🎾 PBM Weekly Newsletter - Issue 33

Hi everyone,

Welcome to the 33rd 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:

• The International Padel Federation (FIP) has announced that the Premier Padel Majors in Italy, France and Qatar have been renewed in multi-year agreements, while the first edition of the FIP Intercontinental Cup has been postponed until 2026.

• New figures from FIP indicate Italy now has 10,017 padel courts, up 29% since 2022, with 45% being indoor (around 4,500 courts), and a total of 3,716 clubs.

• Our round-up of other major headlines in the global padel business, including the French Tennis Federation (FFT) announcing it has exceeded 100,000 padel licensees, up 42.7% from 70,500 at the end of the 2023/24 season, and the dropping of controversial plans for the 17-court Padel City in Oeiras, Portugal.

• The latest exclusive interviews, in-depth features and expert analysis from Padel Business Magazine, as we explore some of the key themes to emerge from the Padel World Summit in Barcelona, and speak with BullDog co-founders Jim Allan and Ben Cheng about their four-step plan to build a community-focused padel club near Orlando.

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

• 🇫🇷 FFT exceeds 100,000 padel licensees as number rises by 42.7%
  The French Tennis Federation (FFT) has announced it has exceeded 100,000 padel licensees, up 42.7% from 70,500 at the end of the 2023/24 season. The FFT said it now has more than 250,000 members who play padel, with the number of padel courts in France currently at 2,917, up 40% compared to 2024. In total, 959 clubs and private facilities in France now offer padel, up 25%.

• 🇵🇹 Controversial plans dropped for 17-court Padel City in Oeiras

  The Padel City project in Oeiras, southern Portugal, which was due to open in 2026 with 17 courts, will not go ahead after plans to build the facility were dropped. The decision was confirmed by the city administration, which cited high construction costs as the main obstacle. The project was controversial from the outset, due to its proximity to residential areas and possible environmental impacts.

• 🇺🇸 World Padel Rating and Playbypoint unveil partnership
  World Padel Rating (WPR), the official rating system of the United States Padel Association (USPA), has agreed a strategic partnership with Playbypoint, a platform for club management and booking solutions. Playbypoint customers can now incorporate WPR directly into their club activities, such as round robins, clinics, and open plays. Players can also sync their WPR profiles and register for programming that matches their verified level.

• 🇨🇦 Vancouver set to get new outdoor pop-up with eight padel courts
  A new pop-up facility with eight outdoor padel courts could be set to open in Vancouver. Wesgroup Properties has submitted a development permit application to open the courts at an underused waterfront site in the River District neighbourhood at the southeasternmost corner of the city. The destination, named Courtside Social, also plans to repurpose shipping containers to provide a cafe, snack shop, and pro shop.

• 🇮🇳 World Padel League to add two new franchises for third season
  The Mumbai-based tournament World Padel League is to feature two new franchises at its third edition, which is due to take place on 12-16 August at the Nesco Centre, when six franchises will compete. The previous edition, held on 5-8 February, featured 32 players across four teams. The SG Pipers Cheetahs defeated the Vernost Jaguars in the final. The competition is supported by the Indian Padel Federation.

Net news

Diving deep into major news stories shaping the padel industry

Premier Padel Majors in Italy, France and Qatar renewed in multi-year agreements 

FIP has unveiled a series of new strategic developments and calendar updates, with the renewal of key Premier Padel Majors, as well as the postponement of the first edition of the FIP Intercontinental Cup until 2026.

Italy growth: Number of padel courts exceeds 10,000 mark 

New figures from FIP indicate Italy now has 10,017 padel courts, up 29% since 2022, with 45% being indoor (around 4,500 courts), and a total of 3,716 clubs.

The big hits

The latest exclusive interviews, in-depth features and expert analysis from Padel Business Magazine

What next for padel’s global growth? Key talking points at Padel World Summit 

The second edition of the Padel World Summit provided a broad international perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing the sport as it enters its next stage of development. Padel Business Magazine editor Jonathan Dyson reports from Barcelona.

BullDog co-founders outline four-step plan to build community-focused padel club  

Opening in late 2025, BullDog will be the first padel-only facility to open in the Lake Nona area, a suburb southeast of downtown Orlando. It will feature world-class courts and an area for guests to socialise before and after matches. In an interview with Padel Business Magazine’s US reporter Rodney Reeves, co-founders Jim Allan and Ben Cheng discuss BullDog’s vision for its flagship location, how technology will enhance the playing experience, and how it will integrate within the local community.