Tennis clubs across Europe are facing a membership crisis — but those adding padel are reversing the trend. A padel tennis club attracts younger players, retains existing members, and generates new revenue with minimal investment. Here’s why thousands of clubs have already made the switch.
Why Tennis Clubs Are Losing Members — and What the Data Shows
The numbers from the German Tennis Association (DTB) tell a clear story. Between 2019 and 2020, German tennis clubs continued to lose members — falling to a low of 1,366,137. The decline was most acute among players aged 15 to 40, exactly the audience clubs need to survive long-term.
According to DTB data, only 28% of all registered tennis members are aged between 15 and 40. Meanwhile, 55% of members are over 40, and 26% are already over 60. Without fresh membership, many clubs face an existential challenge within a decade.
DTB Membership, Club & Court Development (Germany) 2019–2025
| Year | Members | Courts | Clubs |
|---|---|---|---|
|
2019 |
1.370.801
|
45.916
|
8.768 |
|
2020 |
1.366.137
|
45.936
|
8.740 |
|
2021 |
1.382.824
|
45.857
|
8.718 |
|
2022 |
1.444.711 |
45.612 |
8.728 |
|
2023 |
1.475.131 |
45.260
|
8.722
|
|
2024 |
1.491.386 |
44897 |
8.685 |
|
2025 |
1.517.087 |
44.454 |
8.640 |
Source: DTB
Padel Club vs Tennis Club: The Membership Impact
The DTB figures confirm what clubs across Europe are experiencing first-hand. Since 2021, German tennis clubs have grown their membership for five consecutive years — adding over 150,000 members. The growth tracks directly with padel expansion:
- Significant increase in members aged 18–40
- Higher court booking rates across both padel and tennis
- Improved retention as players engage with both sports
- New revenue streams including padel coaching and social leagues.
Padel: The Complementary Sport That's Saving Tennis Clubs
Padel is not a replacement for tennis — it is a complement. The two sports share similar rules, court logic, and culture, which means existing tennis members take to padel quickly. More importantly, padel draws in players who would never have joined a traditional tennis club.
Spain’s experience over 20 years shows exactly what is possible: padel has helped thousands of tennis clubs attract new members, increase court utilisation, and build a more sustainable business model. Today, over 2.5 million people play padel in Spain on more than 12,000 courts — many of them at clubs that started as purely tennis facilities.
Why Padel Works for Club Operators
Adding a padel tennis club offer gives operators a proven formula for growth:
- Easy to learn — most beginners can have a fun first game within one hour
- Social by design — played in doubles (4 players per court), driving bookings and member retention
- Appeals to all ages — from teenagers to seniors, padel is low-impact and highly enjoyable
- High court utilisation — courts can run 12–16 hours per day with minimal staff
- Revenue upside — guest fees, memberships, coaching, and club shop all benefit
- Low barrier to play — no previous racket sports experience required
Use the potential of padel to your advantage for your club. For young and old, promotes rejuvenation among your members, attracts new members and achieves better customer retention rates.
How to Add Padel Courts to Your Tennis Club
A standard outdoor padel court measures 10m × 20m — smaller than a tennis court — which means most clubs can install one or more courts without removing existing tennis infrastructure.
- Site assessment — our team evaluates your available space and groundwork requirements
- Court selection — choose from indoor, outdoor, panoramic, or enclosed court designs
- Planning & permitting — we guide you through any local authority requirements
- Installation — typically 5–10 working days for a standard outdoor court
- Handover & support — full commissioning, staff briefing, and ongoing technical support.
📌 Padelcreations is ISO 9001 certified and has delivered padel courts across the UK, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and wider Europe.
.
FAq
Yes. Padel courts are compact (10m × 20m) and can be installed in unused areas, car parks, or alongside existing tennis courts without disrupting play.
Yes. Padel is particularly popular among the 18–40 age group. Clubs in Spain and Germany have reported significant membership growth after introducing padel.
A standard outdoor padel court can be installed in 3 working days. Padelcreations handles the full process from planning to handover.
Ready to turn your tennis club into a thriving padel club? Talk to our project team. We have delivered padel courts for clubs across the UK, Germany, and Europe.
→ Contact Padelcreations: https://www.padelcreations.com/contact/
