7 tips to increase the occupancy rate of padel courts in your Club

The occupancy rate of padel courts is one of the most important performance indicators for any padel club. Empty courts mean lost revenue, underused fixed costs and missed opportunities to retain players.

In this article, we share proven and practical strategies to increase the occupancy rate of padel courts, combining efficient club management, digital marketing and a better player experience.

Analyse low-occupancy time slots

Before trying to fill your courts, you need to understand when they are empty.

Key questions:

• Which time slots have the lowest occupancy rate?

• Are there differences between weekdays and weekends?

• Are there seasonal drops in demand?

Many clubs discover that off-peak hours (weekday mornings and afternoons) represent the biggest growth opportunity.

Create targeted offers for off-peak hours

One of the most effective ways to increase the padel court occupancy rate is to adapt your pricing and offers to real demand.

Examples:

• Reduced prices during off-peak hours

• Weekly or monthly packages for frequent players

• Padel “happy hour” campaigns

• Recurring bookings with discounted rates

The goal is not to lower prices overall, but to monetise time slots that currently generate no revenue.

Make the booking process as easy as possible

The harder it is to book a court, the higher the drop-off rate.

Best practices:

• Online bookings available 24/7

• Automatic booking confirmations

• Simple and fast payments

• Clear cancellation rules

An intuitive booking system significantly increases court occupancy, especially among casual players.

Reduce no-shows and last-minute cancellations

Courts that are booked but not used are a common issue in padel club management.

Effective solutions:

• Advance payments

• Clear cancellation policies

• Automatic waiting lists

• Notifications for available courts

These measures help recover lost bookings and keep courts active.

Promote organised games and regular events

Not all players have partners available at the same time. Helping players find games is a powerful way to increase occupancy.

Practical ideas:

• Level-based games (beginner, intermediate, advanced)

• Internal leagues and rankings

• Weekly or monthly tournaments

• Social events (games + community moments)

Organised games increase player frequency and build habits.

Focus on community, not just bookings

Clubs with strong communities naturally achieve higher occupancy rates.

How to build a community:

• Regular communication with players

• Incentives for repeat play

• Easy onboarding for new players

• Consistent experience on and off the court

Engaged players play more often — and bring other players with them.

Use data to make better decisions

Data-driven management allows you to optimise pricing, schedules and promotions.

Key metrics to track:

• Occupancy rate per court

• Occupancy rate per time slot

• Average player frequency

• Cancellation rate

With the right data, clubs can adjust strategies quickly and maximise results.

The next step

Increasing the occupancy rate of padel courts doesn’t rely on a single tactic, but on the combination of efficient management, simple processes and a strong focus on player experience.

Clubs that analyse data, simplify bookings and invest in community can turn empty hours into recurring revenue — without increasing fixed costs.

Want to see how padel clubs are increasing court occupancy through smarter digital management? Discover how it works with TieManager.