WEST SPRINGFIELD — Wednesday’s news conference at the Big E was the third announcement that Hooplandia, a 3-on-3 basketball tournament is coming.
But the event, set now for June 23 through June 25, 2023, at the Eastern States Exposition and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame has never happened. Instead it was delayed twice by COVID-19.
“This is a testament to perseverance,” said John Doleva, president and CEO of the hall of fame.
Mark Rivers, event coordinator for Hooplandia, said COVID delayed but didn’t change the fundamentals of an event he expects to draw 1,000 teams, that’s 4,000 players on four-person rosters for a weekend of 3-on-3 half court basketball competition.
“COVID didn’t change the fact that Springfield is the birthplace of the game,” Rivers said.
James Naismith invented the sport in Springfield in 1891.
Hooplandia will have divisions for young girls, boys, women, men, high school elite, college elite, pro-am, older players, wheelchair, Wounded Warrior, Special Olympians, veterans, first responders and more.
Rivers said children under 8 will likely play for free. Registration for others will be about $120 a team or $30 a person for a four-person roster.
He also promised food and entertainment and family activities..
“Basketball is culture. Basketball is community,” Rivers said. “Basketball is competition.”
If the event draws 4,000 people, it would be the largest 3-on-3 tournament on the East Coast rivaling Spokane, Washington’s Hoopfest.
Rivers said Spokane closes city streets and sets up restrooms and food stalls. At the Big E all that infrastructure is in place on the fairgrounds.
Doleva and Eugene J. Cassidy, president and CEO of the Eastern States Exposition, hosted the news conference in front of the historic Coliseum arena where some of the games will be played.
Cassidy pointed out that prep work is continuing for the Big E, slated for Sept. 16 to Oct. 2.
Workers were putting up tents, preparing restaurants and food kiosks and setting up booths.
West Springfield Mayor William C. Reichelt said the 16-day fair is important.
“But it is all the other events, like Hooplandia, like the horse shows and the tool show you do every year that drives business to our restaurants and to our hotels and motels.
The Big E hosted some young basketball players from teams at the West Springfield Boys & Girls Club, a team called The Court which is from Enfield and Worcester, and the Springfield Ballers, made up mostly of players from the champion Springfield Central High School girls team.
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