Padel is a racquet sport that is played by over 25 million people worldwide and is about to gain popularity in South Florida.
Padel X, one of the biggest padel clubs in the US, just opened at 141 NE 13 Terr. in Downtown Miami. It’s near the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts.
The Padel X ownership group has opened ten premium courts there, but that’s not where the trend will end. At the Miami club, this is just the beginning. Three Padel X clubs in South Florida will debut this year: this one, in West Palm Beach, one in Boca Raton, and one in West Palm Beach.
The ownership group of Padel X includes co-founders Juan Pablo Leria and Nalle Grinda, and together they are investing an initial $10 million in those first three clubs. Furthermore, in the next five years, the goal is to open thirty Padel X clubs around the United States.
The expansion of padel on the US and around the world
Globally, the sport is becoming more and more popular. Padel, for instance, might compete in its first Olympics in Brisbane, Australia, in 2032.
Even celebrities are catching the virus. Legendary soccer player Lionel Messi, who was born in Argentina and is currently at Inter Miami, has a deep passion for padel. The same can be said of British athletes like former World No. 1 tennis player Andy Murray and retired soccer great David Beckham, who is currently president and co-owner of Inter Miami. Padel courts are available at Rafael Nadal’s Mallorca tennis academy, where the Spanish star is ranked among the all-time greats in tennis.
It’s also becoming apparent to Americans. By the end of 2023, there were 70 padel venues and over 250 courts in the United States. From just 30 padel venues in 2022, that is a significant increase.
There is also an increase in tournaments. In 2022, the U.S. Padel Association held fifteen competitions. Last year, that number rose to 40. It is anticipated that there will be about 75 competitions this year.
