top of page
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.
Search
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.
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.
Over 400,000 players: LTA unveils latest figures on growth of Padel in Britain
Padel is booming in Great Britain: Over 400,000 people played in 2024 – up from just 15,000 in 2019. Court numbers have reached 893 across 300 venues, backed by £6 million in LTA investment. Community outreach is strong, with over 75% of venues offering inclusive programmes.
Eurostat Insights: Rising Consumer Spending on Active Sports Participation
Eurostat data shows rising prices in active sports—squash included—highlighting strong demand and market acceptance.
UK Health & Fitness Market Report 2025: Key Insights for Racquet Sports Facilities
Explore key insights from the UK Health & Fitness Market Report 2025—motivations, trends, and growth strategies tailored for racquet sports
Participation in Sport Clubs and School Sport Clubs by Children and Young People in Japan – Insights from the Survey "White Paper on Sports in Japan"
Insights from Sasakawa Sports Foundation’s White Paper 2023: Survey in participation of Japanese children and young people in sport
Participation - Exploring the Role of Involvement in Recreational Tennis and Implications for Other Racket Sports
Discover how involvement levels boost tennis re-participation and inspire strategies for all racket sports—boosting engagement worldwide.
Europe’s Squash Scene: A Court Fee Survey
Discover SFN’s global squash cost survey—compare Pay & Play vs. Membership models, pricing differences, and what truly drives success.
Insights from The Sport Industry Report 2025: Opportunities for Squash Facilities
Discover key insights from The Sport Industry Report 2025, focusing on innovation, sustainability, and participation.
Squash (Sport) Market Size, Share, Growth, and Industry Analysis, and Regional Insight and Forecast to 2032
The global squash market is undergoing significant development, and a new market study provides comprehensive insights into its trends.
Key Trends Shaping Private Clubs in 2025
Explore 2025's evolving club trends, from sustainability to tech, fostering vibrant, future-forward membership experiences worldwide.
The Strava Trend Report: Lessons for Squash Facilities from a Broader Fitness World
Learn from Strava’s 2024 report trends to inspire community, balance, and growth for squash facilities worldwide.
Squash Ireland Club Survey 2024: Growth, Challenges, and Future Plans
The Squash Ireland Club Survey 2024Â offers a clear view of the current state and future potential of squash in Ireland.
Squash Global Report 2024: The Diversity of Squash Facilities and their Business Models
The Squash Global Report 2024 offers fascinating insights into the world of squash facilities, revealing a variety of models and business...
Global Squash Report 2024 released: Unveiling Key Findings
There are many ways to view the sport of squash, depending on the motivations and desires of different stakeholders. Players seek...
The Pivotal Role of Squash Facilities in the Global Ecosystem
The Global Squash Report 2024 delves into the squash ecosystem, valued at approximately €4 billion globally
The future of squash: integration into multifunctional sports facilities
"In the future, people with changing health and sports needs will flock to multi-sport facilities that offer individual and team sports,...
Pioneering study sheds light on Europe's squash landscape
The Squash Facilities Network (SFN) is conducting a comprehensive study that offers, for the first time, a deep insight into the...
Characteristics of Squash Players - A Deep Dive into Socioeconomic Status and Gender Bias
As part of our commitment to providing valuable insights for successful business strategies in squash, the Squash Facilities Network...
Participation in Sport - Eurostat's 2020 Sport Participation Study
Squash has long been characterized as a pastime primarily for older, affluent men. Yet, sporting federations are now putting concerted...
bottom of page