The man behind American Padel: ”The potential in the USA is massive”

Marcos Del Pilar has been essential to padel's development in the United States. In an extensive interview with Padel Alto, he discusses the possibilities and expectations of padel in the United States.

Interest in Padel is growing globally. The sport's growth in the United States is an important part of global development. Padel in the country has become a reality, and there is a potential for the sport to grow significantly further.

One person who knows about it is Marcos Del Pilar, who has contributed significantly to the progress that has already been made.

In an extensive interview with Padel Alto, he talks about the possibilities of the American Padel and his journey.

— I have a very strong Tennis and Padel background, both as a professional player and a pro coach, and I’ve been involved in the Racquet Sports Industry for over 25 years. I used to own five tennis and padel venues in Spain, and, as a consultant, I have helped investors succeed while implementing Padel in more than 12 different countries.

He continues:

— I founded my first company when I was 14 years old and continue to invest as an investor and business partner in different projects and start-ups.

”Build a better world through padel”

Marcos Del Pilar also says he has always dreamed of developing something new in the United States. He believes that padel can make the world a better place.

— In my case, I always dreamt about building an entirely new industry in the USA. I always wanted to impact the world of padel and leave a legacy. I truly believe that we can build a better world through padel, and I do my best every day to spread joy and excitement for the sport while creating a new ecosystem with plenty of new opportunities for everyone.

Earlier this year, Monitor Deloitte released an optimistic forecast that by 2026, there will be around 85,000 padel courts in the world, more than doubling the current figure of about 40,000.

The United States is, of course, an essential part of this development. Marcos Del Pilar says that the number of padel courts in the country is expected to double by next year.

— The USA now has approximately 320 Padel courts, including public and private ones. We currently have almost 50 facilities, and more than 20 new projects will become a reality in the upcoming months. 

He continues:

— Although not a mainstream sport in the USA, Padel is growing in popularity. The number of Padel courts is set to double in 2024 as the USA is beginning to see the explosion in popularity that has occurred globally.

What is the potential of the sport in the United States?

— The potential in the USA is massive, and we expect to achieve over 20,000 courts and 15M players by 2030. We are highly focused on growing participation nationwide and creating the ecosystem for investors to build more courts and succeed by implementing padel in hundreds of American venues.

Marcos Del Pilar: ”I truly believe in people”

What is your vision for Padel's growth in the future?

— I truly believe in people. I think that great people can make a massive impact on the world. By creating opportunities for others, we are setting up a new scenario for thousands of leaders to shine and help us grow Padel in the USA.

— One of my main goals is to attract players with no previous experience in racquet sport to our industry. That is where the big opportunity is and where I put all my efforts: we need to reach that “blue ocean” of non-racquet players and offer an amazing experience for them to engage with the sport. 

— From there, the growth will be very organic, and we will experience unprecedented growth that will change the sport's rules worldwide. We can target about 300M people who still don’t know about the magic of Padel. To do so correctly, we must focus on creativity and disruption while delivering exceptional experiences and memorable moments for our current and future players.

After the first season, interest in the PPL (Pro Padel League) has skyrocketed. Next year's season will feature several world stars like Fede Chingotto, Maxi Sanchez, Lucia Sainz, Miguel Lamperti, Virginia Riera, and Claudia Jensen, among others still to be announced. Marcos Del Pilar says the league is an essential part of developing the sport in the country.

— In my humble opinion, The Pro Padel League is the perfect approach for Padel under the American business model. We were the first ones putting together a concept like this in our sport: A Padel Team league based on a franchise model like other major leagues in the USA.

He continues:

— Besides some great tournaments, this initiative will create a new ecosystem for Padel to grow in North America by boosting the exposure and love for the sport. Players and fans will have a new platform to showcase and enjoy Padel, while participation will grow in several cities under the excitement of the competition.

Marcos Del Pilar's essential and challenging journey in the sport is inspiring. In March, he will speak at RacquetX to share his experience. It is an event where people from all racket sports come together to share their knowledge.

— I´m thrilled to announce that I will present at RacquetX in Miami on March 24-26. This is a world-class festival of thought, connection, and experiential learning, where I will speak about the development of Padel in the USA and the business model behind the sport.  

He continues:

— We will be engaging operators at all levels of the industry, as well as racquet sport enthusiasts throughout the world. I will also update the industry about the next steps of the successful Pro Padel League and the future of the sport in North America in the upcoming years.

Marcos Del Pilar also says they look forward to achieving their goals:

— We have been working very hard for years to set up the foundations of sustainable development by creating the correct map of alliances and the umbrella to take Padel to the next level in North America. We are incredibly excited and motivated to lead both facilities, players, coaches, and institutions to unprecedented growth until we achieve our expectations of 10,000+ courts and over 15M players by 2030.