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So a few weeks ago, I was in Portugal and my old man convinced me to go for a game of padel….

Two hours later, I'm completely hooked. It's like someone took the best bits of squash and tennis, threw them in a blender with cocaine, and created something ridiculously addictive.

But here's where my brain went immediately after that first game: "Where am I going to play this next?"

Fast forward to last week. New padel courts just opened in my area of South Wales. The next town over is building their first facility and launching this month. Suddenly, everyone I know has gone padel mad.

I’m loving it. But you know what else I love? Opportunities….

When 426 People Are Fighting Over One Court

We're witnessing something extraordinary here. The UK has gone from 15,000 players to over 400,000 in just five years. That's a 2,567% increase not to be sniffed at.

But here's the kicker: we've only got 893 courts across the entire country. That's 426 players per court. Compare that to Spain's mature market with 3,000 people per court, and you start seeing the gap.

The USA? Even more dramatic. They've got 505,000 people per court. It's like having one McDonald's for the entire population of Manchester.

The maths are simple: demand is absolutely destroying supply.

The Numbers

What One Court Makes:

• Single court at 50% occupancy: £65,700 ($73,000) annually

• At 70% occupancy: £91,980 ($102,200) per year

• Most facilities charge: £25-35 ($30-50) per hour

• London venues getting: £90+ ($120+) per hour

What It Costs to Build:

• Basic court: £28,000-£35,000 ($35,000-$45,000)

• Professional setup: £70,000-£85,000 ($75,000-$110,000)

• Monthly automation costs: £550-1,580 ($650-1,850)

Here's the mad bit: you're basically doubling your money in the first year. That's unheard of in most businesses and investments. We're talking about returns that make property look like a savings account.

And here's the best part - you don't need to staff these courts at all. Players book through apps, walk on, play, and leave. The whole thing runs itself through booking platforms and smart technology.

*Some venues do rent out equipment which is another revenue stream by itself.

You can literally be earning money whilst sleeping, travelling, or doing whatever you want, wherever you want.

The Next Big Thing!?

Remember when everyone thought Airbnb was just for weirdos who couldn't afford hotels? Now it's a £60 billion company.

Padel has that same early-adopter energy. The sport is exploding, but the infrastructure here in the anglosphere is years behind. Everyone who tries it becomes obsessed (92% return rate after first play), but finding a court is still a proper mission in many areas.

The Opportunity Cost of Not Acting

Here's what I keep thinking about: in five years, when padel courts are as common as tennis courts, we'll be kicking ourselves for not getting in early.

Right now, you can still pick prime locations. You can still be the first facility in your area. You can still establish yourself before everyone else wakes up to what's happening.

But this window won't last forever.

How to Make This Happen (Without Owning Land)

The research I've been diving into shows three viable approaches:

The Partnership Play: Find someone with land or capital, provide the expertise and management. Revenue sharing deals are becoming common - they provide funding, you handle everything else.

The Lease Route: Equipment leasing at 6-10% rates means you can get started with minimal upfront capital. Monthly payments instead of massive lump sums.

The Community Investment: Get locals to invest through community bonds or crowdfunding. They get usage rights or returns, you get funded startup capital.

The key is the automation technology. Companies like Resasports and Rezerv provide complete remote management systems (though Playtonic seems to be THE app for Padel). Your customers book online, receive access codes, play their games, and you collect revenue - all without you being anywhere near the facility.

Tempting One

I'm seriously considering this for 2025. If I had more disposable cash right now, I'd already be making calls. Even my old man, who convinced me to give the game a proper go, is seriously thinking about building a court himself.

The combination of genuine market demand, proven revenue models, and true location independence ticks every box for building proper anywhere income.

If you're interested in exploring this together - whether that's sharing research, connecting with other subscribers looking at similar opportunities, or just bouncing ideas around - hit reply. I'm genuinely keen to hear from anyone who's thinking along similar lines.

Because here's the thing: Anywhere Income isn't just about escaping corporate life. It's about spotting opportunities before they become obvious to everyone else.

And right now, padel feels like one of those opportunities.

To your success,

Lewis

BTW - if anyone lives in South Wales and fancies a game, let me know!

P.S. Fancy FREE access to my digital writing course? Just forward on your unique link below and I’ll give you the keys (RRP $159):

P.P.S. This newsletter is built on Beehiiv —after MailChimp banned me for sharing genuine money-making opportunities (yep), I needed a platform that supports creators building businesses, and Beehiiv has been a fricking Godsend. Get a 30-day free trial via the link.

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