The sports that are reshaping our shared spaces

Across Britain and Europe, the sports people actually play differ significantly from what we’re watching on television.

Obviously, traditional games and activities still dominate the conversation. Football stadiums roar every weekend. Tennis tournaments draw massive TV audiences. But walk through parks and community spaces, and you'll notice something different happening.

New sports are taking root. Fast.

Padel courts are appearing in car parks, pickleball tournaments are filling venues with players aged 7 to 70, and esports academies are offering BTECs to thousands of students.

These aren't niche activities anymore. The numbers tell a story about how many of us are finding new ways to get active and competitive.

1. Padel Tennis: The court that's everywhere

More than 400,000 people played padel at least once in Britain in 2025, according to the Lawn Tennis Association.

That's a sharp year-on-year rise for a sport most people hadn't heard of five years ago.

Walk through any European city now, and you'll spot the distinctive glass-walled courts. They're smaller than tennis courts, enclosed, and designed for doubles play.  

The walls are part of the game, which means rallies last longer and beginners can actually enjoy themselves from day one.

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Europe has surpassed 15,000 padel clubs and 50,000 courts.

Spain leads with over 17,300 courts and 6 million players. Padel is Spain's second most popular sport, sitting just behind football and ahead of tennis. That's not a small achievement in a country obsessed with racquet sports.

But the real story is happening in countries where padel barely existed two years ago.

France added 1,850 courts in the last 18 months alone, representing a 55% growth. The UK and Germany have nearly doubled their court numbers, with increases of 100% and 92% respectively.

Local authorities are paying attention. A padel court costs less to run than a tennis facility, requires less space, and attracts more consistent usage. Four players per court, shorter booking times, and higher turnover make the economics work.

The infrastructure boom suggests padel isn't a fad. By 2026, estimates put the global total at 70,000 courts across 130+ countries, with Europe remaining the heartland.

Why padel works:

• You can play a decent rally on your first attempt

• The enclosed court means less time chasing balls

• Doubles format makes it inherently social

• Lower barrier to entry than tennis

• Faster games mean more people can book the same court

Novak Djokovic recently described tennis as "endangered." He's watching players migrate to sports that offer quicker gratification and easier access. Padel represents exactly that shift.

2. Pickleball: The American import finding British fans

Listen carefully at most leisure centres, and you’ll hear something distinctive. A plastic-on-plastic pop as paddles hit wiffle balls across a badminton-sized court.

Pickleball England estimates over 35,000 players are currently active across the nation, following a 65% surge in memberships over the past year.

The 2024 English Open drew 1,976 players from 42 countries. The English Nationals attracted over 1,000 registrations. These are the largest pickleball events in Europe, and they're happening in a country that only discovered the sport recently.

The growth trajectory is steep.

In 2020, roughly 12,000 people played pickleball across all of Europe. England alone now has triple that number. Spain, France, and Germany are catching on, but the UK is setting the pace.

Sport England has granted official recognition. Pickleball England is now the National Governing Body. The target is one million players by 2030.

That sounds ambitious until you look at the market projections. By 2030, the UK pickleball market is expected to achieve a compound annual growth rate of 9.5%, worth over £110 million in revenue.

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What makes pickleball different:

• Smaller court means less running

• Slower ball gives more reaction time

• Easy to learn, difficult to master

• Wheelchair-accessible from the start

• Genuinely multi-generational (7 to 70 isn't marketing speak)

The accessibility factor matters. Pickleball doesn't require elite fitness or years of practice to enjoy. You can have a competitive game on your third session.

Traditional racquet sports are noticing. Tennis and squash facilities are converting courts, adding pickleball lines, and running mixed programming. Some are doing it to survive. Others see it as an expansion.

3. Esports: The legitimacy moment

After three decades of parents saying no good will come of playing computer games, youngsters are having the last laugh.

The British Esports Association now oversees a sector projected to reach $1,932 million across Europe by 2029. That's a 6.05% annual growth rate from a 2024 baseline of $1,440 million.

Esports has moved beyond teenagers in bedrooms. The infrastructure, education, and professionalisation are real.

In 2024, over 1,900 officially recognised global esports tournaments took place.

Europe hosts a significant portion, spanning multiple game genres and competitive formats. Poland and Spain lead European viewership, but participation is spreading across the continent.

The British Esports Association have even partnered with education provider Pearson to provide Level 2 and Level 3 BTECs in esports to more than 1,000 students worldwide.  

These aren't hobby qualifications. They're recognised educational pathways covering event management, content creation, coaching, and competitive play.

Spain's government officially recognised esports as a sport, opening funding opportunities and establishing formal training programmes in schools and universities.

That's the legitimacy moment.

When governments fund esports programmes, when established education providers create qualifications, and when universities offer scholarships, you're watching a cultural shift.

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The esports ecosystem now includes:

• Professional leagues with salaried players

• Coaching and analyst roles

• Broadcasting and production teams

• Venue operators and event managers

• Educational institutions and training programmes

• Sponsorship and commercial partnerships

The stereotype of isolated gamers doesn't match reality anymore. Esports venues host hundreds of spectators. University teams compete in organised leagues. Local communities run amateur tournaments.

Physical fitness is becoming part of elite esports training. Teams employ nutritionists, physiotherapists, and mental performance coaches. The recognition that esports athletes need comprehensive support mirrors traditional sports.

Europe's esports market grew rapidly over recent years, and forecasts suggest this continues. The audience is young, digitally native, and growing up with competitive gaming as normal entertainment.

4. Sim Racing: Formula 1 without the price tag

Formula 1 is the fastest-growing large-scale sport on social media, if you base it purely on impressions and followers. In particular, Netflix's Drive to Survive show deserves credit for making F1 accessible to new audiences. The series pulled back the curtain on the personalities, politics, and drama behind the sport.

But there's another story here about participation.

Sim racing has democratised motorsport.

You can buy a racing wheel, pedals, and a subscription to iRacing or Assetto Corsa for less than a month's worth of karting sessions. The physics are accurate enough that professional drivers use simulators for training.

The barrier to entry for traditional motorsport is prohibitive. Karting costs thousands. Moving up the ladder requires sponsorship, connections, and substantial financial backing.

Sim racing removes those barriers.

I've watched the crossover between virtual and real motorsport blur. Professional drivers compete in sim racing events. Sim racers transition to real racing. Teams scout talent from online competitions.

The skill transfer is real. Lando Norris, an F1 driver, regularly streams sim racing. Max Verstappen credits simulators for his race-craft.

The community is thriving.

Online leagues run structured championships. Broadcasters stream races with professional commentary. Sponsors invest in virtual teams.

Across 12 European markets, sports accounted for 41.4% of all event-driven tourism spending. F1 races draw massive crowds, but sim racing allows millions more to experience competitive motorsport from home.

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5. Teqball: Football meets table tennis

Teqball is the newest sport on this list, but it's gaining traction fast.

The game is played on a curved table. You use football skills, headers, volleys, and chest control, but the format resembles table tennis. Three touches maximum per side. No hands. First to 20 points wins.

The sport emphasises technical skill.

You need close control, touch, and creativity. The curved table creates unpredictable bounces, which keeps rallies dynamic.

Teqball is now established in around 90 countries. Official governing bodies exist across multiple European nations. The sport is accessible to all ages and abilities.

I've seen professional footballers use teqball for training. The game improves first touch, spatial awareness, and ball control in a competitive format.

But it's also growing at grassroots level. Schools are adding teqball tables. Parks are installing outdoor tables. Community centres are hosting tournaments.

The appeal is immediate.

You understand the game within minutes. The learning curve is steep enough to challenge experienced players whilst remaining accessible to beginners.

The equipment is straightforward. A teqball table, a football, and space to play. No complex rules. No expensive gear.

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What will the next five years have in store?

Each of these sports is easier to access than its traditional equivalent. Padel is more forgiving than tennis. Pickleball requires less mobility. Esports needs no physical venue. Sim racing costs less than real motorsport. Teqball needs minimal equipment.

They also encourage interaction and often utilise technology. These sports attract women, older adults, and younger generations in ways traditional sports struggled to achieve.

Traditional sports aren't disappearing. But they're facing competition from alternatives that better match how modern Europeans want to compete, socialise, and stay active. Perhaps the real metric of how successful a sport becomes in the modern world is the amount of investment in it. Often, that means money from betting, but public enthusiasm is also a big factor.

The clubs and associations that adapt will thrive. The ones that don't will watch their members try something new.

I don’t know which sport I’d bet on to become a new national obsession, but if any of these five make people more active, then everybody wins.

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