💡 Motivation

Gateway Smash was created as a response to frustrations with previous STL pickleball leagues — many of which charged $150–$175 for a season, used outdoor courts prone to cancellations, and felt disorganized or inconsistent.

I wanted to build a grassroots, player-friendly alternative that focuses on community, fairness, and affordability — without sacrificing structure or competition.

Gateway Smash is:

• 100% volunteer-run — no one is making money
• Powered by free tools like GroupMe, Notion, ChatGPT, and Global Pickleball Network
• Played indoors at Arch Pickleball, so matches happen rain or shine
• Designed to be easy to manage and scale while staying fun and welcoming

All fees go directly toward court rental, and we’re using existing platforms to keep things simple and cost-effective for everyone involved.

💰 How much does it cost?

The total cost to join the league is $50 per player for the full 8 weeks.

This includes all court rental fees and the Stripe processing fee — there are no additional charges.

🔢 Cost Breakdown:

• Court rental:

  $24/hour × 2 hours × 4 courts × 8 weeks = $1,536 total

• Target player count:

  $1,536 ÷ 32 players = $48/player

• Stripe fee:

  ~3% of $50 = $1.46

Total: $48 court fee + $1.46 stripe fee = $49.46 - Rounded to $50 for simplicity