Beloved pickleball giant files for bankruptcy as founder acknowledges huge business blunder: ‘I own it’

DAILYMAIL.COM • 1h ago

By SARA MCGIFF, US REAL ESTATE & CONSUMER REPORTER Updated: 15:18 14 Oct 2026

The company behind one of America’s biggest indoor pickleball chains has filed for bankruptcy after its founder admitted that a bad business decision pushed the company over the edge.

The Picklr operates more than 70 indoor pickleball facilities across the US and in Australia, Canada and Japan. The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on October 9 in Texas.

Founder and chief executive Jorge Barragan acknowledged that his company took on too many financial obligations by guaranteeing lease payments for some of its early franchisees.

‘We signed, unfortunately, too many corporate guarantees that landed on the holding company, and that’s on us. I own it,’ Barragan told Sports Business Journal.

Around 40 locations had corporate guarantees, which became an unsustainable burden for the parent company, he said.

The bankruptcy filing is intended to give the business time to restructure its finances and renegotiate lease agreements with landlords, rather than shut down its network of clubs.

The Picklr said its clubs and independently owned franchise locations remain open, with members continuing to play as usual.

‘Our clubs are open. Our members are playing,’ the company said in a public statement cited by the International Association of Pickleball and Padel Facilities.

Barragan said Chapter 11 would allow the company to work with landlords to make its franchise locations more profitable and give operators a better chance of succeeding over the long term.

The filing comes after a period of rapid expansion for the company, which was founded in 2021 and began franchising in 2023 as interest in pickleball surged.

But its growth has come with significant financial pressure.

The Picklr recorded a net loss of $4.4 million on $10.3 million in revenue in 2025, according to financial statements reported by Sports Business Journal.

The company’s total liabilities had reached approximately $19 million by the end of March, the publication reported.

An investor group led by Picklr franchisee and investor Tom Neale has committed $4.8 million to sponsor the company’s reorganization and $4.5 million in financing, subject to court approval.

Neale told Sports Business Journal that he and other franchisees still believe the business has a future.

‘We’re convinced that the model works,’ he said, adding that the restructuring would allow the company to address business challenges and negotiate with landlords and franchisees.

The bankruptcy filing follows staff reductions that Barragan described as a temporary measure to prepare for restructuring.

While the company does not expect locations to close as a direct result of the filing, Barragan acknowledged that some contraction could lie ahead.

He said the goal was to put franchisees in the strongest possible position over the next 18 months to two years, allowing them to remain in business for the duration of their leases.

Family of 24-year-old mauled to death by tiger at Yorkshire zoo pay tribute to ‘bright young man’…

How traditional British surnames are dying out: Khan, Ahmed and Ali enter top 10 baby names and…

Trump plucked Katie Zacharia from obscurity to be the new face of his White House. 15 excruciating…

Emirati royal passed out on busy west London street with three-year-old child after cocaine binge

IT specialist father-of-two, 42, named as man who plunged to his death from Six Flags Over Georgia…

Pope Leo has lung cancer, Vatican confirms: Pontiff is diagnosed after operation

Four out of five new jobs went to foreigners in the past decade, new report reveals

Revealed, final hours of the tiger attack victim: Former child actor, 24, mauled to death at…

London’s oldest restaurant, Rules, ‘where kings dined and politicians and writers plotted’, given to…

Innocent couple killed alongside two of their children in arson attack suffered three-year campaign…

Ukraine accuses America of helping Russian war effort as Starlink is ‘throttled’ overnight and US…

Driver crashed into grammar school head cycling home before dragging him ‘for over a mile’ then…

Football coach goes viral for his ‘fight’ not to even glance at glamorous journalist during…

Hunt for ‘killer’ after couple and two children die in house fire – and two more youngsters fight…

A rather unorthodox priest: Father sprinkles holy water over fence during bitter boundary dispute…

‘Tasteless’ Trump sparks outrage with AI video parodying Yorkshire zoo tiger attack that shows…

Pickleball giant files for bankruptcy as founder acknowledges blunderComments are subject to our House rules and TermsNewest{{#isModerationStatus}}{{moderationStatus}}

No one seems to have shared their thoughts on this topic yetLeave a comment so your voice will be heard first.

{{upVotes}}{{downVotes}}{{#replies.comments}}{{^isLast}}{{initials}}{{userAlias}}, United Kingdom, {{formattedDateAndTime}}{{message}}

{{upVotes}}{{downVotes}}{{/isLast}}{{#isLast}}{{initials}}{{userAlias}}, United Kingdom, {{formattedDateAndTime}}{{message}}

{{upVotes}}{{downVotes}}{{/isLast}}{{/replies.comments}}{{/replies.totalCount}}{{^replies.totalCount}}{{initials}}{{userAlias}}, United Kingdom, {{formattedDateAndTime}}{{message}}

{{upVotes}}{{downVotes}}{{/replies.totalCount}}{{/isComment}}The opinions and views expressed in the comments section are solely those of the individual users and do not represent or reflect the opinions, views, or positions of MailOnline. MailOnline does not endorse, support, or verify the accuracy of any user-generated content.Terms|Privacy|FeedbackOldest{{#isModerationStatus}}{{moderationStatus}}