On any given day, drive down Willow Grove Avenue past the Philadelphia Cricket Club and you'll see four glass-enclosed courts buzzing with activity. Players dash around in doubles matches, sending balls ricocheting off walls in a dynamic dance that looks like a hybrid of tennis and squash.

This is Padel. Until 2020, the sport was virtually unknown in Philadelphia, but in just four years it has transformed from a pandemic-era curiosity into the fastest-growing game in the region's thriving racket sports scene. The Cricket Club's state-of-the-art facility in Chestnut Hill – now among the most popular spots in the club – represents just one example of the sport's explosive growth, and is part of a global trend that's projected to become a $6 billion industry by 2026.

Philadelphia's padel story began in early 2020 with two recreational courts in Manayunk, just as the sport was gaining momentum worldwide. In Spain, it had already become second only to soccer in popularity, and across Europe and Latin America, the game that originated in Mexico in the late 1960s was experiencing explosive growth. The United States Padel Association (USPA) would soon report similar enthusiasm, with membership surging from 325 members in 2021 to over 2,500 in 2024, and USPA-registered clubs more than tripling from 30 in 2022 to over 100 today.

Locally, the timing proved perfect. When Covid forced most indoor facilities to close, these outdoor courts became an unexpected sanctuary for local racket sports enthusiasts.

"We realized we had more than 150 members playing at these courts," said Rich Wade, who oversees both Padel and Squash at the Philadelphia Cricket Club. At the time, padel courts were rare in the U.S., with only a handful in Florida and Texas.

"During the deepest, darkest COVID, we were thinking lots of weird things," he recalls. "I approached the club and said, 'I don't know that this community is going to come back to squash, one, from a health standpoint, but two, this sport is wild, and everyone is enjoying it.'"

It was a leap of faith for the historic club. And the decision wasn't easy. 

"We met with the community a few times, at St. Martin's Church, where people expressed some concerns," Wade says. "They'd heard about the noise generated by pickleball, and there was also the fact that we were talking about putting them right on the front lawn of the club – which is sort of a sacred space."

The investment has more than justified their choice. "We just ran the numbers for our 2024 data, and on just those four courts, we've had 15,500 people play,” Wade says. “That makes it the racquet sport with the highest participation rate in the club.”

It’s the nature of the game itself that explains this enthusiastic adoption. Played as doubles on an enclosed court roughly a third the size of a tennis court, padel combines elements of several racket sports while eliminating many of their barriers to entry. The grass turf surface is easier on players' joints than hard courts, while the glass walls allow for exciting ricochets that keep the ball in play. Serves must be hit underhand, reducing shoulder strain, and the shorter racket offers better control. Teams can also move as coordinated units rather than in the staggered formation common in tennis, making the game more social and strategic.

Rich Sheppard, a PCC club member and PCC’s Padel committee chair who remains a nationally ranked squash player in his 60s says the sport's gentler nature is what first drew him in. 

"The sport is much easier on your body than tennis or squash, but you still get a great workout – and pretty much anyone can have fun with it," he says. "I've seen people that I would classify as completely unathletic having an unbelievable amount of fun that they never thought they could have in any athletic endeavor."

Now, other local clubs come to study the Cricket Club's success as a model. "That's great for the club, and it makes me as the leader of the program feel really good," Wade says. "It's like, 'Wow, we did it the right way.'"

These facilities include Merion Cricket Club, Lower Merion, Aronimink, and Newton Square. A commercial facility operates in Bala Cynwyd, and this spring, a major development called Ballers is coming to Northern Liberties, bringing a $10-15 million investment to the Battery, a repurposed PECO power plant along the Delaware River. Closer to home, Magarity Tennis Club in Flourtown is also planning a total conversion to Padel. 

It’s a growth that mirrors global trends. According to a comprehensive analysis by Playtomic and Monitor Deloitte, the total padel ecosystem is currently valued at approximately $2 billion, with court construction and operations accounting for $1.45 billion, equipment retail at $568 million, and professional/media segments at $51.6 million. The number of courts worldwide is expected to grow from around 40,000 currently to 85,000 by 2026.

The U.S. market, while still in what analysts call the "beginning" phase, shows tremendous potential. The USPA projects growth to 30,000 courts by 2030, up from about 180 in 2022. Recent developments suggest this might be achievable – the New York Yankees' investment in the A1 Padel Circuit Tour signals growing institutional interest in developing the American market.

Philadelphia appears particularly well-positioned for this growth. The Playtomic report identifies several key factors that benefit the region: a strong tennis culture and infrastructure, a social population base, and high interest in new sports activities. Their research shows that the sport's appeal goes beyond just exercise – 73% of players compete at multiple clubs, and most plan additional social activities after matches.

For experienced players, the sport offers fascinating tactical depth. "Tennis players have an advantage," Sheppard notes, "because they volley the ball better. They're more likely to feel comfortable going to the net and hitting aggressive volleys. Squash players are great with the walls, but they don't go to net as well, and that's where you want to be to put pressure on your opponents."

But perhaps most striking is how quickly new players can enjoy the game. Unlike tennis or squash, which can take months or years before players become proficient enough for extended rallies, padel offers almost immediate gratification. Beginners can engage in 10-15 shot exchanges in their very first session, thanks to the contained court space and forgiving play dynamics.

This accessibility explains the rapid adoption, Wade says. At PCC, he’s seen approximately 1,300 members try the sport in just 18 months, with about 1,000 playing regularly. He’s responding with ladder systems, member-guest tournaments, monthly social events, and clinics – though he is careful to maintain open court time for casual play.

Other clubs report similar enthusiasm, and local facilities are developing robust programming to support this interest. One in every five padel clubs globally opened in 2022 alone, suggesting the infrastructure will continue expanding to meet demand.

Wade, who suggested that the club take the initial leap of faith during Covid, now sees that early vision being realized across the city. "We're creating something special here in Philadelphia," he says. "It's not just about building courts – it's about building community. And that's what this sport does better than any other I've seen."