A $15 million Series A for the Pro Padel League signals growing institutional confidence in professional padel as a scalable US sports property, with franchise values now exceeding the $10 million threshold.
The US-based Pro Padel League (PPL) has raised $15 million in a Series A round, taking its total disclosed funding to $25 million since launching in 2023. Existing investors also participated, the league said in an announcement dated March 24, 2026.
Franchise values surge from launch pricing
The round follows $10 million in seed financing raised in March 2025 and comes amid a sharp repricing of PPL franchise stakes. The league said franchise values now exceed $10 million, up from the $200,000 entry fee paid by founding teams three years ago. PPL currently has 10 city-based franchises: eight in the US, one in Canada and one in Mexico.
Among named investors are professional tennis player Francis Tiafoe and Ajax goalkeeper Maarten Paes, co-owners of the New York Atlantics; polo player Nacho Figueras, an investor in the Florida Goats; and Edward Rogers, chair of the Toronto Blue Jays and Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE), who is invested in the Toronto Polar Bears.
Expansion plans and 2026 calendar
PPL said the proceeds will be used for team infrastructure, player development and league operations. The 2026 season is scheduled to run across five events in North America:
- New York City (July 9–12)
- Los Angeles (Aug. 13–16)
- Playa del Carmen (Sept. 24–27)
- Guadalajara (Nov. 19–22)
- Miami (Dec. 3–6)
The league has also launched PPL II, a development circuit aimed at identifying emerging North American talent, with more than $350,000 in guaranteed prize money and player compensation.
US padel market: early, but scaling
The funding comes as padel operators push to build out the sport in the US, where participation still trails more mature markets in Europe and South America. Deloitte has valued the global padel market at around $2 billion and said it is growing at a double-digit annual rate. The International Padel Federation (IPF) estimates about 35 million players across more than 110 countries.
In the US, the United States Padel Association (USPA) projects 20,000 courts and 15 million active players by 2030, up from a base of a few hundred courts today. The sport’s reliance on high-ceiling indoor facilities raises upfront costs compared with sports such as pickleball, though that constraint could also strengthen unit economics for established operators.
About the Pro Padel League
Founded in 2023 and headquartered in New York, the Pro Padel League is a professional padel circuit with 10 franchises spanning the US, Canada and Mexico. The PPL distributes its events to an estimated 300 million households across more than 100 countries through broadcast and streaming partnerships, with all events also available via the league’s YouTube channel.
About the International Padel Federation
The International Padel Federation is the sport’s global governing body, responsible for international rules, rankings and oversight of major competitions, including the FIP Tour.
About the United States Padel Association
The United States Padel Association is the US national body focused on growing and organizing padel domestically, supporting players, clubs and sanctioned events while liaising with international governing structures.
