Hoopfest
Courts set up on West Spokane Falls Blvd next to Riverfront park in downtown Spokane, June 2014.
StatusActive
GenreFestival, Sporting Event
Date(s)Last weekend in June.
FrequencyAnnually
Location(s)Spokane, Washington
(Downtown Spokane)
Coordinates47°39′41″N 117°25′07″W / 47.6614769°N 117.4184936°W / 47.6614769; -117.4184936
CountryUnited States
Founded1990 (1990)
Participants24,000
Attendance253,000 [1]
Area42 City Blocks
Activity3-on-3 Basketball
Websitewww.spokanehoopfest.net

Hoopfest is an annual outdoor 3-on-3 basketball tournament held in Downtown Spokane, Washington.

It is the largest event of its kind in the world. In 2011, the event drew 27,876 players on 7,040 teams.[2] It began in 1989 with 2,009 players on 512 teams, and has grown to over 6,700 teams. It is estimated that around 175,000 fans visited the event in both 2010 and 2011. The total number of people at Hoopfest is currently estimated to be 200,000 including players, fans, and volunteers.[2] This number nearly equals Spokane's 2010 Census population of 208,000.[1]

Hoopfest often includes live music played in Riverfront Park. Merchandisers and food tents are also on site.

Age range from children entering the 3rd grade and up.

Basic information

Hoopfest is held annually on the final weekend of June, beginning at 8:00 AM Saturday and coming to a close around 5:00 PM on Sunday, with the Men's Elite championship being broadcast regionally on KHQ Channel 6 and SWX Channel 6-2. In 2010, there were 428 courts spread throughout Downtown Spokane, resulting in over 40 city blocks being inaccessible to vehicles.

The event brings an estimated $30 million to Spokane.[2]

Format

Hoopfest features a basic 16-team, double-elimination bracket, which is played entirely on one court location. The elite divisions start on street courts and eventually move to Nike Center Court. Teams are guaranteed 3 games, as teams that lose their first two games are put into a consolation bracket. The winner of the consolation bracket is the 13th place team in the bracket, and is awarded a "13th Place" t-shirt. The two teams that make the championship round are awarded with "Finalist" t-shirts.

Divisions

Teams are divided into separate divisions based on their age, playing experience (according to the players themselves), height, gender, and competitiveness.

Divisions:

  • Standard (The vast majority of teams qualify here)
  • Adult
  • High School (oldest player entering grade 9-12)
  • Youth (oldest player entering grade 3-8)
  • For each standard level, there is the option of team gender (M, F, Co-Ed) and competitiveness level (Recreational or Competitive).
  • 3BA Adult Elite
  • Men's Over 6 foot
  • Men's under 6 foot
  • Women's
  • Co-Ed
  • 3BA High School Varsity
  • Men's
  • Women's
  • 3BA Freshman Elite
  • Men's
  • Women's

Rules

For the complete list of Hoopfest Rules and Regulations, click here.

  • A basket made from inside the 2-point arc is worth one point, shots made from outside are worth two points.
  • Each team may have a maximum of four players.
  • Players call their own fouls, unless in a Youth or Elite division. Youth and Elite divisions are officiated by the court monitors.
  • No stalling is allowed.
  • The 2-point line is 19 feet for adult divisions, which is 6 inches shorter than the regulation distance for high school.
  • Games are won by the first team to score 20 points, or by the team that leads after 25 minutes.
  • In any dead ball situation, the ball is to be "checked" in from the top of the key. The offensive team MUST pass the ball to begin their possession, and that pass must be uncontested by the defense as long as it is above the extended free throw line.

References

  1. 1 2 "Census 2010 News | U.S. Census Bureau Delivers Washington's 2010 Census Population Totals, Including First Look at Race and Hispanic Origin Data for Legislative Redistricting". Archived from the original on 2011-07-21. Retrieved 2011-07-11.
  2. 1 2 3 "Spokane Hoopfest". www.spokanehoopfest.net. Archived from the original on 2009-06-09.
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