France now has 1,240 clubs and 4,050 padel courts, according to figures published by the French Tennis Federation (FFT) as of 2 October 2026. Supply continues to grow: the federation’s Boost Padel programme aims to facilitate the construction of 500 courts, while several 4PADEL openings have been announced for the end of the year and 2027. However, these figures do not show whether courts are less busy or whether the market is approaching saturation.
The question of court utilisation is therefore worth asking, but at the level of local player catchment areas—and without confusing projects with completed developments.
Growing supply, not proof of saturation
The FFT figures measure the number of clubs and courts, not how often they are used. Likewise, the 500 courts associated with Boost Padel are a programme target, not a tally of completed construction. In September, Filière Sport reported that 4PADEL operated 33 clubs and 231 courts, with openings announced in Vélizy and Auxerre in November 2026, followed by Cannes, Créteil, Blois and Rouen in 2027.
These announcements signal continued development. On their own, they do not show that supply is growing faster than the number of players, or that clubs are already losing bookings.
Why look at time slots, not just the number of courts
Analysis: if several clubs are located close to one another, competition could come down to their ability to attract players at the same times. Occupancy rates can then help identify differences between high-demand periods and quieter hours. But how they change depends on each area, local habits and the offer available: national figures do not make it possible to draw conclusions about any particular club.
An article published in September by Modelesdebusinessplan.com presents revenue simulations based on several assumptions, including the number of courts, hourly price and occupancy rate. These are scenarios, not forecasts for the sector as a whole. The result therefore depends on the parameters used; a simulation does not prove that a given increase in occupancy will have the same effect at every club.
A question to track locally
For clubs, the key is to monitor their own bookings: which time slots are in demand, which remain available, and how these figures change over time. At market level, court counts alone are not enough to establish whether supply growth is really affecting occupancy: comparable usage data would be needed.
The next stage of French padel may therefore give more attention to this economic question. But as of 2 October 2026, the available sources establish growth in supply and plans for new openings—not an occupancy-rate battle already under way.
AI-generated illustration · NextSet.
