Is Aarau Worth Building a Padel Center In?

As of November 2026, Padelnomics counts one padel club in Aarau, Switzerland, or 9.3 padel courts per 100,000 residents, in a city of about 22,000 residents. Its Padelnomics Score, our rating of the opportunity for a new club, is 43 out of 100. Source: Padelnomics, from booking platforms, public map data and official population statistics.

Padel Venues
1
padelnomics Score
43.0/100
Courts/100K
9.3
Population
22K
Key takeaway: Aarau offers solid ground for a padel investment — the market is growing but not saturated, and the right concept in the right location can capture real demand.

With the right setup, yes — Aarau scores padelnomics Score 43.0/100, indicating solid potential with careful site selection. This page breaks down what a padel investment in Aarau costs, what it returns, and how the local market compares — with a financial model you can adjust to your scenario.

The question that matters: given current pricing, occupancy, and build costs, what does a padel investment in Aarau actually return? The financial model below uses the national court prices and occupancy for Switzerland and the country's build costs; the figures measured in Aarau itself are in Research.

What Does a Padel Investment Cost in Aarau?

On national figures for Switzerland, here is what a padel center investment in Aarau looks like:

Aarau, CH Investment Breakdown
Item Amount Detail
Padel Courts CHF 47,000 2×dbl + 0×sgl
Shipping CHF 2,820
Floor Preparation CHF 11,500
HVAC Upgrade CHF 19,500
Lighting Upgrade CHF 9,500
Fit-Out & Reception CHF 38,500
Permits & Compliance CHF 21,000
Equipment CHF 2,444
Working Capital CHF 14,500
Miscellaneous CHF 5,640
Contingency (10%) CHF 17,240
Total CAPEX CHF 189,644
Per Court CHF 94,822
Per m² CHF 256
LTV 0%
Equity CHF 189,644
Loan CHF 0
Total CHF 189,644

Construction costs vary significantly depending on whether you build an indoor or outdoor facility. Indoor halls in Switzerland run considerably higher — structural build, ventilation, and lighting drive the cost. Outdoor courts are cheaper to construct but limit your operating season and revenue potential. The number of courts is the single biggest lever on total investment: each additional court lowers the per-court cost, but increases your total capital at risk.

Revenue Potential in Aarau

Aarau, CH Revenue & Operating Costs

Revenue Model

Weighted Rate CHF 45/hr
Utilization Target 30%
Booked Hours/mo 278

Monthly OPEX

Item Monthly Detail
Rent CHF 5,180 740m² × CHF 7/m²
Insurance CHF 500
Electricity CHF 560
Heating CHF 380
Water CHF 220
Maintenance CHF 520
Cleaning CHF 520
Marketing / Software / Misc CHF 600
Staff CHF 1,900 2 × CHF 950
Total Monthly OPEX CHF 10,380

Monthly Summary

Gross Revenue CHF 14,561
Booking Fees −CHF 1,258
Net Revenue CHF 13,302
Operating Costs −CHF 10,380
EBITDA CHF 2,922
Debt Service CHF 0
Net Cash Flow CHF 2,922

Revenue depends on three factors: court rental pricing, occupancy rates, and ancillary income (coaching, retail, food & beverage). Utilisation swings sharply by time of day and season — evenings and weekends tend to run at or near capacity, while weekday mornings and afternoons have idle courts. Per-venue median hourly rates, booked occupancy over time, and the spread across facilities are part of Padelnomics Research — the inputs above are calibrated from that data.

Financial Returns

Aarau, CH Returns & Financing

Return Metrics

IRR (5yr) 15.8%
MOIC 1.92x
Payback N/A
Cash-on-Cash 19.2%
Yield on Cost 20.0%
EBITDA Margin 22%

Exit Analysis

Exit Value (6.0x EBITDA) CHF 227,740
Remaining Loan CHF 0
Net Exit CHF 227,740

Financing

Loan Amount CHF 0
Rate / Term 5.0% / 10yr
Monthly Payment CHF 0

The return metrics above show how quickly your investment pays back and what long-term return you can expect. IRR (Internal Rate of Return) is the key metric — it accounts for the time value of money and lets you compare against alternative investments like real estate or equities. A payback period under 5 years is considered solid in the padel industry. These numbers use national figures for Switzerland. Adjust the assumptions in the planner to model your specific scenario.

Adjust these numbers for your own plan → Model it in the Planner

Market Context

At 9.3 courts per 100K residents, Aarau has moderate padel coverage. There is proven demand, but room for new facilities — particularly in underserved areas of the city or with a differentiated offering.

Padel is growing rapidly across Europe — many markets are seeing venue counts double within a few years. The sport's relatively low barriers to entry (less space than tennis, faster learning curve for players) continue to drive expansion.

Aarau Market Overview

Metric Value
Courts 2
Courts per 100K residents 9.3
Venues 1
Venues per 100K residents 4.7
padelnomics Score 43.0/100
Data Confidence 100%

FAQ

Is Aarau a good location for a padel center?

Aarau scores 43.0/100 on the padelnomics Score, which evaluates investment potential based on supply gaps, catchment reach, market maturity, and sports culture. A mid-range score means solid potential — the market has room, but requires careful site selection. Use the Padelnomics planner to model your specific assumptions.

What is the return on investment for a padel center in Aarau?

ROI depends on build cost, court count, pricing, and occupancy assumptions. The defaults in the model above are calibrated from current market and booking data for Aarau; the specific city- and venue-level inputs (median rates, per-venue occupancy, price trends) are part of Padelnomics Research. Adjust the inputs in the planner to see how your scenario compares.

How much does it cost to build a padel center in Aarau?

Total investment depends on venue type (indoor vs outdoor), land costs, and local construction standards in Switzerland. Typical benchmarks: an indoor court costs around CHF 23,500 for court equipment plus building and fit-out; outdoor courts are significantly cheaper. Use the financial planner for a detailed Aarau cost breakdown.

How many padel courts are there in Aarau?

Aarau has 2 padel courts across 1 venues. With a population of 22K, that translates to 9.3 courts per 100,000 residents.

What are typical padel court rental prices in Aarau?

Padel prices in Aarau vary between peak and off-peak hours, indoor vs outdoor facilities, and facility quality. City- and venue-level medians, P25–P75 spreads, and occupancy rates are part of Padelnomics Research — the inputs in the financial model above are calibrated from that data.

How does Aarau compare to other Switzerland cities?

Aarau's padelnomics Score of 43.0/100 reflects its investment potential among tracked Switzerland cities. See the Switzerland market overview for a full comparison across cities.

Ready to run the numbers for Aarau? → Build your business plan

Two questions worth settling first: how many courts fit on your plot? · will the site get permitted?


More Switzerland padel markets: Switzerland overview