# The Picklr files for Chapter 11, says its clubs stay open

> The indoor franchisor blamed lease guarantees for early franchisees. Founder Jorge Barragan: “That’s on us. I own it.”

- Publication: Pickleballer (https://pickleballer.world/)
- Section: The Business
- By: Pickleballer Desk
- Published: 2026-10-12T05:00:00-07:00
- URL: https://pickleballer.world/stories/picklr-files-chapter-11/
- Topics: The Picklr, Indoor clubs, Franchising

The Picklr, one of the fastest-growing names in indoor pickleball, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas, according to Fox Business.

The filing is a reorganization, not a shutdown. The company said its clubs remain open and that no locations will close directly because of the filing, though some contraction is expected.

## What went wrong

The company traced the filing partly to guarantees it signed on facility leases for early franchisees, covering about 40 locations.

> We signed, unfortunately, too many corporate guarantees that landed on the holding company, and that’s on us. I own it.
— Founder and CEO Jorge Barragan, to Fox Business

Per its franchise disclosure document, The Picklr posted a 2025 net loss of $4.4 million on $10.3 million in revenue.

## The lifeline

An investor group led by franchisee Tom Neale committed $4.5 million in financing, subject to court approval. Sports Business Journal reported the figure as $4.8 million.

## The bigger picture

Founded in 2021, The Picklr has more than 70 U.S. locations plus facilities in Australia, Canada and Japan. Its filing is a reminder that a booming sport and a profitable facility business are not the same thing, especially when the parent company is on the hook for the leases.

## Sources

- [Pickleball facility franchisor files for bankruptcy as founder acknowledges business mistake](https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/pickleball-facility-franchisor-files-bankruptcy-founder-acknowledges-business-mistake-i-own-it) — Fox Business
- [The Picklr files for bankruptcy](https://daily.sportandstory.com/p/the-picklr-files-for-bankruptcy) — Sport & Story

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