Day 1 of MLP Dallas Classic

Day 1 – MLP Dallas Classic Recap

Working from home definitely has its perks—like being able to attend the MLP Dallas Classic without missing a beat. I just brought my laptop and worked right from the venue at Pickler Universe in Carrollton.

This place is impressive. Originally built with 12 courts, they recently expanded and opened up the other side of the building, bringing the total to 24 courts. For the MLP event, they went all out. They transformed part of the space into a Championship Court and Grandstand Court, giving it a true professional and electric vibe.

They removed a court section to create a vendor zone filled with merch, swag, and brands promoting their gear. Some pros used the nearby courts to warm up and casually hang out—which made it super easy to catch them in a more relaxed setting. My son and I took full advantage, snapping pics and asking them to sign his Signature Pickleball we bought last year at the PPA Tour. We missed out on autographs back then, but we’re making up for it now!

The matches? Straight fire. Every game felt better than the last. Watching the intensity, the rallies, and the energy makes you want to hit the courts immediately—or maybe buy a new paddle (because clearly, it’s the paddle’s fault, not ours 😂).

Here’s the wild part: I entered an IG giveaway from the LA Mad Drops for 2 VIP tickets. Standard stuff—follow, tag a friend, and drop a comment. I jokingly commented, “I’d rather be at MLP than a Coldplay concert,” and guess what? THEY PICKED ME. I couldn’t believe it. I usually enter giveaways just for fun, never expecting to win anything. At one point, I even thought it was a scam—but it was 100% legit. They sent me the tickets and said they’d throw in some swag too!

Now here's the dilemma: I’m going VIP on Saturday thanks to the  LA Mad Drops, but I’m also volunteering that same day at the Dallas Flash table. Who do I rep?? It’s my last day attending, so I might just wear both and call it even 😄

Thursday Championship Court Lineup:

• NY Hustlers vs LA Mad Drops

• SoCal Hard Eights vs Carolina Hogs

• Phoenix Flames vs St. Louis Shock

• SoCal Hard Eights vs Dallas Flash

Let’s go!