Padel in Portugal: Growth, players, and the role of technology in the new era of club management

Padel in Portugal has evolved from a passing trend into a true national phenomenon. In 2012, only 110 players held active licenses with the Portuguese Padel Federation. Today, that number has surpassed 16,145 athletes, representing an astonishing growth of over 14,500% in just over a decade.

But licensed players are only part of the story. The true driving force behind padel lies in social players — those who book games with friends, take lessons, try out new clubs, and fill the courts every day. It’s estimated that over 250,000 active players now practice padel across Portugal, with more than 950 courts and over 400 clubs operating from north to south.

This rapid growth brought new demands. Many clubs began informally, managing schedules manually, handling bookings by phone, and relying on Excel sheets. But as courts filled and the number of players soared, the need to professionalize operations became clear. Improvisation is no longer enough.

This is exactly where Tieplayer positions itself as a strategic partner for clubs looking to grow with structure.

Tieplayer: where players and clubs connect

Tieplayer is now the largest digital marketplace for racket sports in Portugal. It connects over 400 clubs to a community of more than 400,000 players across padel, tennis, pickleball, and squash. For players, it’s a simple and intuitive app where they can search for nearby courts, view real-time availability, book with a few taps, find new partners, pay online, and check in digitally — all without queues or confusion. They can also access lessons and tournaments, with a player rating system to guide the experience.

For clubs, it’s much more than a booking app. It’s a tool for visibility, operational efficiency, and scalable growth. With TieManager, Tieplayer’s club management platform, managers can automate scheduling, centralize payments, communicate directly with players, and make data-driven decisions.

Being on Tieplayer means being where the players are. It means moving beyond word-of-mouth and attracting new bookings every day — with a modern, simplified, and scalable operation.

Growing with structure, not effort

The market is not slowing down. Player numbers are rising, new courts are opening, and clubs that want to stay competitive must take the next step. Professionalizing management is no longer optional — it’s essential to keeping up with the evolution of the sport.

With Tieplayer, clubs can increase court occupancy, reduce administrative errors, automate routine tasks, segment their communication, and gain a clear view of their entire operation. They go from firefighting to forecasting. From surviving to scaling.

The future of padel is smart

Portugal is now one of the leading padel countries in Europe, with one of the highest densities of players per capita. This growth presents a real opportunity for clubs — but only for those who know how to turn demand into value.

Tieplayer does exactly that. It connects clubs with players, removes friction, automates low-value tasks, and brings scale to operations once buried in spreadsheets and missed calls.

Padel in Portugal is booming. The real question is: is your club keeping up?