Why is padel so popular in Spain?

The reasons for padel's popularity in Spain include its rich history, simple and accessible rules, strong social appeal, venues that are well-suited to urban spaces, and the influence of celebrities and commercial drivers. Specifically:

Robust Historical Roots: In the 1970s, Prince Alfonso of Spain brought padel to Europe from Mexico. Since then, the sport has taken root in Spain, gradually becoming a national sport, even surpassing the popularity of tennis. Today, Spain boasts 40% of the world's padel courts, with over 5 million players (some sources say 6 million or even 8 million), contributing €1.4 billion in equipment spending annually, making it second only to football in terms of popularity.

Simple and Easy Rules: Padel's rules incorporate elements of tennis, squash, and badminton, allowing the ball to be struck twice before landing and allowing it to bounce off the tempered glass surrounding the court before being struck. This low barrier to entry allows even beginners to quickly master and enjoy the sport. Strong Social Attributes: Padel is primarily a doubles game, and its wraparound glass walls lend the game a naturally performative and interactive feel. In Spain, 80% of players are introduced to the game by friends, and the number of companies renting padel courts for team-building activities has increased 470% in two years, demonstrating its strong social appeal.

Adaptable Venues: A standard padel court measures 10 meters wide by 20 meters long, less than one-third the size of a traditional tennis court. This compact design allows it to easily integrate into urban spaces, with examples like London office workers using their lunch breaks to play on skyscraper rooftops and abandoned factories in Brooklyn, New York, being transformed into 24-hour padel-themed social spaces. Data shows that padel courts have a per-square-foot efficiency three times higher than traditional gyms, making them a "golden business" for commercial real estate operators.

Celebrity Effect and Commercial Drive: Grand Slam champions Nadal and Ferrero have opened padel schools in Spain. Ferrero believes that tennis and padel can coexist and mutually enhance each other. In addition, the equipment consumption contributed by 8 million players in Spain each year, and consumers' willingness to pay a 30% premium for a racket with a 10% improvement in shock absorption performance, have all driven the continued development of the padel industry.