Long held up as a model to follow, Sweden is now experiencing a period of brutal correction. Club closures, declining attendance, and overcapacity: the country that symbolized the explosion of padel in Europe has become the example that many players in the sector are now trying to avoid. The latest Global Padel The 2026 report from Playtomic and Strategy& looks back in detail at this situation which continues to fuel debate in the global padel industry. 

Just a few years ago, Sweden was considered an Eldorado. Between 2020 and 2022, the country experienced spectacular growth, driven by massive public enthusiasm and a rapid increase in investment.

Padel was becoming ubiquitous: in major cities, shopping areas, sports centers, and even some real estate developments. Bookings were sometimes fully booked several days in advance, and investors were scrambling to participate in what seemed to be limitless growth.

But this success story has gradually turned into a warning.

 When supply exceeds demand 

According to the report, the main problem faced by Sweden is simple: the pitches were built faster than the actual number of players was increasing.

During the post-Covid period, excellent occupancy rates encouraged the opening of new clubs at an extremely rapid pace. Many operators believed that demand would continue to grow indefinitely.

The reality turned out to be different.

As the market matured, the growth in the number of players slowed while the supply continued to increase. As a result, the number of available pitches increased faster than bookings.

The report now classifies Sweden in the category of markets in  "Post-Boom Adjustment" that is, countries where infrastructure expansion has exceeded the market's actual absorption capacity.

How Sweden went from padel paradise to crisis: the warning the padel world is watching closely

 Occupancy rates in freefall 

One of the most revealing indicators concerns the evolution of the land occupancy rate.

According to data compiled by Playtomic and Strategy&, busy peak hours have fallen from 52% in 2021 to just 21% in 2025.

This gradual decline illustrates the increasing difficulty for clubs to fill their pitches despite a still substantial supply.

In a sector where profitability depends directly on the number of hours booked, this development has profoundly weakened many operators.

 Club closures and market consolidation 

Faced with this situation, the Swedish market has entered a phase of consolidation.

The report refers to a "forced correction," characterized by:

  • the closure of the least solid clubs;
  • groups of operators;
  • acquisitions of facilities;
  • a rationalization of land portfolios.

Players with a robust financial structure are now trying to acquire the best locations, while the most fragile projects are gradually disappearing.

The market continues to exist, but it is restructuring itself around a smaller number of operators.

 Sweden is not an isolated case 

The report emphasizes that Sweden is not the only country affected.

Chile and, to a lesser extent, Finland are also going through similar phases.

In these markets, the initial enthusiasm triggered a wave of construction that was sometimes disconnected from actual demand.

These examples show that the popularity of a sport does not automatically guarantee the economic success of every project.

 Why France seems to be avoiding this scenario 

Playtomic's analysis is particularly interesting when it indirectly compares the French situation to that of Sweden.

While France was the country that added the most land in 2025, it maintains high occupancy rates and strong demand.

The main difference lies in the geographical distribution of growth.

In France, openings have gradually spread across the entire territory, while in Sweden, certain areas have seen a much higher concentration of competing projects.

The report thus considers that France is now evolving in a more balanced phase of development, described as a "Sweet Spot", where supply and demand are still progressing in a relatively synchronized manner.

 A lesson for all emerging markets 

Beyond the Swedish case, the report delivers a clear message: the sustainable success of padel does not depend solely on the number of courts built.

The authors believe that the next phase of global growth will rely more on:

  • the quality of the operation;
  • the occupancy rate;
  • the experience offered to players;
  • customer loyalty;
  • the management of local communities.

In other words, the future belongs less to the builders of pitches than to the managers capable of making their clubs thrive.

 Sweden remains an important market 

Despite this correction, the report does not mention the collapse of Swedish padel.

The country retains a strong padel culture, a large number of players and quality infrastructure.

But the current period reminds us that no market is immune to imbalance when investment persistently outpaces demand.

For the entire industry, Sweden now represents a full-scale laboratory. An example closely observed by all countries currently experiencing rapid growth, from France to the United Kingdom, via Germany and the United States.

Franck Binisti

Franck Binisti discovered padel at the Club des Pyramides in 2009 in the Paris region. Since then, padel has been part of his life. You often see him touring France to cover major French padel events.

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