Indiana Gets Major League Boost as The Picklr Joins St. Louis Shock

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – April 02, 2026 – The rapidly expanding world of professional pickleball has officially planted a major flag in Central Indiana. In a landmark move for the region's burgeoning sports scene, The Picklr, North America's premier indoor pickleball franchise, announced today that its local clubs will serve as the exclusive minor league affiliate for the St. Louis Shock, a powerhouse team in Major League Pickleball (MLP).

The partnership creates a direct, structured pathway for Hoosier players, from casual enthusiasts to aspiring professionals, to connect with the highest level of the sport. It signifies a major step in the professionalization of pickleball's grassroots, linking a dominant MLP champion with one of the fastest-growing facility franchises in the nation.

A New Era for Hoosier Pickleball

Central Indiana is already a hotbed for pickleball, with over 180 courts across the Indianapolis metro area and a passionate, growing player base. The arrival and rapid expansion of The Picklr has supercharged this growth. Pickle Indy, LLC, the local franchise group led by Indianapolis businessmen Ron Brock and Dave Gilreath, opened locations in Keystone Crossing in December 2024 and a massive 19-court facility in Noblesville in January 2025—the largest of its kind in the country. With three more locations slated for Avon, Greenwood, and downtown Indianapolis in 2026, the infrastructure for a pickleball revolution is firmly in place.

This new affiliation with the St. Louis Shock adds a layer of professional legitimacy and opportunity on top of that infrastructure.

"As part of the Shock family, The Picklr brings an exclusive opportunity to the Indiana pickleball market," said Ron Brock and Dave Gilreath, managing partners of Pickle Indy, LLC, in a statement. "The Shock Minor League member benefits just add to the competition, community, and membership perks we already offer our players at The Picklr. This alliance... encompasses the greater Indianapolis metropolitan area that also includes Purdue, Ball State, and Indiana Universities."

The partnership is a strategic move for the St. Louis Shock, a team that dominated the 2025 season with a 24-1 record and an MLP Cup Championship. By tapping into the fervent Indiana market, the Shock expands its developmental footprint and brand recognition.

"Central Indiana has a passionate and growing pickleball community, and this partnership reflects exactly the kind of market we want to be in," noted Ross Chaifetz, owner of the St. Louis Shock and an investor in The Picklr. "Ron, Dave, and their team have been exceptional to work with, and we look forward to growing pickleball and the Shock family together."

Building the Professional Pipeline

This agreement is more than just a branding exercise; it integrates Central Indiana into the formal Minor League Pickleball (MiLP) system. This national program, which the Shock is expanding aggressively, is designed to mirror the farm systems of traditional sports like baseball. It provides amateur players a clear-cut path for development, competition, and exposure.

The MiLP program welcomes players of all ages and skill levels, using the DUPR (Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating) system to create balanced divisions for competition. Members of the Shock's minor league program at The Picklr's Indiana locations will receive a comprehensive benefits package, including a team uniform, registration fees for four tournaments, instructed training, and discounts on equipment. Crucially, it also offers a chance to qualify for the MiLP Nationals in February 2027, which in 2025 featured a $100,000 prize pool.

This structure is part of a larger trend within Major League Pickleball. Teams like the Atlanta Bouncers and Texas Ranchers have also established MiLP partnerships, creating a competitive ecosystem for player development across the country. The Shock's program, which spanned 100 players in 2025, is projected to exceed 500 by the end of 2026 and top 1,000 players in 2027, with the Indiana partnership playing a key role in that growth.

The Business of the Boom

The alliance between The Picklr and the St. Louis Shock is a calculated move grounded in the explosive financial growth of pickleball. Major League Pickleball, founded in 2021, has seen its valuation and viewership skyrocket. After a 2024 merger with the rival PPA Tour, the league has consolidated its power, drawing significant investment and media attention. Team valuations have climbed from under $1 million at launch to as high as $16 million for an expansion franchise in 2025.

Broadcasts are now a fixture on major networks. The 2025 MLP Finals on CBS, for example, drew an average of 433,000 viewers, demonstrating the sport's growing mainstream appeal. This visibility fuels sponsorships, ticket sales, and the value of affiliations like the one in Indiana.

Simultaneously, The Picklr is executing an aggressive national and international expansion. The franchise sold 276 units in the first quarter of 2024 alone and has attracted high-profile investors like former NFL quarterback Drew Brees, who is an owner and developer for franchises in the Midwest, including Indiana. The indoor pickleball facility market, which reached $1.43 billion in 2024, is projected to more than double by 2033, and The Picklr is positioning itself as the dominant brand in that space. This partnership allows the franchise to offer a unique competitive advantage—a direct link to an MLP champion—that other facilities cannot match.

From Local Courts to a National Stage

For Central Indiana, this partnership solidifies its status as a significant player in the national pickleball landscape. The combination of world-class indoor facilities and a direct pipeline to the professional ranks is a powerful draw for talent. It creates the potential for the region to host larger, more prestigious tournaments, attracting players and tourism dollars from across the Midwest.

The impact extends beyond elite players. The structured programming and high-level coaching associated with the MiLP will elevate the quality of play for everyone, from beginners learning the basics at a Picklr clinic to university students forming competitive club teams. With a robust pickleball scene already taking shape at Purdue, IU, and Ball State, the Shock affiliation provides a new level of aspiration and a tangible connection to the professional world.

By linking local courts to the national stage, The Picklr and the St. Louis Shock are not just building a talent pipeline; they are investing in the community and culture of a sport that continues to capture the nation's attention. This collaboration ensures that as pickleball grows, Central Indiana will be right in the middle of the action.