Padel has attested to its explosive growth in France in 2025. According to the latest study published by the French Tennis Federation (FFT) and the Centre for Law and Economics of Sport (CDES), this discipline now sits at the heart of the socio-economic weight of tennis and related activities. Played at least once a year by 40% of registered adult members and supported by the continuous growth of courts and tournaments, padel is emerging as a significant economic driver for clubs, local communities, and the broader French sports sector.
A Sector Worth 1.5 Billion Euros
The study released in November 2025 estimates the socio-economic weight of tennis and associated disciplines at 1.5 billion euros annually in France. This figure is divided into four pillars:
Licenses: 575 million euros (38.2%)
Clubs: 31.1%, or 468 million euros
Tournaments: 240 million euros (15.9%)
223 million euros (14.8%) for federal agencies and central offices
Within this framework, padel is emerging as one of the main engines of economic diversification, particularly within clubs.
Padel Among Members of the FFT
The study highlights a key statistic: 40% of FFT’s adult members played padel at least once during the year. This confirms that padel is no longer a complementary activity but a consolidated practice in everyday sporting life.
Another important factor is that 65% of padel players say they play for leisure, which explains much of its economic appeal through court rentals, events, and amateur tournaments.
Limited but Growing Availability
Despite enthusiasm among players, padel’s availability in FFT clubs remains limited. Currently, only 11% of clubs offer padel, while 29% plan to introduce it soon. The study points out that the initial investment required—courts, construction, and coverings—remains a barrier, especially for smaller clubs. Larger clubs with more than 500 license holders are integrating padel more easily into their offerings.
Financial Impact for Clubs and Families
Padel’s economic contribution can also be measured at the family level. The average annual household expenditure for padel is €232, compared with €402 for tennis overall. From the club perspective, hourly rentals of tennis and padel courts generate 38 million euros annually, confirming padel’s role in new economic models.
Employment, Volunteering, and a Strong Ecosystem
The study emphasizes the structural strength of the sector:
73% of clubs are employers
7,255 full-time equivalent employees in clubs
3,645 self-employed workers
77,000 active volunteers, representing 28 million hours annually or 15,500 full-time equivalents
The economic value of volunteering is estimated at 483 million euros per year
Padel fits seamlessly into this ecosystem, strengthening club activity, local employment, and community involvement.
Infrastructure and Participation
Structurally, padel is already well established:
2,918 certified padel courts
30,655 padel tournaments organized (compared with 47,943 tennis tournaments)
1.23 million FFT license holders
1.5 million total practitioners
These figures confirm padel’s growing scale, making it an essential discipline in the French sports landscape.
Padel as a Strategic Priority
The study positions padel as a strategic development focus for the FFT: attracting new audiences, diversifying club revenues, revitalizing regions, and serving as a natural complement to tennis. In the medium term, padel’s rise could further strengthen the sector’s overall economic weight, provided clubs receive support in terms of investment, facilities, and structured activities.
