Property+Padel made its Stateside debut in New Jersey last week and was told that “collaboration, not competition” should be the watchwords in the sport’s early stages of growth in the U.S.
The corporate networking series that bridges the real estate and padel industries made its bow in the UK last October at Padium in London’s Canary Wharf. Its introduction to the States was held at Padel United Sports Club last Wednesday (22 January) in front of 70 of the American padel and real estate industries’ leading investors, operators, land owners and developers, financiers and tech entrepreneurs in attendance.
Five-time French national padel champion turned Miami padel pioneer and Padel X co-founder, Nalle Grinda, declared that “true competition” is years away and that “we’re in an era where collaboration, not competition, should be the lens through which we view this sport and the huge opportunity it provides the United States.”
Grinda’s sentiment was echoed by other star speakers on stage, with former world no.1 and now leader of IMG Padel, Hernan Auguste, making a special appearance alongside Playtomic co-founder Pablo Carro; Padel Solutions and Portico USA CEO, Eric Loftus; CBRE Senior VP Michael Belissimo, visionary Bounce Ping Pong Founder, Dov Penczik, Senior VP and International Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch, Jared Finkelstein; President and co-founder of Toronto’s T.10 Padel Club, Marco Massarotto; and co-founder of Padel United Sports Club and Cure Companies, Jon Krieger.
The event focussed heavily on club development, investment strategies and the rising trajectory of padel in North America. The emergence of wellness within padel clubs – a trend that seems an increasingly American phenomenon – was highlighted regularly throughout the day.
Auguste highlighted: “I have been fortunate enough to visit many padel facilities all over the world, but for a facility that encompasses modern wellness and the sport of padel under one roof, I’ve never seen it delivered to this standard – in any country.”
In a session dedicated to data-driven insights of 80% of Playtomic’s best performing clubs, Playtomic co-founder Carro revealed the key ingredients for clubs to succeed. Carro’s data illustrated that the best performing clubs are:
- in metropolitan areas
- padel-only indoor clubs
- have more than eight courts
- have a dual pay and play and membership model
- offer a diverse range of amenities and services
- have over 120 games played on each court on a monthly basis
- have an offering on the highest price
- have 70% of activity generated and paid for through the Playtomic app
During an insightful talk on club development and investment opportunities, Loftus (President of Northeast Padel and Cape & Island Tennis and Track and now with new venture Padel Solutions) highlighted the benefit of having homegrown U.S. suppliers, partnering with reputable Spanish brands and undergrowing comprehensive training from court manufacturers.
Loftus also spoke about the trend of playing multiple racket sports, stressing: “Love it or hate it, pickleball is getting a racket in people’s hands, and that can only be a good thing. There’s no doubt pickleball players will eventually explore padel, too.”
Senior Vice President of CBRE, Michael Belissimo spoke of the growing appetite for padel amongst real estate brokers in Canada, explaining that CBRE receives “at least 10 calls per week to enquire about padel facilities.”
Other key takeaways from the event
- Creating the perfect padel environment
Nalle Grinda (founder, Padel X Miami) highlighted the importance of crafting an optimal playing environment. From court orientation and materials to lighting and lounge areas, every detail plays a role in player experience. Nalle also emphasised collaboration between clubs to create a thriving community, noting that the average padel player competes at 6-7 different clubs.
- Wellness & Padel: A Winning Combination
Jonathan Krieger (co-founder, Padel United Sports Club) shared Padel United’s unique approach, integrating wellness and fitness with padel to attract a broader audience. He stressed the importance of strategic location planning to avoid market cannibalisation and how hitting a critical mass of active players accelerates growth. His advice to aspiring club owners: engage local authorities early to navigate zoning and permits efficiently and prevent costly delays.
- Sponsorship and investment in padel
Jared Finkelstein (SVP, Merrill Lynch & Bullpadel USA Ambassador) addressed the financial sector’s slow entry into padel sponsorships, citing lack of awareness as the primary barrier. However, as tournament visibility increases, and platforms like ESPN provide coverage, major financial firms are expected to invest significantly in padel.
- Technology and the future of padel
Dov Penzik (co-founder, Bounce Ping Pong) underscored the importance of integrating advanced tech into padel, including high-speed cameras for real-time tracking and performance analytics. This technology will not only enhance player experience but also drive engagement at professional and amateur levels.
- Padel growth in North America: U.S. vs. Canada
Marco Massarotto (Co-Founder, T.10 Padel Club) highlighted the challenges and opportunities in Canada, where padel awareness lags behind the U.S. However, with strategic placements in multi-sport facilities (offering soccer, basketball, and volleyball) and growing player demand, Canada is poised for rapid padel expansion.
What’s Next for Property+Padel?
Following the success of the New Jersey debut, founders Rohit Grewal and Ben Nichols confirmed the next Property+Padel event will take place in Miami on March 20, 2025, at Padel X. This event will continue bringing together key players in real estate and padel, further cementing padel’s place in the North American sports landscape.
Grewal and Nichols said: “By bringing together many of the leading lights of the U.S.’ padel scene, today marked the start of this next chapter for the sport in what promises to be a transformative year.
“There was a collective feeling here in New Jersey that, together, real estate and padel are on the cusp of something great. The imminent boom we all expect in the U.S. padel industry will only materialize as these two sectors collaborate and build the sport, together. Today marked a moment of that shared recognition – from here, the sport is ready to build and build.”
