Ecosystem | Racquet Sports Institute

Navigating the Ecosystem: Trends & Market Insights

Decision-grade data and pattern recognition across racquet sports—so every stakeholder can act with clarity. Informed by forty years of facility experience, we map participation, pricing, formats, and unit economics across squash, padel, pickleball, badminton, and more—showing what works, what doesn’t, and where to grow next. Get demand hotspots and participation trajectories, model-level performance benchmarks and unit economics, emerging concepts and shifting consumer expectations, plus comparable sets that turn noise into direction.

Data-Driven Insights into the Evolving World of Leisure

Participation is the growth engine — Sport Industry Report 2025

Sport Industry Report 2025 spotlights participation as the primary growth driver. The funnel widens to include wellness and everyday movement, not just formal sport. Durable growth depends on clear grassroots-to-elite pathways and inclusive venue design. Gen Z behaviors and creator-led media act as acquisition gateways, while tech blends physical and digital experiences. Policy and capital are converging on mass-participation projects; content must be strategic to convert and

New Insights Redefine the Future of Padel in the United States

The 2025 State of Padel in the US Report highlights the sport’s rapid rise and unique U.S. trajectory. While infrastructure lags behind Europe, growth is accelerating with indoor-first expansion, smart club models, and surging equipment sales. Unified competition structures and the World Padel Rating are bringing order to the market. Yet challenges remain—especially coaching gaps and risks of overbuilding. For investors and operators, disciplined strategy is key.

Eighteen Minutes: Sport’s Fight for Fan Attention

Sport is competing in the attention economy. Red Torch finds fans give roughly 18 minutes of daily social time to sport while hundreds of thousands of accounts fight for it. Passion doesn’t equal consumption; relevance must be earned. The winners create participation through authentic communities, agile club partnerships and culture-led events, and by entering the wellness conversation. Measuring minutes of attention becomes the benchmark for sponsorship value and long-term g

PSA Squash Tour Prize Money Up 18% to Record $12.5M Following 2024-25 Season

The PSA Squash Tour hit a historic high in 2024-25 with $12.5M in player compensation, marking an 18.4% rise from the previous season. This follows the rollout of a new tour structure aimed at long-term stability ahead of squash's LA28 Olympic debut. With 1,019 events across 70 countries and balanced earnings between top male and female players, the season reflects PSA’s commitment to global growth, financial equity, and athlete opportunity.

Paradigm Shift in Government Sports Policy: From Elite Focus to Mass Participation in Racquet Sports

G20 governments are shifting from elite sport funding to policies promoting mass participation for public health. Racquet sports—tennis, badminton, squash, table tennis, padel, and pickleball—are well-positioned in this new era. Their health benefits, inclusivity, and rising popularity offer strategic opportunities for facilities to partner with public sectors, engage underserved groups, and access infrastructure funding to thrive within the evolving policy landscape.

ChatGPT: A padel player dives forward dramatically to reach the ball during an intense match in front of an enthusiastic crowd at an indoor padel arena

Padel Popularity: Global Surge in First Half of 2025

In the first half of 2025, global padel popularity significantly increased, marked by an 86% rise in tournaments, expanded international reach to 38 countries, and substantial growth in participants from 91 nations. Online engagement mirrored this trend, with notable increases in website traffic and social media interactions, underscoring padel’s rapid global expansion.

2 3 4 5

Country Reports: Local Insights, Global Context

Local nuance meets global pattern recognition. Every market is different—but success leaves clues. The Racquet Sports Institute Country Reports deliver extensive, country-specific analyses that unpack developments and current situations in depth. We combine on-the-ground research with comparable global benchmarks to translate signal into strategy—highlighting growth opportunities, risks, and clear next steps.

The Quiet Revolution: How Kanzy El Defrawy is Reinventing Squash in the UAE

After an injury ended her pro career, Kanzy El Defrawy arrived in Dubai seeking anonymity and found a city full of squash courts but no system. She built The Flying Daf Academy from scratch, pushed for federation pathways, educated parents, and expanded to 12 sites. Next comes a true home: a seven-court hub inside the green-financed AllSports Arena in Al Quoz, opening Dec 2025/early 2026—uniting training, leagues, and national ambitions.

New Insights Redefine the Future of Padel in the United States

Michelle Martin’s Vision: Squash for Everyone in Australia

Australia’s squash revival hinges on shifting from aging, privately owned courts to council-run, multi-sport hubs. Michelle Martin shows how advocacy through state bodies unlocks funding and access. Case studies: a like-for-like rebuild at North Manly (still just three courts) and a push for Willoughby’s private centre to become a community racquet hub. Aligned with ASC’s Play Well strategy, plans should prioritise informal play, modular design and 4–6 court clusters.

Jack Wang and Tengfei Squash Club: A Case Study of Squash’s Rise in China

Squash is booming in China, led by Jack Wang’s Tengfei Squash Club (FSC) in Shanghai. A former national champion, Wang built FSC into a multi-branch hub with elite coaching, youth focus, and global ties. With squash joining the Olympics and national support growing, FSC is poised to shape the sport’s future in China.

England’s 10-Year Health Plan: Impact on Racquet Sports Facilities

England’s 10-Year Health Plan will inject £400 million into community sport infrastructure. The SFN analyzes how this public investment impacts racquet sports facilities, especially Squash, Padel, and Pickleball. Opportunities include visibility and school integration, while risks arise from subsidized competition. Public-private cooperation is key to sustainable growth.

Spotlight on Austria: The Story Behind the Austrian Squash Challenge

Discover the inspiring story behind the Austrian Squash Challenge, led by 19-time national champion Aqeel Rehman. From grassroots outreach to hosting a PSA tournament in a busy Salzburg mall, this initiative is redefining squash in Austria. With kids’ programs, public engagement, and long-term vision, it’s a powerful example of how passion and perseverance can revive a sport — one court and one community at a time.

2 3