Spokane Hoopfest Association a History: 1990-Present
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Spokane Hoopfest Association A History: 1990-Present In the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, 3-on-3 basketball tournaments hardly existed outside of the Midwest United States. The idea of Spokane Hoopfest was born from two separate groups: one group with members from the Midwest who wanted to see the continuance of the 3-on-3 ball they had back home and the other with members trying to raise money for Special Olympics. Eventually the two groups merged under co-founders Rick Betts and Jerry Schmidt and Spokane Hoopfest Association was created. Finding support for the first tournament proved a challenge as Hoopfest wanted to do something no one else had: shut down the streets of downtown Spokane for two full days of basketball. By going door to door and winning a majority of downtown business owners over with the idea, the permit was granted and 36 courts were taped off on the asphalt. On June 30 and July 1, 1990, a group of dedicated volunteers including founding board members Betts, Schmidt, Dave Jackson, Terry M. Kelly, Dennis Magner, and Rick Steltenpohl coordinated the first Hoopfest. The tournament hosted 2,009 players on 512 teams. The event was such a success in its first year, the City was happy to have it back again the next summer. Thus began the tradition of Spokane shutting down its downtown core during the last weekend in June to let people play on the streets. In the many years since inception, Hoopfest has developed into much more than a basketball tournament. Activities have been added to enhance the event experience such as a youth and adult center courts, games and contests for every age, live music in Riverfront Park, merchandise tents, and more. Hoopfest has grown to become the largest 3-on-3 street basketball tournament and family festival of its kind in the world. Participation in Hoopfest has increased every year, topping out in 2003 with almost 25,000 players on 6,245 teams. With players coming in from 42 states including Hawaii, Georgia, and Kansas, it now takes over 400 courts to house the 13,000 games. It is believed that the second largest 3-on-3 basketball tournament in the country has no more than 3,000 participating teams. With so many thousands of people in town for Hoopfest, Spokane’s economy is greatly impacted each June. A survey was conducted in 1998 by an independent third party to accurately assess the spending done by Hoopfest participants over the course of the event weekend. Using this survey, Hoopfest predicts that the event brought 16 million dollars into Spokane in 2004. This figure includes everything from hotel spending and shopping to entertainment and dining. Beyond the immediate economic impact of the tournament weekend, Hoopfest is committed to supporting area charities. Since 1990, Spokane Hoopfest Association has donated $770,000 to organizations such as Special Olympics, YMCA, YWCA, and other youth sports programs. Additionally, Hoopfest has built or renovated seventeen outdoor basketball courts in area neighborhoods so local residents have an opportunity to play year-round. Spokane Hoopfest Association is a Washington nonprofit corporation and tax exempt organization under section (501)(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Its mission statement is as follows: Spokane Hoopfest Association is committed to organizing and operating the best outdoor 3-on-3 basketball tournament in the country. With the effort and enthusiasm of thousands of volunteers, Hoopfest strives to create a dynamic downtown festival, transcending basketball throughout the celebration of athleticism, fair play, and community involvement. Spokane Hoopfest Association also provides charitable support through distribution of profits to Special Olympics and basketball-related activities. Hoopfest is extremely proud of its 3-on-3 tournament. With the generous support of the City of Spokane, many wonderful sponsors, and over 3,000 dedicated volunteers, Hoopfest has grown into an unparalled event that is cherished by the Inland Northwest. In winning the 2003 Agora Award for Business Excellence, the judges said the following about Hoopfest: “No other single event (here) brings together people of such diverse cultures, economic conditions, and ages for a common purpose. And this common purpose is not just basketball. It is cheering for one another, working together, competing fairly, and celebrating Spokane.” With a successful and solid foundation, Hoopfest boldly looks forward to an exciting and rewarding future! .