From Uber's CEO to hedge fund founders, the courts are filling up—courts grew 45% in under a year, and with CNBC national broadcasts, infrastructure, capital, and media are converging
The U.S. padel market has crossed an infrastructure threshold. From fewer than 20 courts in 2019, the country passed the 1,000-court mark in early April 2026—up roughly 45% from 688 courts in Q2 2025, in less than a year.
The number of states with courts expanded from 31 to 37, and 39% of all courts are indoor facilities, anchoring a year-round business model. What is driving this growth is not the mass market but capital. As The Information reported on July 4, tech and finance elites—Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi and Coatue Management founder Philippe Laffont among them—have taken up the sport as both players and investors, turning padel into a networking hub and a trophy asset.