Vibe Check: The in-person Major League Pickleball experience is fun, relaxing and welcoming

MESA, Ariz.—If you’ve ever been to the US Open, you know how big the event feels. The stadiums are massive, with Arthur Ashe having seats so high up that you literally get a bird’s-eye view of the action. The tournament has giant sponsors, like American Express, Chase, J.P. Morgan and Emirates, and they make their presences felt with logos are plastered everywhere. It also features a massive food village, with options that represent some of the best restaurants all around the world. In total, the event hosted 776,120 people in 2022.

But as amazing as attending a huge tennis tournament can be, the experience can sometimes be a little overwhelming. And while there are similarities between tennis and pickleball, the in-person experience is very different.

In attending Major League Pickleball Mesa on Saturday, January 28, I was able to get a feel for the tournament experience at one of MLP's larger venues. That experience wasn’t anything like attending a big tennis tournament, but it was at once intimate and significant.

At Legacy Sports USA in Mesa, Arizona, a $10 grounds pass gave me the ability to walk around the venue like I owned the place. I was able to sit right in the front row behind the St. Louis Shock, on the Championship Court, which served as the main stadium for the event. Then, I was able to walk around the grounds, where I got up close and personal for a meeting between the New York Hustlers and ATX Pickleballers.

The Hustlers and Pickleballers made for one of the more unique match-ups I got to see firsthand, as it took place in more of a conventional outdoor setting. The Hustlers also had the strongest following of any of the teams I saw. The New York fans were loving what they were seeing from the mixed doubles duo of Tyson McGuffin and Anna Bright, erupting after every point their team won. In many ways, it was giving off college tennis vibes. But it had a bit of a bigger feel, as the production at these tournaments is top notch.

Another fun aspect of going to these events is that you can easily go and watch your favorite teams practice. And unlike the US Open, there weren’t any fences obstructing my views. If it’s something that interests you, there was also the option of reserving some of the courts and playing directly next to some of the pros. You won’t experience that anywhere else.

It was also just interesting seeing the pros themselves walking amongst the fans. You occasionally see players walking to and from the locker rooms when you attend tennis tournaments, but this was something different. When I checked back in on the Championship Court, I ended up standing right next to some of the players from ATX. I stood in a pack of fans and listened to the ”DreamBreaker singalong,” which had most in attendance belting out Neil Diamond’s Sweet Caroline. It took every fiber of my being not to channel my inner Jack Black and yell, “Neil, I want to party with you!”

All in all, the environment just felt fun, relaxing and welcoming—which is fitting for a sports league that has partnered with Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville. The conversations were as common as dinks, and it felt nice to be part of something that is growing so rapidly. We suggest taking advantage of the great deals on ground passes while you still can.