On July 30-31, the flat lot in downtown Flint will swap out its parking spots for basketball courts for the iconic Gus Macker 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament.
This particular tournament is a local favorite as it is open to players of all backgrounds and skills levels. Per the event website, the original tournament started in 1974 by Scott McNeal – a.k.a. Gus Macker – on his parents’ driveway basketball court in Lowell, Michigan. What began as a friendly competition between 18 friends competing for $18 has since evolved into an event series visiting more than 75 cities. In the last 30-plus years, the Gus Macker has brought together more than 200,000 players and 1.7 million spectators.
And in 2021 – for the first time in 20 years – the tournament returned to Flint. The event brought together 137 teams, 549 players and 3,500 attendees. (Check out the recap video from Sylvester Broome Empowerment Village here).
After receiving such a positive response in Flint & Genesee, the event is back again, with registration underway at macker.com.
Interested in playing during this year’s tournament? Here’s what you need to know:
- Tournament is designed so that anyone can play – from the most experienced or to those with no experience at all.
- The tournament is 3-on-3 style. Each team features four players, with one substitute per roster.
- Tournament organizers work hard to match teams up based on skill level and gender, for the perfect balance of competition and fun. The age, height and experience of all four players are considered.
- Teams receive at least three scheduled games each tournament. The Macker is a double elimination tournament with a consolation bracket: the “Toilet Bowl” for teams losing their first two games.
- The team entry fee is $160, with an online deadline of July 11 and mail-in deadline of July 8.
To learn more about the family friendly event – which also offers spectators food trucks, a car show and more – visit macker.com or sbev.org.
