Padel is experiencing a golden age in Europe, becoming not only the sport of the moment for millions of fans but also a fertile ground for profitable and cutting-edge investments. The demand for padel-related facilities, equipment, and services far exceeds the supply, creating an ideal situation for investors looking to capitalize on this growing trend. Padel offers:
- Accessibility and engagement: easy to learn but hard to master, it attracts a broad spectrum of ages and skill levels.
- Exponential growth: with an ever-increasing presence in nations like France, the United Kingdom, and Italy, the potential for expansion is vast.
- Attractive investment: high demand and low supply create significant yield opportunities. The key lies in identifying emerging markets and understanding how to position oneself to maximize returns.
Today, Europe accounts for 61.3% of the world’s amateur players. While in 2020 there were around 5,000 clubs and 18,000 courts in Europe, within five years, those numbers reached over 15,000 clubs and 42,000 courts, showing impressive growth in terms of both infrastructure and participation.
From Its Origins to the Global Conquest of Padel
Padel traces its origins back to sunny Acapulco in the 1960s, born as a creative solution to a personal need. Enrique Corcuera, a millionaire with an insatiable love for tennis but limited outdoor space, unwittingly became a pioneer. Corcuera, in fact, designed a compact tennis court enclosed by walls to enjoy his favorite sport in the comfort of his home, minimizing interruptions and the problem of lost balls.
This seemingly modest structural innovation proved to be a real game-changer in the sports landscape. The reduced court, framed by walls that became part of the game, blended elements of tennis, squash, and racquetball, creating a perfect environment for a wide range of ages and abilities. Ironically, Corcuera’s ingenious solution, devised to make up for a lack of space, also adapted perfectly to luxury resorts, where every square meter is precious.
Word of mouth among Corcuera’s illustrious guests was decisive in catapulting padel into the Mexican elite and, subsequently, helping it cross national borders. These humble beginnings marked the starting point of an extraordinary rise for padel, which went from a simple private pastime to a sports phenomenon of international caliber.
Over time, padel has been enriched with anecdotes and “trivia” that outline a unique journey. For example, the very first court created by Corcuera did not adhere to some rules we take for granted today, and the initial rackets were not forged from advanced materials like carbon, which we are now accustomed to, but rather from simple wood, resembling beach tennis paddles more than competitive sports equipment.
Spanning the decades, padel has managed to evolve from these picturesque origins into the rapidly rising sport we all love and play today, preserving at its core the innovation and adaptability that made it all possible.
Spain as the Beating Heart of European Padel
Spain is not merely the beating heart of European padel; it is the true epicenter of a passion that has swept millions of hearts and animated entire communities. The introduction of padel to Spanish soil, thanks to a Spanish friend of Corcuera who was enchanted by it in Acapulco, marked the beginning of an era. His decision to open the first two courts in Marbella in the mid-1970s was the first piece of what would become an incredibly rich and varied sporting mosaic.
From those first rallies, padel began to weave a dense web of events, challenges, and passions, extending its influence well beyond Spanish borders to reach other Spanish-speaking nations like Argentina and Uruguay, before returning to consolidate itself in Europe with Spain as the undisputed benchmark. Today, with over 6.2 million amateur players and a network of over 17,000 courts stretching far and wide across the country, Spain confirms itself as the absolute gold standard for European padel.
The Padel Phenomenon in Sweden: Between Pandemic and International Recognition
Sweden has experienced a true padel explosion in recent years. Starting from scratch, with the opening of its first courts as recently as 2017, Sweden has recorded exponential growth, leading it to boast over 1,200 clubs and 4,220 courts—a density surpassed only by nations with a much more deeply rooted tradition in the sport. This lightning-fast development testifies not only to a budding love for padel but also to a genuine transformation in the recreational habits and preferences of the Swedes.
Padel in France: Vast Opportunities for Expansion
Among the most interesting European countries to watch today is undoubtedly France. The FIP World Padel Report 2025 highlights it as the country that has installed the most new courts in the last 18 months: +1,850, with an annual growth rate exceeding 55%, surpassing the 4,000-court mark. The figures on the club front are also significant, with 1,290 registered facilities. More than just a promising market in the abstract, today France is one of the most concrete driving forces behind the new European expansion of padel.
Padel in the UK: High Investment Potential
The United Kingdom is currently one of the most interesting European markets for those looking at the sector from a business perspective. According to recent statistics, the growth that began in 2023 continued at a very high pace throughout 2024, with a recent average annual increase of around 130%. The milestone of 1,000 courts was surpassed in mid-2025, a sign that British padel is entering a phase of concrete acceleration. It is exactly this combination of growing demand and a still-developing market that makes it one of the most closely watched contexts for anyone considering investing in padel.
Italy Among the Top European Protagonists of Padel
Despite a territorial spread that is still variable and fragmented, the growth potential is promising, highlighting the national passion for this sport. Italy emerges forcefully on the European padel scene, bolstered by its roughly 10,220 courts (as of 2025) scattered across the peninsula. This testifies not only to a growing love for the sport but also to an ambition that places it among the continental leaders in this sector. This impressive number of facilities reflects an expansion that goes beyond the game itself, becoming the expression of a rapidly evolving sports culture and a passionate, ever-growing community.
The bond between Italy and padel is enriched by stories and anecdotes that bear witness to its ascent: from the first installations, often initiatives of private individuals or small clubs, to the creation of true dedicated centers, where professional training is paired with spaces for socialization. These places become incubators of talent and passion, forging not only athletes but also strong community ties.
Interest in padel also translates into lively debate in the media and sports clubs, where rules, techniques, and strategies are discussed, helping to elevate the level of play and further spread knowledge and appreciation for the sport. With such a solid foundation and broad potential, Italy is preparing to explore new frontiers, paving the way for a future where padel is not just a sport but a veritable cultural phenomenon.
Where Padel is Played: Projections and Forecasts
Today, the expansion of padel in Europe no longer follows a single direction. The FIP World Padel Report 2025 depicts a continent that continues to grow, but in an increasingly uneven manner: alongside historic markets, there are rapidly accelerating countries, others that are now consolidated, and a group of emerging nations that are only just beginning to truly enter the sector.
Among the most dynamic markets, France, Great Britain, and Germany stand out, while Spain and Italy remain the two great consolidated hubs of European padel. Alongside them, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Denmark are also moving forward with solid numbers, while in Eastern Europe, Poland, Romania, and Croatia are making a name for themselves, experiencing a startup and acceleration phase.
Find a Reliable Partner for International Expansion
With its extensive experience in building padel courts and padel court covers, Favaretti Padel represents a partner of excellence for investors intending to expand their business in the padel sector abroad. The company boasts proven experience in the design and construction of high-quality padel centers—the Favaretti clubs.
Thanks to a highly qualified and specialized team, Favaretti Padel guarantees a comprehensive service, from design to the construction of the center, providing customized, functional, and innovative solutions.