Marathon MLP St. Louis Pickleball Event: Marathon MLP St. Louis begins Thursday, July 17, at Chaifetz Arena on the campus of Saint Louis University. The event is hosted by the St. Louis Shock and brings professional team-based pickleball to a 10,600-seat indoor venue with top players and high-energy entertainment planned for fans.
Excitement Builds Around the Venue and Atmosphere
The event follows the Edward Jones MLP Mid-Season Tournament in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and is expected to deliver another thrilling weekend of pro-level pickleball. Chief Operating Officer of the St. Louis Shock, Andrew Haines, is confident this stop will stand out.
“We’re expecting it to be a world-class event,” said Andrew Haines on The Hannah Johns Podcast. “It’s going to be a different type of venue than most of the MLPs, so we’re really, really excited to get this going, and the response of the community has been off the charts so far.”
He emphasized the importance of the facility’s features in creating a unique fan experience.
“The seating structure and the LED and digital assets that are within the arena are going to help enhance the experience for fans. It’s climate-controlled, which is nice, along with just the atmosphere, the noise, and the music. We’re planning some great stuff for the intros to the Saturday and Sunday night matches, so we want it to be an event,” Haines said.
Bringing More than Just Pickleball
Haines stressed the importance of making pickleball events more than just matches.
“You have to make it about more than just the sport. Pickleball is a great sport and we’ve got a great following, but we want to reach that next level and get new fans, and I think we could do that by creating just a great time out. You come out to this event, whether you’re a pickleball fan or not, you’re going to leave thinking, ‘Wow! This was a great time!’”
Hometown Team Ready to Shine
The St. Louis Shock will compete in front of a home crowd for the first time. The team’s roster includes Anna Bright, Kate Fahey, Hayden Patriquin, and Gabe Tardio. Haines expects a strong showing of local support.
“St. Louis is a great sports town. You have great support with the Cardinals, the Blues, even St. Louis City SC, so you’ve got that support already. People also in St. Louis, they like it when you’re winning, and we’re pretty fortunate to have a great team right now,” said Haines.
He also explained what makes Major League Pickleball events special for fans.
“What makes this really exciting is just the team aspect. It’s still kind of new to a lot of people out there. This will be the first team professional event here in St. Louis. It’s just a little bit different than your PPA style. There’s more that team camaraderie and that hometown team element. We’ve got some good matches scheduled for the event, so we’re really excited to kick that off.”
View this post on Instagram
A Key Moment for Pickleball in St. Louis
As pickleball continues to grow, Marathon MLP St. Louis is a major step for the sport in the Midwest. With elite players, strong local support, and an entertainment-filled setup, the event could help bring new fans to professional pickleball and make team events more popular across the country.
News in Brief: Marathon MLP St. Louis Pickleball Event
Marathon MLP St. Louis begins July 17 at Chaifetz Arena, hosted by the St. Louis Shock. With pro players, a large indoor venue, and special fan features, the event brings team pickleball to St. Louis for the first time. Organizers hope to grow the sport’s following through fun and exciting match days.
ALSO READ: St. Louis Shock Stun New Jersey 5s Again, Set Up Final Clash with Unbeaten Dallas Flash