🎾 PBM Weekly Newsletter - Issue 9

Hi everyone,

Welcome to the ninth issue of Padel Business Magazine – a new 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:

• We speak to American padel investor Alan Flatt about his new firm InvestTrek Capital set up to fund eco-friendly clubs across the US.

• New data from the International Padel Federation (FIP) shows Italy’s Lombardy region has reached 1,320 padel courts – a rise of 157% in three years.

• Our round-up of other major headlines in the global padel business, including plans for a new sports complex in Belgium featuring seven padel courts, and new figures highlighting the decline in padel participation in Chile.

Enjoy the latest issue!

Cheers!

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

• 🇧🇪 Belgian sports facility with seven padel courts gets go ahead

  Plans for a new sports complex in the Belgian town of Holsbeek that will feature seven outdoor padel courts have been approved. The site, named Beweegpark Bruul, will also contain two football pitches and will be the new home for local club KDN United. The facility is expected to open within the next 18 months.

• 🇨🇱 Padel on the decline in Chile as easycancha bookings fall 27% this year

  Fresh signs of a decline in padel participation in Chile have emerged after data from the South American sports booking app easycancha showed that monthly padel bookings in the country fell by 27% between January and November 2024, equating to around 37,000 fewer reservations. Over 80 padel clubs have closed in Chile since 2021.

• 🇬🇧 True Padel to open new seven-court club in north east England

  True Padel, an operator based in north east England, is set to open a new seven-court club in Darlington after submitting plans to convert a 24,000 square foot retail site which was closed in 2023. True Padel’s flagship facility in Durham has nine indoor courts. It is also planning to open a seven-court club in Sunderland.

• 🇵🇹 New sports and hotel complex in Braga to feature four padel courts
  A new sports and hotel complex combining padel and rural tourism is due to open in Palmeira, just outside Braga in Portugal, in the third quarter of 2025. Villae Verdasca - Tourism & Sport will have four padel courts, accommodation for 28 people, as well as a restaurant and swimming pool.

• 🇲🇽 Paquito Navarro attacks schedule amid heat at Premier Padel GNP Mexico Major

  In the latest sign of tensions between professional padel players and organisers over the issue of playing outdoors in extreme heat and humidity, Spanish star Paquito Navarro was heard claiming that "until someone dies, they are not going to stop putting us on at this time” during last week’s Premier Padel GNP Mexico Major in Acapulco.

Net news

Diving deep into a major news story shaping the padel industry

Italy’s Lombardy region reaches 1,320 padel courts – up 157% in three years

Discover the explosive growth of padel in Lombardy, Italy. With court numbers surging by 157% over the past three years, this region is now home to over 1,300 courts, with Milan leading the charge. Learn how the Milano Premier Padel and top players like Coello and Tapia are driving this wave of popularity. Find out more about Lombardy’s rise to the top in Italy’s padel scene.

The big hit

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

Alan Flatt interview: US padel investor on launching new firm to fund eco-friendly clubs 

Alan Flatt, an early leader in the US padel industry, speaks with Padel Business Magazine about launching InvestTrek Capital. With a focus on sustainable practices, the firm plans to fund padel clubs and real estate in emerging sports. Learn more about Flatt’s plans and the future of padel in the US.