2025 Dennis Lafata Gateway Boys Bid Classic

Our 2025 event will return to the weekend before President's day - Saturday thru Monday February  8-10, 2025. 

Click here for Final 2024 Results!
Click here for Final 2023 Results!
Click here for Final 2022 Results!
Click here for Final 2021 Results!
Click here for Final 2020 Results!
Click here for final 2019 Results!
Click here for final 2018 Results!

Baller TV will be live streaming matches.  Pricing and Subscription information may be found by clicking here!

February 8-10, 2025

• 2025 Tournament Registration opens October 1, 2023
• 2025 Housing Registration opens September 1, 2023
• Open Divisions Offered: U14, U15, U16, U17, U18
• USA Divisions Offered: U14, U15, U16, U17, U18
• Club Divisions Offered: U11/12, U13/14, U15/16, U17/18
• 7 match guarantee for 13-18s Divisions
• 2 day (Saturday-Sunday) U11/12 Division
• First referees provided for all matches; teams to provide remainder of work crew (certified Adult R2 & scorer, 2 line judges, asst. scorer).
• For more information e-mail shyu.gatewayvb@gmail.com

Late Entry Begins: January 1, 2025
Final Entry Deadline: February 2, 2025
Final AES Roster Deadline: February 5, 2025
Entry Fee: $800/team - $600/team for 12U - (Additional $50 if after late entry deadline)
Entry Process: Advanced Event Systems (AES) Tourney is listed as 25 Dennis Lafata Boys Bid Classic.
Team Online Check-in: Opens Monday February 3, 2025 at 12am.  Closes Wednesday February 5, 2025 at 9pm CST
Team In-Person Check-in: Friday February 7, 2025 - 3-9pm CST
There is no late check-in.  ALL TEAMS must be checked in before the first day of competition.

First day 8AM Playing Waves: All Open, 11/12 Boys, 18 USA
First day 2:30PM Playing Waves: 14-17 USA, 13/14 Club, 17/18 Club

15/16 Boys Club AM/PM will be determined by seeding.

First day Girls Divisions 10-12s, 13s, 14s, 15s, 16s, 17s & 18s will be Mixed AM and PM

This 2025 Qualifier is a Stay & Play Event

Housing opens September 1!  Click here to make reservations!
Contact info for hotels: Hannah Wilhoite,  hwilhoite@capitolsportscenter.com or  1-317-839-5222 ext 111

2025 Playing Site

America Center
701 Convention Plaza
St Louis, MO 63101

Team Admission

Registered teams may roster up to 15 players, and 3 coaches.  Players in uniform get in free.  Credentials will only be issued for up to 3 rostered coaches.  Coaches that appear on multiple rosters will not be issued additional credentials.

General Admission

$50 for a 3-day pass.  1-day pass $20.  Children under 12 are free.  Passes go on sale at 7am Sat-Mon in Rm 120 of the convention center.  3-day passes may also be purchased cash-only on Friday Feb 7, 2025 at Championship Desk between 3-9pm CST.  Baller TV will provide streaming for the event.

Warmup Ball Rental

A very limited supply of warm-up balls will be provided for warm-up use during the event.  First emailed - first reserved.  A Driver's License deposit will be necessary to use a set of 6 balls.  A $50 charge for each lost ball will be incurred.  License is returned when all 6 balls are returned.  The final day to reserve balls is Thursday February 6, 2025 at 5pm.  Contact Keith kmattingly.gatewayvb@gmail.com

Practice Court Rental

Limited courts are available between 3-9pm Friday February 7, 2025 at $20/hr.  Courts are assigned on a 1st come 1st served basis once your entire team is present.

Food Options Around St. Louis

Here you can link to a field guide for the event. You can find  discounts that are offered exclusively for our volleyball attendees only.  Safe travels and see you soon: https://explorestlouis.com/capitol-sports/

Downtown Parking

A PDF map of parking is below, or you may follow this link to an interactive map of the downtown area to locate parking garages for the weekend: https://explorestlouis.com/travel-tools/get-around-st-louis/downtown-parking/

Boys 18s Open Division – 3 Open Bids – Trickles to 12th
Boys 18s USA Division – 5 USA Bids – Trickles to 18th
Boys 17s Open Division – 3 Open Bids – Trickles to 8th
Boys 17s USA Division – 5 USA Bids – Trickles to 13th
Boys 16 Open Division – 3 Open Bids – Trickles to 8th
Boys 16 USA Division – 5 USA Bids – Trickles to 17th
Boys 15 Open Division – 3 Open Bids – Trickles to 6th
Boys 15 USA Division - 3 USA Bids - Trickles to 7th
Boys 14 Open Division – 3 Open Bids –Trickles to 7th
Boys 14 USA Division – 2 USA Bids – Trickles to 5th

Additional Bids have not yet been awarded as of 1/28/25

1. Go to Advanced Event Systems to register your team and club.
2. Click on Add Club if you are a new user. If you already have a password and username, skip to step 4. If not, fill out the club info and hit the submit button.
3. Next, fill out the Club Director info, creating a username and password and making sure to keep your username and password in an accessible spot for future use.
4. Enter your username and password and login.
5. Click on Staff, then "Add New Staff." Enter the information, and hit the submit button.
6. Click on Players, then "Add New Players." Enter the information, and hit the submit button. Repeat for all players.
7. Click on Teams from the list on the left.
8. Click on Add New Teams, enter info, and submit information.
9. Click on your new team, and then on "Add/Update Staff." Click on "Add New Staff" and choose from the pull down list the available names and hit submit.
10. Go back to "Teams," click on the selected team, and then on "Add/Update Team Players." Choose from the pull down list of available names and hit submit. Continue until all team players are added.
11. Click on "Enter Events." Hit the "Register" 25 Dennis Lafata Boys Bid Classic.
12. Select the division from the pull down list that you wish to enter your team and click on "Register Teams."
13. Make sure you update your results under the results section!
14. Contact AES Housing at 1-800-476-0060 x18 for rooms to ensure that you meet the Stay to Play requirement of 12 room nights per team.
15. Event staff will send out broadcast emails to inform you of other information and steps as they come available. The checks and registration form can be sent to Gateway Region Volleyball; 601 Gravois Bluffs Blvd Ste G, Fenton, MO 63026.

Friday February 7, 2025 - 6:30-8pm

America's Center Convention Complex - Downtown St. Louis

Registration Link :  Click Here!

There are  spots for college coaches to attend  - just register within University Athlete.

Online Check-in!
Clubs/Teams must check their teams in online.  A representative of the team will still need to stop by the Convention Center Friday February 7, 2024 between 3-9pm (CST) to pickup girls team ticketing, boys teams coach wristbands and sign off on bid intent.  Roster changes after online check-in window closes will incur a $25 penalty.

Online Check in Opens 12am (CST) Monday February 3, 2025
Online Check in Closes 9pm (CST) Wednesday February 5, 2025

In-Person Team Credential pick-up: Friday February 7, 2024 - 3-9pm (CST) Teams that experience last minute changes after completing online check-in will need to  manually update their roster at championship desk and pickup credentials between 3-9pm in the Convention Center.

There is no late check-in.  ALL TEAMS must complete check-in either online or make final changes in-person on Friday February 7, 2025 between 3-9pm.

A Team/Club representative must pick-up girls team ticketing & boys teams coach wristbands Friday February 7, 2025 between 3-9pm.

Click here for  step by step PowerPoint instructions to submit Foreign Team Paperwork directly to USAV. 

This year, USAV will compile ALL foreign team paperwork once for ALL Boys Qualifiers, so clubs/teams no longer have to submit paperwork for each individual event. Follow the link above for step by step instructions to complete this process!

To monitor your foreign boys team status, click here!