America has reached a significant milestone in the growth of padel, opening its 1000th court at Thesis Hotel in Coral Gables, Miami. Just five years ago, the sport was virtually unknown in the United States, but now it has spread to 37 states, becoming a serious challenger to pickleball in the recreational racket sports market.
Rapid expansion
The United States Padel Association (USPA) projects that by 2030 there will be 20,000 courts and 15 million players nationwide. Membership in the USPA grew by more than 50% in the past year, with the organization backing the debut season of US National Padel, an amateur competition that featured over 160 teams from 19 clubs across 37 cities.
National Padel League and RacquetX
The National Padel League has become a central part of the sport’s growth, with its finals held in March. Finalists received passes to the RacquetX expo in Fort Lauderdale, a major racket sports conference that has been promoting padel since 2024. The event drew more than 5,000 attendees, including NFL star Jarvis Landry, alongside entrepreneurs and over 125 companies, highlighting the sport’s increasing appeal.
Professional investment
The Pro Padel League (PPL), based in North America, is the only professional padel league in the world, featuring 10 teams from the US, Canada, and Mexico. Team valuations have soared, with the Los Angeles Beat purchased for $10 million and the Toronto Polar Bears valued at $25 million. The league itself secured $15 million in Series A funding led by Charlotte Hornets co-chairman Rick Schnall, following a $10 million round in 2025. Schnall expressed his ambition: “The hope is that the PPL established itself as a premier sports property.”
Padel’s rise in the US is further supported by Premier Padel’s P1 tournament in Miami, which sold out in its debut year in 2025 and maintained strong demand in 2026. With investment, infrastructure, and growing popularity, the sport is positioning itself as a major player in the American racket sports scene, aiming to produce top-level talent and rival the global dominance of Spain and Argentina.
