Setting Records: A look at the remarkable, rapid rise of UK University Padel

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Padel in the UK is a relatively new enthusiasm – especially at a university level. As Durham takes the lead in pioneering the largest University Padel Society in the UK, with an astounding 275 members, a new outlook in the sport emerges: accessibility.

Over the course of the last year, the visibility of the padel world has soared tremendously. From football stars such as Lionel Messi and David Beckham, to tennis pros like Serena Williams, celebrities are hooked to the court. Even The Sidemen – a group of young, male YouTubers – upload matches for their eager fans to watch. It is no wonder, therefore, that hundreds of young students have adopted this emerging racket sport. Yet, what is it about padel that makes it so appealing to a younger generation? 

The Birth of University Padel 

While mainstream sports such as football and tennis have notoriously dominated University campus’, padel has quickly entered the spotlight, overthrowing the long succession of rugby as the most popular sport. At Durham, Co-Founders James Bonnor-Moris and Hal Hornby saw a golden opportunity in late December 2023, as nine new padel courts arrived near campus. By January 2024, Durham University Padel Club (DUPadel as we’re also known) was created with the vision of affordable and accessible padel.

Padel’s rapid rise among students at Durham University can be attributed to the accessibility of the sport: DUPadel hosts regular events, attracting over 100 students to the courts each week, with a 50% female participation rate (10% higher than Playtomic’s Global Report, 2024). Aided by sponsors such as Tutor2u, Padel 22 and Wilder Events, DUPadel also emphasises the importance of keeping the sport affordable. With a membership fee of £10, and a £4 hourly court session rate, DUPadel has ensured that cost shouldn’t (and isn’t) a barrier to enter the sport. 

DUPadel’s affordable, easy to learn and highly social nature understandably resonates with students looking for inclusive sports, suggesting accessibility is the key to emerging sports for younger generations. 

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Impact and Future Goals 

Durham has, unquestionably, set a high bar but the enthusiasm for padel isn’t confined to its campus. Universities across the UK, including Newcastle and Edinburgh, have started establishing their own padel societies, showing the sport’s appeal as a young, dynamic activity. This has shifted the goal to a national padel landscape, where students are pushing for a British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) league. With this not yet established, the National University Padel League (NUPL) is doing an impressive job in filling the current void. The league has been spurred on by two more student padel entrepreneurs, Sophia Tweedie and Barnaby Stephenson, who have single-handedly run the division over the last 

few months. With this recent branch of university padel, it has addressed the sustainability of the growth of the game – one of the industry’s biggest concerns. 

As noted by the Co-Founders of DUPadel, with an increased membership comes an increased pressure on facilities and equipment. Without university funding, many padel societies rely heavily on creative solutions and sponsor support to keep the sport affordable. Yet, how is this achievable in the long run?

With the present sport being self-sustaining, many executives of padel societies emphasise the obligation of court operators to make the sport more accessible to students through low prices during off peak hours. 

However, the self-funded, independent student societies should not be overlooked: the development of entrepreneurial skills in marketing, management and community building sets a potential trend for others to follow. The empowerment, therefore, of a wholly student-led sport should not be underestimated, especially one as successful as DUPadel.