DENNIS LAFATA GATEWAY BID CLASSIC

February 7-9, 2026: 

Come join us in 2026!

America's Center - St. Louis, MO

Schedule

Saturday Start Times

8 AM:
All Open
14, 15 USA
12 Club
 

230 PM:
16, 17, 18 USA
15/16 Club
 

Depending on Seed:
8AM or 2:30PM
17/18 Club
13/14 Club

 

• 2026 Tournament Registration opens October 1, 2025
• 2026 Housing Registration opens September 2, 2025
• Open Divisions Offered: U14, U15, U16, U17, U18)
• USA Divisions Offered: U14, 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.org

Late Entry Deadline: January 1, 2026
Final Entry Deadline: February 2, 2026
Final AES Roster Deadline: February 5, 2026
Entry Fee: $800/team - $600/team for 11/12U - (Additional $50 if after late entry deadline)
Entry Process: Advanced Event Systems (AES) Tourney is listed as 26 Dennis Lafata Boys Bid Classic.
Team Online Check-in: Opens TBA  Closes TBA
Team In-Person Check-in: Friday February 6, 2026 - 3-9pm CST
There is no late check-in.  ALL TEAMS must be checked in before the first day of competition.

This year's Dennis Lafata Gateway Boys Festival Bid Event will be using Advanced Event Systems for its registration process. AES will be the website that is the choice of USA JNC Girls Championship, National Qualifiers, Regional’s, and many other events throughout the country.

1. Go to Advanced Event Systems to register your team and club.
2. Click on Create Account if you are a new user. If you already have a username and password, skip to step 4.
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. Once logged in, add players & staff by clicking on the appropriate link. AES integrated with USAV’s Webpoint system, if your region uses Webpoint, WE HIGHLY recommend using the USAV Import link. (This will save you time)
6. Click Teams – add teams
7. Enter events – you will build your roster after you select the event, division(s) per team – then click BUILD ROSTER.
8. Click on continue.
9. Check the entry form box and click print entry form.
10. Print form, sign, and send in with check or credit card information to Capitol Sports Center, 1915 Gladden Road, Plainfield, IN 46168.
11. Make sure that USAV rosters for each team gets updated by the roster deadline date!

The Capitol Sports Center staff will send out broadcast emails to inform you of other information and steps as they come available.

Entry fees must be received with completed entry form to be accepted into the tournament by January 1, 2026. This event is open to all teams USAV, JVA, or AAU, however, rosters do need to be submitted online by the roster deadline.

• Tournament held in St. Louis, MO
• Paid referees on all matches
• Guaranteed 7 matches
• Admission is 
• Entry Fee: $800 ($600 11/12 Boys Club) 
• Entry Deadline: February 2, 2026
• Roster Deadline: February 5, 2026
• Make checks payable to:
     Gateway Region Office (New Temporary Address)
  • 5555 St. Louis Mills Blvd. STE 265, Hazlewood, MO 63042
• Tournament Contact: Linus Shyu, shyu.gatewayvb@gmail.com
• Hotels Contacts: Porsha Porath - pporath@capitolsportscenter.com/ Emily Lynch -  elynch@capitolsportscenter.com

2026 BIDS AND MINIMUM FIELD SIZES

TBA

ADMISSION INFO – Dennis Lafata Classic 2026

Coaches / Parents / Spectators –

What does this mean for you?

In order to participate in the Dennis Lafata Gateway Boys Festival Bid Event, each out-of-town team must get rooms from the AES Approved hotel block. There are two easy ways to do this:

1. Call us at 1-800-476-0060 ext 118 and we will help you with our personable and helpful staff.  If you have any questions, please send Faith an email and she will gladly help you out!
2. Go online to https://www.advancedeventsystems.com/hotels and click on the appropriate event.
   • Click on the appropriate hotel.
   • Click on club/team/parents – book here
   • Select state and check box of appropriate club, and then appropriate teams.
   • Continue making reservation. It WILL be important that each room in the block attribute their room to the appropriate team.

Housing will open on Tuesday, September 2nd at 9 AM Eastern time. You will be able to go online and book on www.advancedeventsystems.com or call us at 800-476-0060 ext. 118.  Please be patient as our call volume is expected to be high.  Please leave us a voicemail or send an e-mail for assistance and we will respond at our earliest convenience. 

Teams can make room blocks or make individual reservations, it is up to what each club’s preference is and what is the easiest process for those groups. We are here to help and to make this process as easy as possible.

How does Stay to Play and Save benefit you?

1. Hotel Prices
   First and foremost, hotel prices have been driven down. We have prices from as low as $69-$79 for non-downtown hotels and have seen dramatic decreases for our downtown hotels as well.
2. Practice Balls
   The ability to leave practice balls at home allows for great savings. Teams that are flying in pay as much as $50-$100 to bring practice balls. We will now be able to have balls available for check out at the tournament desk. Two forms of ID will need to be left in order to take advantage of this benefit, but will be returned when the balls are returned. Please register before by emailing Scott McQueen at smcqueen@capitolsportscenter.com to take advantage of this savings. If you do not pre-register, it will be based on availability.
3. Coupons and discounts at local restaurants and shopping attractions
   With an increased commitment to the city and its hotels, we have been able to receive more opportunities for savings at various shops, restaurants, and local attractions that before would not have been available.

For discounts, please click here.

Championship Combines

Dennis Lafata Recruiting Combine 2026

February 6th - 6:30-8pm CST

St. Louis, MO - America Center (convention center)
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1975143298776?aff=oddtdtcreator

Questions? info@vbcombines.com

https://explorestlouis.com/lafata/

https://explorestlouis.com/meetings-conventions/americas-center/parking-information/

Please keep us in mind for any upcoming group transportation needs, especially last minute this month!  

At your convenience, I look forward to discussing the 17 vehicles that currently make up our fleet: 

• 6 passenger Cadillac Escalade SUV 
• 8-10 passenger Stretch Hummer 
• 11 passenger Transit Van 
• 28 passenger Shuttle Bus 
• (7) 30 passenger perimeter seated trolleys- http://www.stltrolley.com/index.php/st-louis-wedding-tours
• (3) 36 passenger forward seated trolleys
• 40 passenger Grech Mini Coach with a restroom on board
• (2) 56 passenger Motor Coaches with a restroom on board

please email - Brian @ brian@stlouistrolley.com for more details!

Exhibitor Event Information