General Information
Basketball event info to help all those from here, coming here
Gus Macker 3-on-3 Basketball, America's largest outdoor basketball tournament celebrating its 35th anniversary in 2008, will be held in Olean August 15-17, 2008. The 3-day event, organized and benefiting both the Olean High School Sports Booster and the Olean City School District Foundation, is open to players of all ages and experience levels who are computer-matched by age, height and experience so that all participants can be competitive. The event, first held in Lowell, Michigan in 1974, is a family festival with food and music along with the basketball competition.
LOCATION -- Courts will be positioned on Delaware Avenue and North Barry Street, with food and retail vendors setting up in the Olean Center Mall/Key Bank parking lot. The tournament, based on basketball played in driveways throughout the U.S., will include players who have no experience to those who have played college and semi-professional basketball. Depending on the number of teams placed in a specific division, players and the teams they’re on will be playing for first- and second- and third trophies. Also teams that finish last in their divisions could receive “Toilet bowl” trophies.
POPULATION INCREASE -- Gus Macker Olean is proud to announce that in its first year the tournament has 237 teams registered. That means the City of Olean will expect an influx of at least 5,000 people just at the Gus Macker alone -- 948 players, more than 150 volunteers, plus 3-4,000 spectators, parents, family and friends! This does not include the number of people attending the Olean Bradford YMCA Corn Festival or the Rally in the Valley.
STREET CLOSURES -- Delaware and North Barry will be closed to traffic Friday, August 15. They will reopen late Sunday, August 17. Detours and road closed signs will be posted.
PARKING -- Parking is available in the following locations: Olean Center Mall; lots on Wayne Street; Jamestown Community College (North Union Street and in lots behind campus); and City lots (off West Sullivan). Signs created by students at Washington West Elementary will direct visitors to parking areas.
DUDE, WHERE'S MY COURT (AND MY GAME)? -- The top men's and women’s courts will be at the intersection of North Barry and Delaware Avenue. A full list of brackets and a map is available at www.macker.com/mackertown/Olean_NY/
MEDICAL STAFF -- The medical ‘tent’ will be located in the American Red Cross building on North Barry Street. The medical staff will be available throughout the tournament. The City of Olean EMS will be on site throughout the weekend for transport. Both players and fans are encouraged to stay hydrated through the weekend.
COURT LAYOUT -- Gus Macker Tournament arrives in two semis. Inside are box units with the two hoops coming out either side. It all tears down and everything stores inside the box. Courts are lined with yellow duct tape in a 35- by 35-foot area marked with a take-back line, foul line and a 2-point shot arc. Games are to 15 (win by two) and players must cross the take-back line with two feet after every change of possession. Possession changes after every made basket as well, aka no "winner's ball" rule.
The tournament is proud to recognize five area companies, Park Centre Development, Southern Tier Health Care System, CUTCO/Ka-Bar Visitors Center, Old Library Restaurant, and the Village Green, who have stepped up and become the Charter Founding Members of the Tournament. If you have any questions or would like additional information, please contact either John Irving (716) 397-8223 or David Carucci at (716) 378-7860.
~nothing but net~