Pregame with these 5 games at The Armory STL

The St. Louis Armory has been through many incarnations. Originally the home to the 138th Infantry of the Missouri National Guard, the building has hosted events from national bowling tournaments and indoor baseball, to Tina Turner and The Grateful Dead concerts.

Refurbished during the pandemic, the historic venue has been transformed into a hedonistic play space for adults and rebranded to The Armory STL. Having been in development after a decade of planning, this venue finally opened to the public in December 2022 to provide St. Louis with what it craves: community, crowds and a sense of critical mass. The Armory STL has claimed its spot as one of the largest indoor entertainment complexes in the Midwest, with nearly six acres to gather, eat, drink and play. The location has a 60-foot stage for live shows, 6 bars, various local food options and more.

Harkening back to its connection with sports, The Armory STL plays host to over 40 interactive activities for patrons to scratch their competitive itch. Here are five games to pregame the main game.

Giant chess

St. Louis prides itself on being the chess capital of America, so it only makes sense to try your hand at a game. The giant version makes the strategic mind game even more interactive and, frankly, cooler than it already is.

Mini-bowling

Are you feeling lucky? Try your hand at strike – or at least try not to get a gutterball – during a tiny game of bowling.

Giant beer pong

What’s better than regular beer pong? Giant beer pong, of course. Grab a brew from the bar, some buddies, and see who can sink the ball (and who has to drink).

Cornhole

No Midwestern outdoor function is complete without cornhole. Get a team together and get competitive. Losers buy the next round.

Giant paddle pong

If the regular version of this game isn’t your forte, the larger version might just be. Grab a paddle and give it a go.

Roshae Hemmings is an arts and culture magazine journalist from St. Louis, MO. A graduate from the Missouri School of Journalism, Roshae has bylines in the Columbia Missourian, Vox Magazine and 5280 Magazine discussing topics ranging from pop culture, social justice and eat and drink. She is a foodie at heart and enjoys eating food as much as learning about the story behind it. When she’s not working on a story, Roshae enjoys cooking, watching and analyzing reality TV, and spending time with family and friends.