Sports venues across the UK face a familiar challenge: high interest from players but low actual engagement. Courts, pitches, and tables remain under-used, members go inactive, and casual participants drift away — not because they don’t want to play, but because they struggle to connect with others to actually organise and play.
It isn’t lack of interest — the data shows people do want to be active. According to Sport England’s Active Lives surveys measuring sport and physical activity engagement, regular physical activity is common in England, with many millions meeting weekly activity guidelines, but there remain barriers that stop activity becoming consistent.
Why Empty Slots Aren’t Just About Cost — They’re About Connection
Participation patterns show that while many people want to play sport, too often they never make it to the venue because they can’t find partners, teammates, or games.
For example, LTA figures show that padel participation in Britain has grown rapidly, with over 400,000 players across the country — but if those players can’t find opponents or partners, courts sit empty and bookings disappear.
At the same time, England’s highest-ever levels of physical activity — with around 30 million adults meeting weekly sport and activity targets — show that demand exists broadly for sport and physical activity. Sport England’s latest Active Lives survey report confirms this record participation, yet venues still struggle to convert interest into actual play.
These activity trends highlight the real issue venues face: people want to be active, but without easy ways to find others to play with, participation often never happens.
AppsLeisure Solves the “Who Do I Play With?” Problem
AppsLeisure is not just another booking system — it’s a community engagement platform built for sports venues that solves the root cause of low engagement by making connection effortless.
Instead of relying on WhatsApp groups, scattered social posts, or external apps, AppsLeisure gives members a centralised space to:
- Find and connect with other players looking to play right now
- See existing sessions with open slots and join instantly
- Communicate via an in-app live timeline
- Organise games, teams, and matchups easily
Whether it’s a tennis player looking for a doubles partner or padel enthusiasts searching for a fourth, AppsLeisure turns potential play into actual games — and that means more footfall for your venue.
Engagement Drives Real Revenue — Not Just Bookings
Booking a court once isn’t enough. Venues see real revenue when members come back again and again, renew memberships, and participate in extra services like coaching, league play, or casual social games.
AppsLeisure gives venue owners real-time insights into:
- Active vs. inactive members
- Games played vs. slots available
- Communication and timeline engagement within your community
This data allows venues to intervene early when a member starts to disengage and prevent churn — something traditional booking systems can’t do. Actionable engagement insights like these translate directly into improved retention and long-term revenue — a fact supported by broader activity participation research showing evolving patterns of involvement in sport.
Your Members Become Your Best Marketers
One of AppsLeisure’s biggest advantages is built-in social sharing.
When members share game results, photos, or match highlights on social media, they’re not just celebrating — they’re promoting your venue to their networks. This kind of organic visibility isn’t just eyeballs — it’s trusted social proof that drives real-world interest.
Studies into community-led participation and word-of-mouth engagement show that peer recommendations are significantly more effective than traditional paid advertising. These shareable moments mean your members help grow your venue for you.
Fully Branded, Fully Under Your Control, Ready Fast
AppsLeisure also gives your venue a fully branded experience — your logo, colours, and domain front and centre, not a third-party platform.
With AppsLeisure, you can immediately:
- Control what sports and sessions members see
- Add multiple venue administrators
- Manage community announcements
- Invite members into the app with simple QR access
And best of all? Your app can be live in minutes, not months.
This keeps members feeling like they belong to your community, not just another generic booking service.
The Cost of Doing Nothing Is Higher Than You Think
Participation trends show that sport and physical activity levels are growing overall, yet this growth doesn’t automatically help your venue unless members find ways to play together.
Without tools that help members find games, connect with other players, and engage socially, venues risk losing revenue quietly through under-used facilities and inactive members.
Venues don’t just need another booking system — they need a platform designed to build connection, community, and engagement.
AppsLeisure is that platform — turning interest into attendance, bookings into play, and members into a thriving community.