Lethargic in Several Countries, Is the Hype for Padel Sports Fading?

Kapanlagi.com - Padel, a racket sport that originated from a combination of tennis and squash, has become a global phenomenon in recent years. From Europe to Asia, padel courts have been popping up. This sport has also attracted the attention of celebrities, influencers, and business people.

However, recent reports from Sweden signal that the hype around padel may be starting to fade in some countries, even to the point where hundreds of courts have to close. The question is, is this the end of the padel trend, or just a natural correction after rapid expansion?

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1. The Padel Crisis in Sweden

Sweden was once one of the largest centers for the development of padel in Europe. However, the situation has now reversed. Hundreds of padel courts have been forced to shut down due to intense competition, high operational costs, and a decline in usage outside of peak hours.

Large companies like We Are Padel, which is part of the LeDap group, have even filed for restructuring because most of their venues are no longer profitable. Reports indicate that up to 50 percent of courts are at risk of permanent closure.

A similar phenomenon is occurring in Gothenburg, where the major club Time 4 Padel, with 19 official courts, has announced its closure. International business media has referred to the situation in Sweden as a stark warning for the global padel trend, indicating that the euphoria of massive court construction could lead to financial ruin.

2. Is This a Sign of Declining Padel Hype?

Padel Sports Hype © KapanLagi.com/Adrian Utama Putra

Although many courts are closing, several sports analysts believe that this does not mean padel has been completely abandoned. On the contrary, the market is currently experiencing natural selection due to rapid and uncontrolled development. An extreme example occurred in Uppsala, where the number of courts skyrocketed from 14 to around 100 in just one year.

Other factors also play a role, such as rising electricity costs, building rents, and post-pandemic inflation. This situation has caused many operators who initially relied on the hype to no longer be able to survive. Thus, the case in Sweden reflects a market correction phase rather than a permanent decline in interest in padel.

3. Padel in Indonesia: Between Hype and Hope

Padel Sports Hype © KapanLagi.com/Adrian Utama Putra

Meanwhile, in Indonesia the situation is quite the opposite. Padel sports are still showing a significant growth trend. Data as of June 2025 recorded about 133 padel courts in Indonesia, with the largest concentration in Jabodetabek (40 percent) and Bali (30 percent). In fact, according to a report by The Jakarta Post, several clubs reported fully booked schedules every weekend, indicating high public enthusiasm.

Additionally, the data platform Poidata.io noted that there are about 63 padel court businesses spread across various provinces, with Bali (15 courts), Jakarta (12 courts), Banten (7 courts), and East Java (6 courts) being the areas with the largest concentration. This number is still relatively small compared to Sweden, so the growth opportunities for padel in Indonesia remain wide open.

The phenomenon of padel in Indonesia is also reinforced by the presence of celebrities. Atta Halilintar and his family have just built a modern padel court with a luxurious design.

Padel Club Indonesia in Bali features five indoor and outdoor courts that blend with the tropical natural ambiance. Not only that, Atta is also preparing a second court in the Pejaten area of Jakarta, with a similar concept.

The presence of supporting facilities such as cafes and modern changing rooms makes padel not just a sport, but also a lifestyle. This celebrity's step seems to indicate that padel is still very popular in Indonesia, especially as part of the urban lifestyle trend.

4. New Trend: Padel Meets Pilates

Padel Sports Hype © KapanLagi.com/Adrian Utama Putra

In the midst of this boom, a new trend is emerging among the Indonesian fitness community: padel combined with pilates. Although it is not yet as big as the padel trend itself, this combination is starting to be introduced in several clubs.

Called Padelates, this blend is designed to enhance padel playing performance with the body strengthening principles of Pilates. Additionally, Padelates can also refer to Pilates workouts specifically focused on padel players to achieve optimal mobility, balance, and strength.

5. Indonesia Must Be Cautious

Although the hype is still felt in Indonesia, industry players need to learn from Sweden's experience. Rapid expansion without considering market capacity risks creating an oversupply. Moreover, the maintenance costs for padel courts are not cheap, so a solid business strategy is necessary.

So far, Indonesia has not shown signs of oversupply. However, with plans to build dozens of new courts in the next two years, investors and managers need to be more cautious to ensure that the padel hype does not meet the same fate as in Sweden.

(kpl/tdr)