The padel wave in the USA is just beginning

Padel has seen a remarkable rise in the United States in 2023. The sport, distinct from pickleball, has captured attention thanks to a series of celebrity investments, ranging from the New York Yankees to Swedish NHL players, including figures such as Daddy Yankee and Sebastian Giovinco.

Thanks to our colleagues at Sportico, here are the first tracks of a sport which is becoming increasingly important in the United States.

Padel, a culture that is exported

Padel is exported across the Atlantic. “Padel is much more than a sport, it is a culture,” says Juan Martín Díaz, a living legend of padel.

Easy to integrate into urban spaces due to its reduced size compared to tennis courts, and appreciated for its social and friendly aspect, “padel attracts a large and diverse audience,” explains Santiago Gomez, founder of Padel House.

With the rise of private clubs and the opening of new franchises, “we strongly believe in the potential of padel in the United States,” says Gomez. The continued expansion of the sport is a testament to its successful integration on American soil.

The birth of the Pro Padel League

The creation of the Pro Padel League (PPL) marks a turning point in the professionalization of the sport in the United States. “This is a pivotal moment for American padel,” says Marcos del Pilar, co-founder of the PPL.

With franchise sales reaching seven-figure sums and padel courts projected to grow exponentially, “the commercial potential of padel is immense,” says Keith Stein, attorney and co-founder of the PPL.

“2024 will be the year of padel in the United States,” predicts del Pilar. As the sport continues to gain traction, the year promises to be crucial for its recognition and development. With continued efforts in terms of infrastructure, marketing, and the commitment of influential figures, padel is well on its way to becoming a must-see discipline on the American sports scene.

Let us recall that one of the French who took part in the development of padel in the USA is Nallé Grinda. The former Director of the Miami tournament Padel open (World Padel Tour) is about to launch PADEL X, a chain of padel clubs that could expand during 2024/2025.

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.