Taking It To The Streets More Than 4,000 Teams Expected For Hoopfest

Since its modest inception in 1990, Hoopfest has grown in two ways.

By leaps and bounds.

The largest - by far - street basketball event in the nation will be even bigger this year. Last year, Hoopfest attracted 15,420 players on 3,903 teams. Early indications are that the 3-on-3 tournament to be held June 28-29 will exceed 4,000 teams.

Players who register by Friday are guaranteed a place in the eighth annual event. Signup deadline is May 30 but don’t wait until then, Hoopfest executive director Rick Steltenpohl advised Tuesday.

“We were full before the deadline last year,” he said. “Based on the numbers so far we’ll be full again before May 30. We have enough room, based on our site configuration, to take 4,200 teams.”

While its popularity has exploded - the inaugural Hoopfest in 1990 attracted 511 teams on 36 courts - without many visible signs of growing pains, controversy did greet last year’s decision to turn down applications from more than 200 teams. Steltenpohl is convinced that unlimited growth would mean slapping up courts in parking lots far away from Riverfront Park, and would be detrimental to the experience.

Again, the message is get your registration in early.

“This is an ideal-sized city and an ideal street configuration,” Steltenpohl said. “We want players and spectators to say ‘Wow!’ We’re coming back next year.’ We’re doing things to make that happen.”

Plans are under way to enhance the sound system, in part by taking speakers off towers and attaching them to light poles.

“We’d like to have the same decibel level throughout the site,” Steltenpohl said, “using more of a wireless transmission from spot to spot. Hoffman Music is working on it with us as well as the city. I’ve been told that this technology was used at the Olympics in Atlanta. It’s pretty high-tech.”

For the first time, courts will go up north of the river on Post to Bridge Street. That’s to make up for the loss of choice court space. Spokane Falls Boulevard to Post will be open to traffic. Traffic will also flow south one block on Post to Main, to allow for parking and construction at Riverpark Square.

The Lincoln Street access entrance to the parking garage, usually accessible during Hoopfest, will be under construction, Steltenpohl said.

The new lineup of courts will stop just south of the old Salty’s restaurant site and continue on Bridge, a side street leading to Monroe.

Steltenpohl applauded the cooperation from public and private sectors.

“The spirit of Hoopfest is what keeps this thing getting better and better every year,” he said. “Washington Water Power and the YMCA are allowing us to inconvenience them that weekend (with the additional courts). Spokane Transit has been fabulous. They vacate their plaza for us to play basketball. We couldn’t be happier with the cooperation of the police department, the fire department, the traffic people, the city manager’s office and the downtown Spokane partnership.”

The event can still use help. About 400 court monitors and 1,200 other volunteers make the event go, Steltenpohl said. Court monitors receive athletic shoes and gear for supervising games.

Fouls are called by the player who is fouled. Disputes are supposed to be settled by court monitors.

Bracketing and starting times are unchanged - 16-team brackets and opening games at 8 a.m. both June 28 and 29.

This year’s Hoopfest poster shows actor Craig T. Nelson, a Lewis and Clark High School grad, in last year’s Hoopfest T-shirt. Nelson wore the shirt on a March episode of his TV series, “Coach,” Steltenpohl said.

“We got calls from all over the country from people who saw the shirt and knew us,” Steltenpohl said.

It’s an example of what Steltenpohl calls the win-win association with Hoopfest and its backers.

“One reason we’ve grown every year is that it’s a new experience every year,” he said. “You never know who you’re going to play. You may see some of the same faces but you may just wind up with a whole new set of teams, just like you’re starting again.”

Winners of the three Action Sportswear Open Divisions - women, men’s and men’s 6-foot-and-under - will receive athletic gear from Nike and Southwest Airlines tickets to a Northwest tournament of their choice.

But Special Olympics again is the big winner.

“Last year we contributed $60,000 to charity to put our (seven-year) total to more than $310,000,” Steltenpohl said. Special Olympics is the prime beneficiary but Hoopfest also supports the YMCA, YWCA, Chase Youth Commission and other charities.

The Hoopfest organization has put in four outdoor courts in Spokane and plans to add two more courts this year, he said.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color photo

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: DEADLINE Sign up: Players who sign up by Friday will be guaranteed a spot in the tournament. The final deadline is May 30, but tourney officials caution players not to wait until that deadline to register.