, in partnership with PwC’s Strategy&, the sport is no longer a niche trend. It’s a mainstream global movement. In 2024 alone, over 3,282 new padel clubs opened across 90+ countries—an average of one every 2.5 hours. Global court numbers have now passed the 50,000 mark, with over 7,000 built last year and 81,000 projected by 2027.

The result? A sport that’s expanding at scale while also maturing rapidly. Markets are hitting maturity in five to six years. Player retention is astonishingly high—92% return after their first session. And a new generation of digitally enabled clubs is outperforming traditional models by 3 to 5 times.

“With a new club opening every two and a half hours, padel has officially joined the world’s sporting elite.”
— Pablo Carro, Co-Founder & CCO, Playtomic

Spain and Italy may have sparked padel’s modern era, but the sport’s recent surge has been global. Portugal, the Netherlands, the UK, Mexico, India, Indonesia, and the UAE are now among the fastest-growing padel nations. Many of these are first-generation markets that have leapfrogged early-stage growing pains thanks to digital platforms like Playtomic, which connect players, clubs, coaches, and data across regions.

In Asia, the sport is still in its early stages but gaining momentum in urban centers like Bangkok, Jakarta, and Manila. In Latin America, padel is part of everyday life. In the Middle East, new clubs are emerging as luxury lifestyle hubs.

And then there’s the United States.

While the U.S. currently ranks outside the top five in court volume, its potential is massive—and that potential is beginning to convert. According to the report, 352 new courts were built in the U.S. in 2024, with Florida, Texas, and California leading the charge. The states of New York, Massachusetts, and Illinois are following close behind.

What’s more, 30% of U.S. pickleball venues now feature padel courts, up from just 5% a year ago. The shift suggests a co-existence rather than competition, with clubs increasingly catering to both communities.

“Padel is not just a racquet sport anymore. It’s a movement - social, accessible, and sticky.”
— Antonio Robert Aragonés, Managing Director, Playtomic

The Digital Advantage

Technology is helping accelerate padel’s rise. Digital-first clubs using smart booking systems, flexible pay-per-play models, and real-time data insights are proving more profitable and more popular than traditional membership setups.

Playtomic, which now supports 6,000 clubs in 63 countries, sits at the centre of that transformation. Its tools help clubs optimise schedules, manage memberships, launch tournaments, and deliver better player experiences. That’s why many of the sport’s top-performing venues—from Dubai to Miami—are powered by the platform.

The platform’s insights also helped shape the Global Padel Report itself, which offers the most complete view of the sport’s performance and trajectory to date.

Olympic Ambitions and What Comes Next

As padel pushes to be included in the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games, the data tells a compelling story of inclusion, accessibility, and sustainable global growth. With most clubs built outdoors, many located in urban hubs, and strong participation from both men and women, padel meets the moment for modern sport.

And in the U.S. where padel is increasingly championed by athletes, investors, and entertainment figures, the coming years could see it evolve into a true household sport.

The question is no longer if padel will go mainstream. It’s how fast it gets there and who’s ready for the serve.