Those Empty Courts Are Costing You More Than You Think

Summary: You haven't given them a reason to come during the day. The problem isn't demand - it's that you're not doing anything to capture it.

There's something that hurts.

Walking into your club at 11 in the morning, seeing all the courts empty, and knowing you're paying for every single one of them.

Rent. Electricity. Maintenance. Staff.

Everything's running. The courts aren't.

And the thing is, you know that from 7 to 10 PM it'll be chaos. Waiting lists, people complaining there's no room, phone ringing non-stop.

But during the day... silence.

The Math Nobody Wants to Do

Let's do some simple numbers.

It's not a direct loss. It doesn't come out of your pocket. But it's money you could be generating with infrastructure you ALREADY have and ALREADY pay for.

Why This Is More Frustrating Than Other Problems

If you have courts in bad shape, you know what to do: fix them.

If you have an employee who isn't working out, you know what to do: train them or replace them.

But empty daytime courts... what do you do?

You can't force people to come. You can't change that most people work 9 to 6.

And there's the trap: because the problem seems "structural," you accept it as inevitable.

The excuse: "People work during the day."

Yes. But not everyone.

The Uncomfortable Truth

The problem isn't that there aren't people available during the day.

The problem is you haven't given them a reason to come.

Think about it: if someone has a flexible schedule and can play whenever they want, why would they choose 11 AM over 7 PM?

• Because it's emptier? That's not a benefit, that's a signal that "something's off."
• Because it costs the same? Then there's no incentive.
• Because... why exactly?

Key point: If you can't answer that question, you've found your problem.

The Groups You're Ignoring

While you think "nobody can come during the day," there are people who can ONLY come during the day and have no option to do so.

Each of these groups has a specific barrier. And you're probably doing nothing to break it down.

What Clubs That Fill Off-Peak Hours Do

It's not magic. It's not having a better location. It's intention.

They create programs with their own identity. Not "come during the day." But "Seniors League - Tuesdays and Thursdays 10 AM" or "Express Padel for Professionals - 1 PM."

They build community in those time slots. A lone retiree won't show up. A group of retirees who found each other through the club, will.

They make off-peak hours have real benefits. Not just a low price (which can seem suspicious), but tangible advantages: less waiting, more tranquility, different atmosphere.

They solve the "I don't have anyone to play with" problem. Player matching, open groups, clinics where you don't need to come with a team.

What Does NOT Work

The Question You Need to Ask Yourself

What are you doing TODAY to make someone choose 11 AM over 7 PM?

If the answer is "nothing," then you don't have a demand problem. You have an action problem.

The courts are still there. Costs keep running. Time keeps passing.

Reality: The only variable you can change is what you do with that reality.

Where to Start

You don't need a perfect plan. You need ONE experiment.

1. Pick ONE group (the one that makes most sense for your club)
2. Design ONE simple program (fixed schedule, clear proposition)
3. Launch it small (5-10 people is fine to start)
4. Learn (what worked, what didn't, what to adjust)

Then repeat.

The worst possible outcome is learning what doesn't work. The best is starting to fill those courts that hurt to see empty today.

How much longer will you wait?