Racquet Sports Facility Statistics and Analysis

This article was written by our expert who is surveying the industry and constantly updating the business plan for a padel center.

Who wrote this content?

The Dojo Business Team

A team of financial experts, consultants, and writers

We're a team of finance experts, consultants, market analysts, and specialized writers dedicated to helping new entrepreneurs launch their businesses. We help you avoid costly mistakes by providing detailed business plans, accurate market studies, and reliable financial forecasts to maximize your chances of success from day one—especially in the padel center market.

How many racquet facilities exist today, by sport?

The installed base is led by tennis, with padel and pickleball expanding fastest in 2023–2025.

This matters because a padel center benefits from spillover demand where tennis capacity is tight and from padel’s rapid adoption curve.

Leverage co-location with other racquet sports or convert under-used spaces to accelerate ramp-up.

Prioritize neighborhoods with proven racquet participation and limited dedicated padel supply.

You’ll find detailed market insights in our padel center business plan, updated every quarter.

How many courts per facility, and what is the indoor vs. outdoor mix?

Specialized padel centers typically operate 4–9 courts, with a rising share of indoor builds.

Indoor courts deliver weather resilience and higher year-round yield; they also enable premium pricing and leagues in shoulder seasons.

Plan ceiling height, acoustic treatment, and spectator zones from day one to lift event revenue and retention.

Where land cost is high, densify with double-deck or covered structures to protect returns.

How fast did facilities grow over the last five years?

Racquet facilities grew steadily overall, while padel and pickleball expanded at an accelerated pace.

Regions like Europe and parts of APAC led padel construction, often doubling local supply in short windows.

Your padel center should capture this momentum with phased build-outs tied to demand milestones.

Use waitlists and pre-sold memberships to de-risk each phase and lock in cash flow.

We cover this exact topic in the padel center business plan.

What are typical court utilization rates (peak vs. off-peak)?

Expect 90–100% occupancy at peak and 30–50% off-peak without programming.

Fill weekdays 10:00–16:00 with schools, corporate bookings, and coaching blocks to raise blended occupancy above 70–75%.

Adopt dynamic pricing for peak evening slots and introduce prepaid off-peak bundles to smooth demand.

Track hourly load by court to reallocate leagues and clinics toward under-utilized windows.

What are the prevailing pricing models and ranges?

Padel centers perform best with a hybrid of memberships, pay-per-play, and program fees.

Set standard memberships around $50–$200+/month by market, pair with $10–$30/hour court fees, and sell bundles (e.g., 10-hour packs) for commitment.

Use event fees, ladder/league subscriptions, and junior academies to stabilize cash flow beyond casual play.

Introduce surge pricing on Friday evening/Sunday morning peaks and corporate packages on weekday afternoons.

Who plays—by age, gender, and income?

Participation clusters among juniors and 35–55-year-old adults, with a near-balanced gender mix emerging in padel.

Income skews middle-to-upper due to discretionary time and travel patterns; entry programs broaden access.

Design beginner pathways (try-pads, socials, and loaner gear) to lower barriers and lift conversion.

Offer family memberships and mixed doubles leagues to deepen retention and referrals.

Which amenities do facilities most often provide?

Most modern padel centers offer coaching, with many adding fitness and food & beverage to extend dwell time.

Coaching/clinics exceed 90% prevalence; F&B availability ranges 40–60% and fitness rooms appear in roughly one-third of facilities.

Bundle beginner clinics with social nights and beverage service to raise ancillary spend per visit.

Co-locate a pro-shop and restring service near reception to capture impulse purchases.

This is one of the strategies explained in our padel center business plan.

What is the average annual revenue and how is it split?

Mid-size padel centers typically generate $350k–$750k per year, with premium/multi-sport sites topping $1m.

Membership and recurring programs usually contribute 50–70% of revenue; the remainder comes from court rentals, lessons, events, F&B, and retail.

Grow lifetime value via academy tiers, team leagues, and seasonal passes to stabilize cash flow.

Measure ARPU by segment (members vs. casuals) monthly and reprice bundles accordingly.

What are the main operating costs and how do they vary by size?

Staffing is the largest cost, followed by maintenance and utilities (especially for indoor/climate-controlled padel courts).

Expect staffing at 30–45% of operating costs, maintenance at 15–25%, and higher energy loads for LED lighting and HVAC in domes or enclosed halls.

Larger sites benefit from economies of scale in staffing and procurement; smaller sites show higher maintenance ratios.

Track energy intensity per booked hour; upgrade to smart lighting and occupancy-based controls to cut utility costs.

What are the key market trends in 2025?

• Explosive adoption of padel and pickleball drives new-build pipelines and cross-sport memberships.
• Multi-sport layouts and convertible spaces maximize utilization across weather and seasons.
• Digital bookings, performance tracking, and automated lighting raise yield per hour.
• Family-friendly programming and corporate wellness partnerships expand demand.
• Covered/insulated structures and domes compress payback periods in variable climates.

What challenges do padel center operators face?

• Intensifying competition in dense urban/suburban areas increases acquisition costs.
• Retention risk if programming plateaus or social elements fade.
• Regulatory/zoning delays for new indoor or covered builds.
• Energy price volatility impacting indoor operating margins.
• Coach hiring, training, and consistency of service quality.

Where are the best opportunities to grow and partner?

• School and university partnerships to fill weekday off-peak schedules.
• Corporate leagues and team-building packages for steady block bookings.
• Event-led growth: ladders, inter-club leagues, and tournaments with sponsors.
• Sustainability upgrades (LED, solar, insulation) to unlock incentives and lower OPEX.
• Hospitality tie-ups (hotels/resorts) to cross-sell destination play and camps.

It’s a key part of what we outline in the padel center business plan.

Table: Installed base and growth snapshot by sport (for padel center planning)

Use this table to benchmark local saturation and choose locations where padel supply lags demand.

It mixes global reference points with growth signals so you can calibrate your build size and ramp curve.

Table: Court mix and indoor/outdoor planning for a padel center

Target 4–9 padel courts at launch, with expansion capability if pre-sales exceed targets.

Prioritize covered or indoor formats in climates with >80 rainy/sweltering days to stabilize yield and pricing.

Table: Pricing architecture for a padel center

Blend memberships with dynamic court pricing and program fees to secure recurring revenue.

Create off-peak bundles and junior/academy tiers to raise utilization outside evenings and weekends.

Table: Operating cost structure and levers

Control staff scheduling, maintenance standards, and energy use to protect margins in an indoor padel center.

Adopt LED + smart controls and plan proactive surface care to cut lifetime costs.

Table: Revenue mix and scaling milestones

Track revenue composition monthly and expand when waitlists and league depth justify more courts.

Use milestones to time Phase 2 construction and preserve cash.

Conclusion

This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Readers are encouraged to consult with a qualified professional before making any investment decisions. We accept no liability for any actions taken based on the information provided.

Sources

1. Mordor Intelligence – Racket Sports Equipment Market
2. Grand View Research – U.S. Racket Sports Market
3. DataHorizzon – Racquet Sports Court Rental Market
4. Club + Resort Business – Top Ranked Racquet Facilities
5. Tennis NZ – National Facilities Guidelines
6. Tennis Professionals Assoc. Canada – 2019 Indoor Survey
7. Sports Venue Calculator – Tennis & Pickleball Domes
8. GlobeNewswire – U.S. Racket Sports Market 2025–2030
9. Gymdesk – Start Your Own Tennis Club
10. Mordor Intelligence – Tennis Equipment Market