Hoop St. Louis is upping the game at birthday parties, festivals, and backyard get-togethers across the metro area.
The rentable basketball arcade game on wheels launched in March and was inspired by event staples like photo booths and bounce houses. It’s engaging, easy to understand, and—perhaps most importantly—gets people interacting.
“Basketball is universal, especially in a sports city like St. Louis, so the thought was: what if we could bring that competitive, high-energy feel anywhere?” says Hoop St. Louis owner and founder Andrew Williams. “Once we saw how a mobile hoop setup could turn any space into a mini event, it just clicked.”
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Booking the trailer is about as straightforward as the game itself. Prices are clearly listed online, with three-hour rentals starting at $400. Once booked, the Hoop St. Louis team handles the setup, opens the trailer, and lets guests shoot to their heart’s content.
The rental includes access to four custom-built arcade basketball games, an optional light show, and a sound system. The appeal becomes obvious as soon as the games start, Williams says.
“You get competition, cheering, people challenging each other—it creates a natural energy that spreads across the whole event,” Williams says. “It’s not just entertainment, it’s an experience that pulls people in.”
The company also offers oversized lawn games like Big Jenga and Connect 4. Together, Williams explains, the games create more of an activity hub than a single attraction, giving guests multiple ways to engage throughout an event.
Better yet, setup is completely hands-off. The Hoop St. Louis team arrives 15 to 30 minutes before the event begins, brings the court right to your curb, and packs everything up once the rental period ends. Additional time is available for $125 per hour, while all-day rentals cost $1,000.
“The response has been great so far,” Williams says. “We’ve worked with birthday parties across St. Louis, partnered with places like Ballpark Village and local venues like HotShots and Ray’s SportsHouse, and have been getting strong interest from festivals and community events. People immediately understand the concept once they see it in action.”
Looking ahead, Williams and his team are actively looking to participate in more large-scale events and activations throughout the region. The ultimate goal, he says, is simple: become the go-to name for interactive entertainment in St. Louis.
“We want people to think of Hoop St. Louis anytime they want to bring energy and engagement to an event.”
