SPOKANE, Wash. — Nearly 20,000 players will be in Spokane for Hoopfest, which gets underway this weekend!
But this year’s tournament may not have the perfect weather for basketball, as workers are preparing for rain.
“Really the tape needs to go down on a dry surface. That’s the number one thing with it, so as long as we have a little window where if we can get tape down, then I think we’re going to be okay. Then it will stay down no matter what comes, wind rain, those sorts of things” said Hoopfest executive director Riley Stockton. “But it doesn’t look like with the amount of rain that any of that should be a worry.”
Stockton said while he is hoping for a dry window to tape off the courts, they can also use chalk if required.
Rain or shine, Stockton is excited about the thousands of players that are already registered for this year’s tournament.
“Brackets go live Wednesday at 5 p.m. so no need to call us. Make sure you download our app, that’s going to be the best place to get all your information. You’ll be able to see your brackets, see where your first game is,” Stockton said.
He recommends locals to go packet pickup as early as possible on Thursday, which opens at 2 p.m. in Riverfront Park. Team check-in will open at 3 p.m. Thursday.
Once Hoopfest starts, there will be several special events, including bringing back a women’s professional 3-on-3 tournament and trying to set a world record for the largest game of knockout.
Several streets downtown will be closed during the tournament starting Friday night through Sunday.
Hoopfest is also still looking for more volunteers to be court monitors this weekend.
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