The Picklr, a franchisor of indoor pickleball facilities, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas, according to the company. The filing is intended to support a reorganization, and the company says its clubs and independently operated franchise locations remain open.
Founder and CEO Jorge Barragan told Sports Business Journal that guarantees The Picklr made on some early franchisees’ facility leases became a burden for the parent company. He said roughly 40 locations had such arrangements and accepted responsibility for the decision. The company has said restructuring could help it negotiate with landlords and franchisees.
An investor group led by franchisee Tom Neale has committed financing to support the reorganization, according to reports cited in the source material. The company’s statement described a $4.5 million commitment subject to court approval; Sports Business Journal reported a $4.8 million commitment. The amount and terms should therefore be confirmed against court filings.
The petition’s financial snapshot, dated Aug. 31, listed approximately $915,000 in assets and $2.39 million in liabilities, according to the International Association of Pickleball and Padel Facilities. It also listed about $70,000 in bank accounts. The association cautioned that listed contingent and disputed claims do not establish final liability or the full extent of lease guarantees. Separately, Sports Business Journal reported that company financial statements showed a $4.4 million net loss on $10.3 million in revenue in 2025, and about $19 million in liabilities at the end of March.
Founded in 2021, The Picklr began franchising in 2023 and has expanded to more than 70 U.S. locations, with facilities also reported in Australia, Canada and Japan. Barragan said the company expects some contraction, but that no locations would close directly because of the filing. These statements describe the company’s current plans and do not guarantee that all facilities will remain open.
