Gothenburg club Time 4 Padel set to close in further blow to industry in Sweden

The club, which has 19 courts, is reportedly due to shut down at the end of the year and comes as the impact of the rapid overexpansion of padel in Sweden continues to play out.

Author

Jonathan Dyson
November 08, 2024

Padel in Sweden appears to be facing a fresh blow following media reports this week that Time 4 Padel, one of the country’s largest clubs, has been forced to close.

In a letter seen by the Swedish outlet Padelfeber, the owners of the facility, which is located on the island of Hisingen in Gothenburg, write that despite being determined to turn around their fortunes following recent tough times, they have no option other than to shut down the facility.

"We have therefore decided to wind down the business – a heavy but necessary decision,” the owners write. "We would like to thank all our players and customers at this time.”

It is understood Time 4 Padel will remain open until the end of December.

The company did not respond to requests for comment when contacted by Padel Business Magazine.

Time 4 Padel has 16 indoor and three outdoor courts, along with a spa, gym, café and office. According to its website, it offers private lessons with its leading players as well as relaxation and massage treatments. It also has four conference rooms with space for up to 50 people, along with catering.

Time 4 Padel has 16 indoor and three outdoor courts. Image credit: Time 4 Padel.

The Swedish padel industry has come to be viewed by many as a warning sign amid the current explosive growth of the sport across many parts of the world.

Padel in Sweden suffered from the effects of overexpansion after the market for courts boomed when the game rapidly transformed from a niche sport to a national obsession in 2020 at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Many new padel centres have since been forced to shut down due to too many opening at once, with Swedish media even reporting on the “death of padel”.

According to the International Padel Federation (FIP)’s first World Padel Report, there were an estimated 1,050 clubs in Sweden as at April 2024, with 4,200 courts and 700,000 players. The population to courts ratio is 2,527 (by comparison, in Spain that figure is 2,970).