Changes in the racket sport market

​​​​​​​Padel is a sport that can boast celebrity players such as David Beckham, Jurgen Klopp, and Serena Williams. A sport that seven-time Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic thinks is a threat to tennis.

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It is believed that Padel was invented in Mexico in 1969 by Enrique Corcuera, who modified his squash court to incorporate elements of tennis. The first courts were concrete construction, but the concrete was replaced by glass walls and astroturf playing surface over time.  The game is a mixture of tennis and squash using a tennis-style ball and a racket similar to an oversized table tennis bat.

​​​​​There are around 50,000 padel courts globally and the number is expected to rise by 25 next year.  There are currently 30 million players worldwide which is catching up on the 87 million people who play tennis.

So why is Padel growing so quickly?

Padel is seen as easier to pick up than other racket sports. It has a smaller court and the player can play the ball off walls which makes it more accessible for beginners. The game is also seen as less physically demanding than tennis and squash which makes it more accessible to people of different ages and fitness levels. Because it is more accessible, padel is a sport that is appealing to older people, and with an ageing population in many countries, this could be a factor behind its growth. Padel’s appeal can be seen in the social nature of the sport. It is normally played in a doubles format so it involves four players which makes it perhaps more inclusive than tennis and squash

Another reason for the growth of Padel is its relatively low-cost activity in terms of the equipment needed to play it, although the courts can be quite expensive to rent. 

It is interesting to look at Padel as a ‘craze’ activity with players attracted to the sport because so many people are playing it and this turns consumer tastes and preferences in favour of Padel.  

The growth of Padel brings with it significant market opportunities for entrepreneurs. If more people play the sport then they will want to buy rackets, balls, clothing, and court time. The profitable opportunities Padel represents for businesses will draw more resources into this part of the leisure market.  

As a sporting leisure activity, the growth of Padel can bring with it social benefits to a country’s population if the total number of people involved in active leisure increases because more people are playing Padel. People could be fitter and healthier.

Possible questions to discuss with a class

1. What are the demand factors that might explain the rise in the number of people playing Padel?

2. What do you think is the most important supply factor affecting the number of people playing Padel?

3. What effect might the growth in Padel have on other sports such as tennis and squash?

4. Discuss the significance of the social benefits Padel might bring to a country's population.