Insights, Ideas & Best Practices

Welcome to the SFN Blog – your go-to source for relevant knowledge, practical tools, and fresh perspectives on planning, building, and managing racquet sports facilities.

Here you’ll find curated content that covers every angle of the business: from strategic planning, architecture, and operations, to community building, programming, and technology. Each post is designed to help facility operators, investors, and partners navigate the evolving landscape of squash, padel, pickleball, and badminton.

No buzzwords – just experience, insight, and ideas that work.

Dive in, stay inspired, and let’s shape the future of racquet sports together.

ChatGPT: A padel player dives forward dramatically to reach the ball during an intense match in front of an enthusiastic crowd at an indoor padel arena

Padel Popularity: Global Surge in First Half of 2025

In the first half of 2025, global padel popularity significantly increased, marked by an 86% rise in tournaments, expanded international reach to 38 countries, and substantial growth in participants from 91 nations. Online engagement mirrored this trend, with notable increases in website traffic and social media interactions, underscoring padel’s rapid global expansion.

Ecosystem

Cover of the “Global Padel Report 2025” by Playtomic, featuring a stylized padel court line, a tennis ball, and a bright blue background with logos of Playtomic and Strategy&.

Padel Goes Global: Key Findings from the 2025 Playtomic Report

The 2025 Global Padel Report by Playtomic highlights a 26% surge in new clubs, over 7,000 new courts, and rapid expansion beyond traditional hotspots. Countries like the US, Indonesia, and Colombia are emerging as key markets. Digital platforms drive accessibility, while multi-racquet facilities and Olympic aspirations reshape the sport’s future. Padel is evolving into a global, tech-enabled, and commercially sustainable phenomenon.

Ecosystem

Padel in Europe: a look at France

Padel in France is growing but lags behind Italy, Spain, and Sweden, with only 3,021 courts (54% covered) and 21.5k inhabitants per court. Southern regions like Occitanie lead, while Burgundy-Franche-Comté trails. Key barriers include high construction costs, long permit times, and lower population density (120/km² vs. Italy’s 196). Despite this, recent acceleration shows promise, especially in Île-de-France, which has high density but fewer courts.

Ecosystem

Asia's Pickleball Revolution - Bold text highlighting the explosive growth of pickleball across Asia.

Asia: The Next Frontier for Pickleball – UPA Asia and YouGov research Released

Discover Asia's pickleball revolution! Groundbreaking UPA Asia & YouGov research reveals 1.9 billion Asians know pickleball, with 812 million trying it and 282 million playing monthly. Vietnam leads with 152% growth, followed by Malaysia (132%). Young adults (18-35) drive the trend, citing fun (35%), health (33%) and easy learning (31%) as top motivations. With 60% annual growth and India's 178M frequent players, pickleball is Asia's newest sports phenomenon.

Ecosystem

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