Everything project owners really ask.

PadelCompass uses cost corridors for early planning. Actual costs depend on outdoor or indoor, ground, foundation, hall, utilities, equipment, permits and soft costs. For concrete projects, supplier offers and the Cost calculator should be combined.

Costs depend on location, number of courts, proximity to housing, operating hours and the required depth of the report. For initial planning, a noise report should be considered early as a possible cost and time factor.

We use a scale factor of SCALE_FACTOR(n) = max(0.70, 1 − 0.06 × log2(n)) relative to the one-court price. In practice: 1 court = 100%, 2 courts = 94%, 4 courts = 88%, 6 courts = 84%, 8 courts = 82%, 12 courts = 80%. Most scale effects are exhausted at 6 to 8 courts; larger venues win mainly through higher utilization, not cheaper components.

In addition to court, foundation and hall, budget for architecture, structural engineering, noise, surveying, fire safety, building application, project management and reserves. The amount depends heavily on location, existing buildings, authority and project size; the cost calculator therefore treats these values as planning assumptions.

The playing field measures 20 m × 10 m under FIP rules. PadelCompass uses around 22 m × 12 m as a planning dimension per court because wall structure, operating buffer and paths are added. The FIP states a minimum clear height of 6 m and recommends 8 m for new venues. In the Space planner you can test your specific plot.

There is no universal minimum number. PadelCompass uses catchment area, competition, accessibility and expected utilization as planning assumptions. Location quality, booking convenience, community building, price level and local competition are decisive.

The most important factors are catchment area, accessibility, competition, existing sports community, parking, visibility, price level and permit environment. Whether a project becomes viable depends on the combination of these factors, not on a single threshold.

It can work, but it depends more strongly on the operating concept. Outdoor, club, hybrid or cooperation models are often more realistic than an isolated new indoor build. Community building, accessibility, competition, price level and the ability to activate regular playing groups are decisive.

This must be checked for the specific location with the building authority or specialist planner. Because of height, glass/steel structure, foundation, change of use, parking and noise protection, an early preliminary building inquiry is useful in many projects. PadelCompass does not provide legal advice. For an initial classification, use the permit tool.

A preliminary building inquiry can help clarify fundamental questions before the building application. It is especially useful near housing, for changes of use, outside built-up areas, mixed-use areas or unclear zoning plans. Costs, duration and binding effect differ by federal state and authority.

For early schedules, expect several months to more than a year. Outdoor is usually faster than a new indoor build, but permits, reports, change of use, delivery times and earthworks can shift the schedule significantly.

Typical mistakes are coordinating too late with the building authority and neighbors, underestimating noise protection, too little space reserve, no parking concept, unclear change of use, a hall that is too low and a business case without realistic utilization assumptions.

Indoor offers more predictable use and weather protection, but costs significantly more. Outdoor is often cheaper and faster, but depends more on weather, noise and neighborhood topics. Which build type fits better depends on location, operating concept and investment frame. Run it concretely in the ROI calculator.

Funding options depend heavily on federal state, owner, non-profit status, accessibility and programme call. Clubs should check state sports federation, municipality and regional programmes early; commercial operators check financing separately with bank and tax advice.

Hourly rates vary by region, indoor or outdoor, time of day, membership model and competitive environment. For planning, combine local prices, booking platforms and your own target-group assumptions.

Ancillary revenues can come from food and beverage, training, events, camps, pro shop or sponsoring. Whether they are relevant depends on target group, location, staff, permits and operator competence.

Utilization builds gradually and depends on location, community, price, booking system, training offer and competition. In the ROI calculator, utilization values are therefore scenarios, not forecasts.

Ongoing costs depend strongly on indoor or outdoor, staffing model, energy, maintenance, insurance, rent, marketing and booking system. PadelCompass treats OpEx values as scenarios for initial planning.

A training offer is especially valuable for new communities because beginners get into the game faster. Whether an in-house coach is needed from the start depends on location, target group, partners and operating concept.

Many venues use digital booking systems or platforms such as Playtomic, Eversports or Matchi. Simple booking, clear availability, payment processing and ideally player-search or group functions are important.

Artificial turf with sand infill is common in padel. The right solution depends on playing feel, maintenance, indoor or outdoor, budget, supplier and intensity of use.

Indoor venues should plan energy, lighting, heating, ventilation, photovoltaics and peak loads early. The economic solution depends on hall, insulation, opening hours, technology and local electricity price.

Lifespan and reinvestments depend on quality, intensity of use, maintenance, indoor or outdoor and supplier. Surface, glass, steel frame and lighting should be considered separately in the 10-year cash flow.

Typical topics are building, inventory, glass breakage, public liability, events and downtime risks. The right cover should be clarified project-specifically with an insurer or broker.

A holding or real-estate structure can separate operating and asset risks, but it is not a standard recipe for every project. Whether it makes sense depends on investment size, ownership structure, financing, liability and tax advice.

With a concession or lease, an operator uses land long-term without owning the plot. With leasehold, construction takes place on third-party land and a ground rent is paid. Both models can be interesting, but must be checked properly from legal, tax and procurement perspectives.

Padel is organized internationally through the FIP and is anchored in Germany within the tennis environment. Clubs should still check non-profit status, statutes, departmental structure and tax questions in the specific case with federation, tax adviser or tax office.

Matchmaking helps find suitable playing partners by level and availability. New venues often benefit because regular groups form faster. Whether it is needed depends on community, location, target group and booking system.