The world of sports is constantly evolving, and in recent years, Spain has witnessed a phenomenon that has revolutionized sports leisure: paddle tennis. So much so, that according to the most recent reports from the Spanish Paddle Federation, it is the country with the most paddle clubs in Europe, reaching 3,800 in total. This padel boom has transformed the sports and real estate landscape, attracting investments and promoting the construction of specialized facilities; In fact, the report Global Padel Report 2023prepared by Deloitte and Playtomic, estimates that the padel business will have reached 6,000 million euros by 2026.
Now, a new sport is following in their footsteps and promises to make a similar impact: pickleball. This sport, which combines elements of tennis, badminton and ping-ponghas grown spectacularly in the United States and is already beginning to gain popularity in Spain. So much so that it is expected that, as happened with paddle tennis, pickleball will capture the attention of players, investors and real estate developers, promoting the development of new facilities and consolidating itself as another emerging sports trend in the country.
What is pickleball? Pickleball is a racket sport of American origin that is played on a court smaller than tennis, with a low net, and a perforated ball. Plus, it’s easy to learn, for all ages and skill levels, and very dynamic. These features have helped its popularity soar, especially among players looking for a more relaxed alternative to tennis or padel.
To understand the potential impact of pickleball on the Spanish real estate sector, it is enough to analyze what has happened with paddle tennis in recent years. Its popularity has prompted the creation of sports clubs, private facilities and residential complexes that include paddle tennis courts as an additional attraction for buyers. This phenomenon has not only transformed the design of new residential developments, but has also revalued properties close to sports facilities.
In cities such as Madrid, Barcelona, and coastal areas, the demand for homes with access to paddle tennis courts has increased, and real estate developers have taken advantage of this trend to differentiate their projects. Furthermore, the inclusion of sports courts in residential complexes has been a key strategy to attract young buyers and families looking for leisure options within their own developments.
The growth of pickleball in Spain presents a similar opportunity to that of paddle tennis, with the potential to significantly affect the real estate market. One of the factors that makes pickleball especially attractive to real estate developers is the reduced space it requires compared to other racquet sports. A pickleball court takes up about half the space of a tennis court.and they can also be built both outdoors and indoors. This allows more runways to be built in limited areas, optimizing the use of land in urban developments, which surely has an impact on the profitability of investments with respect to the space or land needed and the subsequent cost of construction and even rental of the runways.
