UK Padel Report Progress Update

Image Credit: OpenAI’s DALL·E

It has been some time since I last shared an update on our forthcoming UK Padel Report, and in that time there’s been solid progress on what I believe will be an influential report on the sport. I want to take a moment to bring you up to speed on what has been happening behind the scenes.

Padel continues to generate buzz and momentum across the UK, with its rapid rise showing no signs of slowing. The LTA has just launched a new five-year strategy document for padel across Great Britain (England, Scotland, and Wales) building on its mission to make the sport ‘accessible, welcoming, enjoyable and inspiring.’ The full strategy document can be read here.

Oxygen Consulting’s Commitment to Sustainable Padel Growth

For over 20 years, Oxygen Consulting has been objectively and methodically analysing how sports and physical activity are harnessed to enrich lives and improve public health. Consequently, I hope that our forthcoming padel report will be used as an important reference for sustainable padel growth.

Conducting a Comprehensive Audit of UK Padel Courts

A significant part of our work involves carrying out a comprehensive audit of padel courts across the entire United Kingdom. This builds on the LTA’s padel court data to understand pricing and the different operating models.

Stakeholder Interviews: Insights from Across the Padel Community

We also conducted a series of in-depth interviews with key UK Padel stakeholders. These interviews provided a diverse range of insights from facility operators and coaches to investors and passionate players. Each stakeholder offers a unique perspective on the opportunities and challenges facing the pad as it continues to grow. For example, several stakeholders discussed the need for increased investment in infrastructure, while others focused on the importance of developing grassroots programmes to nurture younger players. These conversations have been invaluable in shaping the narrative of our report, and I look forward to sharing more insights.

UK Padel Report Player Survey: Your Voice Matters

Our Padel Player Survey remains open, and we continue to encourage all players in the UK to participate. This survey will form the foundation of an important chapter in the report, focusing on player experience—the heart of the sport. Whether you are a casual player or a competitive regular, your insights will help paint a clearer picture of what it is like to be part of the UK’s growing community.

If you haven’t had a chance to complete the survey yet, I would encourage you to do so. Your input is essential to ensure that our report reflects the real experiences of players across the UK. You can take part in the survey by following this link.

Looking Ahead: What’s Next for UK Padel Growth?

As we look ahead to the completion of this report, the question that continues to surface is: how large will padel become relative to other established racket sports such as tennis, badminton, and squash? What we do know is that the sport is at a critical juncture. There’s growing interest from private investors, local authorities, and sports clubs, bringing opportunities and challenges. How we harness this interest to create a sustainable, thriving padel ecosystem will be pivotal in determining the sport’s future.

Get in Touch

I welcome any questions or comments you may have about the forthcoming report. I also want to collaborate with those interested in developing affordable community padel in England, especially sports clubs and local authorities. You can contact me here with your thoughts or ideas.