The blueprint for america's next sport ecosystem why racquet 360 is betting big on padel's stateside surge

In South Florida, new fitness trends don’t simply emerge—they create a blueprint.

The region has established itself as the premier incubator for sports and wellness concepts that begin as local sensations before scaling into global industries. From Zumba to Orange Theory to Barry’s (now headquartered in Miami), South Florida doesn’t just adopt lifestyle trends; it defines them for the rest of the world.

Now, a new movement is taking shape, trading enclosed studios for glass courts. Padel—the high-energy, social racquet sport that blends elements of tennis and squash—is firmly rooted in Miami, and the smart money is already planning its national expansion. Padel is growing fast in the U.S. and globally, with a surge in sports facilities built in recent years to meet rising demand. Many clubs in the U.S. are converting tennis courts into padel courts to meet growing demand. The U.S. padel sports market was valued at approximately $97 million in 2024 and is projected to reach around $174 million by 2034, highlighting the rapid growth and potential of the market. There are currently about 700 padel courts in the U.S., which is significantly fewer than in countries like Spain, creating an infrastructure gap and a clear need for more courts. Padel is gaining traction in the U.S. in a big way, with expectations for real acceleration in 2026 and 2027. While it has often been considered a niche sport in the U.S., padel is now rapidly transitioning to mainstream status.

Padel originated in Mexico in 1969 before spreading to Spain, Argentina, and globally.

Key Biscayne-based Racquet 360 recently announced that it has raised $9 million from a syndicate of sophisticated, sports-focused investors, including Sunrise Padel Capital, Profluence Capital, and Taktika Equity. This isn’t just a funding announcement; it’s a mission statement. Founded in 2023 by serial entrepreneur and former Nearpod co-founder Emiliano Abramzon, Racquet 360 aims to build a comprehensive, integrated ecosystem to support padel’s inevitable expansion into the United States.

The Padel Ecosystem: Beyond the Court and Padel Clubs

For Abramzon, a passionate sports enthusiast whose previous venture (Nearpod) achieved a landmark $650 million exit, padel represented the perfect synthesis of athletic passion and business potential. His vision with Racquet 360 is unique. Instead of focusing on just one facet of the sport, the company is developing a four-pronged approach that provides all the essential elements needed to scale the sport nationally. Racquet 360 is committed to sustainable growth, balancing rapid expansion with long-term viability by focusing on community engagement, quality coaching, and robust infrastructure.

One of the main obstacles for padel in the U.S. market is a lack of facilities. The demand to play is high, but clubs and courts are relatively inaccessible because they are expensive to build.

Abramzon’s goal is to manage the entire infrastructure of the sport through a single, sophisticated platform that integrates diverse business models. The U.S. padel market faces a significant infrastructure gap, with a high ratio of people per court compared to leading countries. “Each company is very different,” Abramzon explained to Refresh Miami. “You have the e-commerce platform… the clubs are a brick-and-mortar industry, but there are a lot of tech-enabled tools behind them. And the trade show also uses technology to organize meetings and help people connect during the event.” Racquet 360’s investment model for padel often integrates it with existing pickleball and tennis venues, creating hybrid racquet clubs to address these market challenges.

By tackling all of these verticals, Racquet 360 is attempting something rarely seen in emerging sports: building a cohesive, self-sustaining world game from the ground up.

South Florida: The Mecca of American Padel

It’s no accident that this innovation is radiating from South Florida. The region has become the absolute testing ground—the “absolute Mecca”—for padel’s cultural moment.

Currently, South Florida serves as an incubator for everything from high-profile tournaments like the Reserve Cup (with its record-breaking $1 million+ prize pool) to imaginative infrastructure projects, such as proposing courts on top of parking garages in Miami Beach. The sheer concentration of interest is unprecedented.

“Miami today is the absolute Mecca of padel in the U.S.,” Abramzon said. “I’d estimate that around 50 percent of the players in the country are here, and the concentration of clubs has no comparison.” Most padel courts in the U.S. are currently in private clubs or residential settings, but cities like Houston and New York—and the broader York region—are emerging as key markets for expansion. Dedicated padel facilities such as 'padel haus' in New York and Houston are playing a major role in expanding access and membership opportunities, helping to grow the sport’s footprint.

This critical mass isn’t just localized excitement; it’s a leading indicator. The narrative arc that began in Spain and Argentina has officially arrived in the U.S., using Miami as its launchpad.

High-profile tournaments and cultural momentum are being fueled by celebrities and pro athletes—David Beckham, Jimmy Butler, Lionel Messi, and Rafael Nadal have all been spotted playing padel, boosting its visibility and mainstream appeal. As padel carves out space alongside established sports, the United States Tennis Association remains a dominant force, but the rise of padel has led to the conversion of tennis courts and even pickleball courts, impacting the availability of courts for other racquet sports.

Padel’s appeal lies in its unique play style: the padel racquet resembles a pickleball paddle, and the lighter ball required for padel results in a lower, slower bounce. Combined with the smaller court, this demands good footwork and agility from players, making the sport both accessible and athletically engaging.

Final Thoughts: Preparing for the National Stage

While the momentum in Miami is undeniable, Racquet 360 is already looking toward the next great frontier.

The North American Pro Padel League (PPL) is experiencing a wave of investment in the U.S. market, with franchises being acquired at rising valuations. The PPL currently comprises 10 teams in nine cities across the United States, and some franchises are now valued at over $10 million. The PPL has also held discussions with streaming platforms to create content that showcases players and teams, aiming to increase visibility in the U.S. market. Player participation in padel in the U.S. has increased by 250% since 2022, with projections of up to 900,000 players by 2030. The U.S. is expected to lead countries with the most padel courts by around 2027, highlighting the rapid growth and potential of the national padel market.

“Today it’s almost nonexistent in mainstream America,” Abramzon said of padel. “But we expect padel to grow significantly in the U.S., and we want to be positioned to grow with the sport.”

The investment in Racquet 360 is proof of a growing conviction: padel is not just arriving in America; it’s being built for America. For players, investors, and clubs watching from beyond Florida’s borders, the message from the “Mecca” is clear. The blueprint is set, the funding is secured, and the global conversation is about to get a lot louder. American teams are beginning to compete internationally, further legitimizing padel as a competitive sport on the world stage.

The question is no longer if padel will expand nationally, but who will be mentally and structurally prepared to lead when it does.

The world game is on the move. And America is finally tuning in.