Courts in Session: How Local Tennis Clubs Can Evolve Without Going Bust

Across the UK, local tennis clubs are quietly rethinking their game plan. The Sunday morning doubles still roll on, the committee still debates the price of tea bags, but there’s something new stirring behind the baseline. A fresh crop of racquet sports – pickleball and padel – are bouncing into view, attracting players who are younger, enthusiastic, and (whisper it) happy to pay for the privilege.

Faced with rising costs and the ever-present challenge of staying relevant, many clubs are shifting strategy. They’re adding new formats, trialling fresh memberships, and hosting events designed to appeal beyond the traditional tennis crowd. For some, it’s paying off in spades. For others, well – it’s a lesson in ambition outpacing planning.

New Balls Please: The Pickleball & Padel Invasion

They may sound like the kind of things you’d find on a brunch menu in Hackney, but pickleball and padel are now serious contenders in the world of local sport.

Pickleball – imagine tennis meets table tennis with a pinch of badminton – is well-established in the US and steadily finding its footing here. Padel, its faster-paced continental cousin, is booming across Europe and picking up pace on these shores too.

Why the fuss? They’re accessible. You don’t need to serve like Serena to get involved, and they come with a healthy side of socialising and Instagram-friendly aesthetics. The barrier to entry is low, the vibe is high, and crucially, the courts are booked.

For clubs, this opens up a world of opportunity: new types of membership, regular bookings, group coaching, social events, tournament days, and – if things go well – themed cocktail evenings involving far too many ‘smash’ puns.

Some clubs are seeing waiting lists for padel courts, even while their tennis courts sit untouched during peak hours. It’s not about replacing tennis – it’s about offering more options, more engagement, and yes, more revenue.

The Cautionary Tale: Bell Bank Park (or How Not to Do It)

Before you get carried away and submit planning permission for a 15-court pickleball megaplex with a champagne bar, a quick detour to Arizona is in order.

Bell Bank Park was supposed to be the Wimbledon of pickleball. Over 40 courts, multiple pro leagues lined up, and financial projections that would make a hedge fund manager blush – $284 million in annual revenue. From pickleball.

It didn’t end well. Unpaid bills, boardroom squabbles, and financials that raised more eyebrows than funds have landed the park in the middle of a legal scrap. The grand vision has since collapsed into a farce, with investors now trying to claw back reality – along with their money.

The lesson? No matter how shiny the courts or how trendy the sport, hype doesn’t pay the bills. Fundamentals do.

Five Smart Moves (That Won’t End in a Members’ Meeting Meltdown)

So, you want to add padel or pickleball without accidentally triggering a financial unravelling or turning the club into a building site for eternity? Sensible. Here’s how to evolve without starring in your own cautionary tale:

1. Crunch the Numbers (Then Do Them Again)

A padel court might look like an easy win, but costs can add up quickly. Installation alone is usually £30,000–£60,000 per court – before you’ve even wired the lights or set up the booking system. Run the numbers, then hand them to someone with a spreadsheet and no sentimental attachment to the club’s Instagram future. Ideally, someone who doesn’t think Excel is a type of tennis shoe.

2. Grow With Demand, Not to Keep Up With the Jones’

Survey your members. Run taster sessions. Borrow a court to see if anyone turns up. Don’t install four courts just because “they’ve got them in Surrey.”

3. Get Your Governance Game in Order

Expansion means contracts, grants, and other adult responsibilities. Passion is great, but someone needs to know what a due diligence checklist is and that “winging it” isn’t a strategy.

4. Ditch the ‘Pro Tour’ Delusions

Your club doesn’t need a Netflix deal; it needs more kids on court and a steady trickle of new members. Think youth outreach, school partnerships, and accessible coaching – not red carpets and celebrity ambassadors.

5. Don’t Forget the Operations

New courts bring new headaches: staffing, safety, bookings, maintenance. Don’t get distracted by glossy renders and grand unveilings. A shiny new padel court is no use if no one knows how to book it – or worse, no one bothers.

The Last Word

The rise of new racquet sports isn’t a threat to the local tennis club – it’s an opportunity. With careful planning, it’s a way to broaden the club’s appeal, build resilience, and ensure the next generation is just as likely to spend their Saturday mornings courtside as the last.

This isn’t about tearing up tradition – it’s about building on it. Clubs that pace themselves, plan wisely and keep their members at the heart of things have a real chance to serve up something special.

Because the clubs that last aren’t the flashiest – they’re the ones that adapt without forgetting who they’re there for.