ISPO 2025, the world’s largest sports trade fair and the final edition held in Munich after 55 years, offered a clear snapshot of where the sports industry is heading. Beyond product showcases and networking, several structural trends stood out. Together, they signal significant shifts in participation habits, market power, and how new generations engage with sport.
Padel & Pickleball: the fastest-growing sports globally
One of the clearest trends at ISPO was the sheer presence of Padel and Pickleball across the halls. Traditional tennis brands were almost absent, while the Padel/Pickleball sections were big, crowded, and packed with both new start-ups and well-known players. The industry numbers coming below basically confirm what the floor layout already showed.
In Europe — especially Spain, Italy, Sweden, and France — the momentum is strongest. Clubs are increasingly reallocating space from tennis to padel because courts are busier, easier to fill, and attract new players faster. And even if many brands still frame padel as complementary to tennis, the reality is shifting: tennis will need to adapt if it wants to keep pace.
Global Padel Indicators
- The Global Padel Report 2025 projects 70,000 courts worldwide by 2026.
- The equipment and infrastructure market was valued at USD 250–351 million in 2024, depending on methodology.
- Forecast annual growth rates range between 4.5% and 8.1% through 2031–2033.
- The United States, Great Britain, and Germany appear to be emerging key markets, as each has only recently surpassed the threshold of roughly 1,000 installed courts. In contrast, more mature markets such as Spain — now above 17,000 courts — illustrate how much growth potential still lies ahead in these countries.
Global Pickleball Indicators
- According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA), Pickleball grew 223.5% between 2020 and 2023, making it the fastest-growing sport in the United States.
- In 2024, participation reached 19.8 million players, representing a 311% increase since 2021.
- The global market size was estimated at USD 2.2–2.3 billion in 2024.
- Market projections suggest USD 9.1 billion by 2034, driven primarily by the U.S., with emerging growth in Canada, India, and parts of Europe.
Strategic Implications
From an industry perspective, both sports share characteristics that explain their rapid expansion:
- Low technical entry barriers relative to tennis.
- Lower space requirements → more courts per facility.
- Strong social-sport appeal, especially in urban markets targeting younger demographics.
- Attractive economics for equipment manufacturers due to recurring demand and rapid facility expansion.
The takeaway from ISPO is clear: Padel and Pickleball are transitioning from short-term trends to structurally relevant segments of the global sports market. Even if most companies still describe Padel and Pickleball as complements to tennis, it appears increasingly likely that tennis must evolve to stay competitive.
Phygital Sports: a new idea of sport for younger demographics
A second trend becoming increasingly visible — not only at ISPO but across the entire industry — is the rise of phygital sports. These formats combine physical activity with digital or gaming elements, creating hybrid competitive experiences.
This development aligns with changing participation patterns among younger generations:
- Traditional club-based participation is stagnating or declining in several markets.
- Digital-native consumers expect interactivity, gamification, and personalized experiences.
- Content ecosystems surrounding sport (streams, clips, competitive gaming) have become as important as physical participation itself.
While established examples such as Spain’s Kings/Queens League or global tech-fitness platforms have already demonstrated market demand, ISPO highlighted new emerging players. Among them is the Phygital Sports League, which merges gaming and traditional sport in a single competition — a creative yet simple concept that could inspire broader industry adoption.
Phygital formats represent a potential entry route into younger segments that are increasingly difficult to reach. Rather than replacing traditional sport, they are likely to become a parallel layer of participation, content creation, and monetization.
China’s expanding role in global sports manufacturing
A third trend was visible in both the exhibitor list and in supply-chain discussions at ISPO: China continues to strengthen its role as the central manufacturing hub of the global sports industry.
Key Market Indicators
- China accounts for roughly 7.05% of the global sportswear market, according to industry analyses.
- The country remains the leading global producer of sporting goods, with dominant output in footwear, textiles, equipment, and accessories.
- Major Chinese corporations — such as Anta Sports, now one of the world’s largest sportswear companies — have moved far beyond manufacturing. They increasingly control design, branding, and international distribution.
Industry Impact
The growing concentration of manufacturing capacity in China has several implications:
- Brands — including European SMEs — remain structurally dependent on Chinese suppliers for cost-competitive production.
- China’s increasing vertical integration means it is emerging not just as a supplier, but as a full competitor, capable of developing, producing, and commercializing its own brands globally.
ISPO’s exhibitor landscape reinforced this dynamic: a large proportion of production-focused companies were Chinese.
ISPO 2025: What We Can Learn
Article by Alex for Sport Across Borders — exploring how sport connects culture, management, and innovation worldwide.
Sport Across Borders connects sport, culture, and innovation worldwide.
Coming soon: A monthly dose of global sport insights — short, thoughtful, and beyond borders.