🎾 PBM Weekly Newsletter - Issue 16

Hi everyone,

Welcome to the 16th issue of Padel Business Magazine – a publication and vetted community dedicated to helping padel industry decision-makers capitalise on the explosive growth and development of the sport.

Coming up this week:

• R3 Sport founder Jonathan Rowland shares details of his firm’s plans for a new padel tour in the UK, including a Hexagon Cup-style Super League, designed to take British padel to a new level.

• The UK’s first floating padel courts look set to be built in Liverpool after plans were submitted for three courts and a club house within the Liverpool Waters regeneration project.

• Our round-up of other major headlines in the global padel business, including Spanish padel giant Olympia Sports’ opening of its new 12-court Unicorn Racket Club on the Costa del Sol, and Swiss operator Padelta’s new sponsorship deal with soft drink brand Rivella.

Enjoy the latest issue!

The PBM Team

P.S. We want to make this the best possible resource and community for you, so please share any feedback to: [email protected] 

The weekly serving

Essential news highlights to keep your padel business game sharp

• 🌏️ FIP World Padel Championships second in online search growth ranking with 282% increase

  The FIP World Padel Championships gained the second largest growth in online searches among sports competitions globally in 2024, with a 282% increase, according to sports marketing agency Redtorch’s latest SportOnSocial report. The Doha tournament ranked behind the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA), which achieved a 322% increase.

• 🇪🇸 Olympia Sports expands to over 120 padel courts with new club in Estepona 
  Spanish padel giant Olympia Sports has opened the new Unicorn Racket Club, featuring 12 outdoor courts, in the town of Estepona on the Costa del Sol. The site solidifies the company’s dominant position among padel operators in Spain, with a total of 124 courts at eight clubs now run by the firm.

• 🇳🇱 Padel growth in Netherlands: KNLTB registered players up 11% in 2024
  The number of registered padel and tennis players in the Netherlands increased by 11% in 2024 to 844,000, according to the KNLTB, the governing body for the two sports in the country. It said “the popularity of padel continues to grow and tennis maintains a stable position”.

• 🇬🇧 Work begins on Sheffield padel venue backed by cricket star Joe Root
  Work has begun on a new dedicated padel venue in Sheffield backed by England cricket star Joe Root. Play Padel Sheffield is set to open at Abbeydale Tennis Club in spring 2025 and will feature four indoor courts, including the city's only singles court, alongside a social space.

• 🇨🇭 Padelta nets sponsorship deal with soft drink brand Rivella
  Swiss operator Padelta has struck a sponsorship deal with soft drink brand Rivella, which is considered Switzerland's national drink. The partnership will feature Rivella Ghost Padel Events, taking place on dimly lit courts with neon lights, and glowing racquets and balls. Padelta has 33 courts across eight locations, with plans to open another four sites in the next two years. 

Net news

Diving deep into a major news story shaping the padel industry

UK’s first floating padel courts set to be built in Liverpool

Liverpool is set to become the first UK city with floating padel courts as part of the transformative Liverpool Waters regeneration project. The plan includes three state-of-the-art courts, a floating clubhouse, and scenic views of the waterfront. Set to open in summer 2025, this pioneering development will put Liverpool on the map alongside cities like Dubai and Miami. Dive into the details of this exciting project in our latest news article.

The big hit

Exclusive interviews and in-depth analysis breaking down the business of padel

Jonathan Rowland interview: R3 Sport founder outlines vision to transform UK padel with new tour

R3 Sport’s founder, Jonathan Rowland, unveils an ambitious vision to elevate padel in the UK with a new tour, including the R3 Bullpadel Cup and the future R3 Bullpadel Super League. With plans to introduce the highest prize money in British padel history and back homegrown talent, Rowland is determined to bring UK players to the world top 20 and set the stage for Olympic success by 2032. Discover how R3 Sport is shaping the future of UK padel.