There is little doubt that padel is massively popular in Spain, second only to football (soccer) in participation numbers. When we look beyond the Spanish borders participation is less, but growing incredibly fast. Yet the question remains whether the sport of padel is nothing more than a passing fad.
Padel is not a passing fad. The sport of padel has grown consistently every year since it started in 1969, spreading from Mexico to Spain and out to 57 countries. Padel has now grown to the size that biggest US-based racket-sports brands have started investing in padel to claim market share.
Let’s look at all those factors that prove padel is not a passing fad.
Is Padel A Fad?
Padel is a sport that has grown rapidly over the past few years. It’s not as widely known as other sports, but padel is not just a fad! It was created in Mexico, advanced to Spain, and is spreading around other countries like wildfire.
This game doesn’t get as much attention because it’s relatively new compared with more popular sports such as tennis or squash. In fact, it wasn’t until 1993 that padel was recognized as an official sport in the U.S.
Padel could very well become an Olympic Sport within the next few years – if they can gain recognition from at least 75 different countries by then (there are currently only 57).
How Popular Is Padel?
Padel has more players than pickleball and racquetball, which are popular racquet sports in the United States. Surprisingly enough, there are over twenty million players worldwide. Spain alone has a whopping twenty thousand padel courts.
Even as a relative newcomer to the sports scene, padel has grown exponentially. If this trend keeps up, the sport will quickly become as popular as tennis or squash. It is quickly becoming one of the most popular sports in the world.
The Wilson Goat Test To See The Future Opportunities In Padel
For decades it has essentially been European sports brands that have owned the market for padel equipment. The size of the market was just too small to tempt any of the big US brand names into the padel space. That all changed in 2020.
During the course of 2020, the Wilson Sporting Goods Company chose to enter the padel market. Wilson is a company that has the reputation of signing GOATs as players to represent them in racket sports like tennis has done the same in padel.
Wilson launched their marketing campaign by signing Fernando Belasteguin when he announced his return to padel after having retired due to severe injuries. Their choice to sign “Bela” is in line with their tradition of signing GOATs, as Belasteguin had been world number one for 15 consecutive years.
A massive racket sports brand like Wilson would never sink a massive marketing budget into a sport that is simply a fad and does not have the growth prospects of giving them a return on their investment.
Why Is Padel So Popular?
With its fast-paced action, easy-to-learn rules, and competitive nature, it’s no surprise that people are taking notice of this fun and exciting game. It’s simple enough for beginners but also challenging and complex enough for experienced players.
The best thing about this sport is that anyone who wants to give it a try won’t have trouble finding someone interested in playing. Whether you want to get some exercise on your lunch break or have the chance to participate in tournaments against other players – there’s always room for one more player at the table.
Where Is Padel Most Popular?
Padel is most popular in Spain, but the popularity of the game has spread throughout Europe. It’s so prevalent that players often have to wait for matches to end before playing.
There are around 4-6 million amateur padel players in Spain alone, quickly becoming a popular club sport. It’s often played at the many private members’ clubs in Spain. There, the sport is second only to football in popularity. Argentina comes in second with an estimated 1-2 million amateurs playing padel there.
What Is The History Of Padel?
Enrique Corcuera is the inventor of padel and father to this racquet sport that has become a worldwide phenomenon. In 1969, he decided he didn’t have enough space for a tennis court in his backyard, so he created a comparable sport.
Enrique’s friend, Prince Alfonso de Hohenlohe from Spain, visited him and became fascinated with his game. Enrique taught him the rules and specifics, and Alfonso then decided to build the first two padel courts in Spain in 1974.
The game has now it has spread around South America. It’s gaining popularity in the U.K.; however, in the U.S., it is considered an emerging sport, and there are still many people who don’t know what it is.