St. Louis Shock Announces Amateur Tournament to Run Alongside MLP Professional Event

ST. LOUIS, MO - The St. Louis Shock, a premier team in Major League Pickleball (MLP), today announced the launch of the St. Louis Classic Amateur Event, a tournament that will run in conjunction with the MLP St. Louis this summer. This event represents a significant opportunity for amateur pickleball players to compete in a professional tournament setting.

The St. Louis Classic will follow a PPA-style bracket format, identical to amateur events at PPA tournaments. Unlike the team-based format of MLP, the St. Louis Classic will be structured as an individual bracket event, allowing participants to showcase their personal skills against other amateur competitors.

"We're excited to bring this level of amateur competition to St. Louis alongside our professional MLP event," said Andrew Haines, Chief Operating Officer of the St. Louis Shock. "This tournament creates a pathway for amateur players to experience competition in a professional environment and furthers our mission of growing the sport at all levels."

The tournament will be held at Arch Pickleball and Badminton, located at 11333 Blake Dr, Bridgeton, Missouri, 63044. Registration is now open, with limited spots available for competitors across various skill levels and age divisions.

"The St. Louis Classic exemplifies our commitment to the pickleball community," continued Haines. "By hosting both professional and amateur events simultaneously, we're creating a complete pickleball experience that celebrates the sport at every level of play."

Participants and spectators can expect a professionally run tournament with the same attention to detail that characterizes MLP events.

Registration for the St. Louis Classic is available at https://pickleballtournaments.com/tournaments/st-louis-classic-1

About the St. Louis Shock: The St. Louis Shock is a professional pickleball team competing in Major League Pickleball (MLP). Since its founding in 2023, the team has experienced explosive growth, quickly establishing itself as an innovative leader both on and off the court. The Shock continues to set the pace for the sport's expansion through cutting-edge community events, youth development programs, and championship-caliber professional competition.