Thousands expected for Hoopfest

Rick Steltenpohl uses the number 150,000 when estimating how many people pack downtown during a Hoopfest weekend.

This year, there will be 24,282 basketball players on 6,197 teams competing on 411 courts. That leaves 125,718 spectators, monitors, scorekeepers, volunteers and venders on zero teams, lining approximately 45 city blocks and filling every parking spot you can shoehorn a Subaru into.

Get ready for Hoopfest 2005, which begins Saturday at 8 a.m. and finishes early Sunday evening when the men’s over 6-feet champions are crowned on Nike Center Court. Packet pickups began Thursday and continue today from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Riverfront Park.

This year’s weather forecast is that of a typical Hoopfest weekend, hot enough for halter and tank tops with an outside chance of isolated thunderstorms.

The event, which began in 1990, will be Steltenpohl’s last as executive director. He has accepted a new job in sports marketing in Phoenix. Brady Crook, a 37-year-old former Washington State University Associate Director of Athletics, succeeds Steltenpohl.

This will be Crook’s first time at Hoopfest, and unlike the 42-year-old self-described “basketball junkie,” Steltenpohl, Crook is not playing.

“I’ll be soaking it all in,” Crook said “I expect to see 150,000 people come together … the festivities, the families.”

Although many of the players and spectators are pioneers of the largest 3-on-3 basketball tournament, there are always questions regarding transportation and parking.

STA is offering a “Ride the Hoop Loop” special. For $2, the Hoop Loop Pass is good for unlimited use of the shuttle and all STA routes and services for Saturday and Sunday. The pass also is good for all hours of service on both days. To view The Hoop Loop route, go to www.spokanetransit.com.

For those driving, construction on Third Avenue will be suspended for the weekend, making it a bit easier to get around. Once downtown, motorists can find special Hoopfest fares at various parking garages and lots. Some have passes for sale at booths at the packet pickup area, giving drivers a jump on other motorists. Various garage spokespersons said there are a limited number of passes sold.

The Parkade parking garage at Main and Howard and the River Park Square parking garage at Main and Lincoln are offering $10 passes for both Saturday and Sunday. Customers can take their cars in and out as often as needed.

The Bank of America parking garage is selling unlimited in-and-out access weekend passes for $16. Day passes are $9. The garage opens at 5:30 a.m. Saturday. City Ramp parking garage, across from the WestCoast Ridpath Hotel, offers valet parking for $10 a day.

Although Diamond Parking rents its 75-space lot on Lincoln and Monroe to Hoopfest for court space, there are about 20 other lots around town. Customers need to follow the usual instructions, and pay the boxes.

“The thing we want to make people aware of is that we also welcome motor homes,” said Dan Geiger, regional vice president.

Steltenpohl, meanwhile, also wants to remind people not to bring their dogs and other pets to the games.

“We’ve had snakes, pit bulls, you name it,” he added.

And these animals could take a bite out of their owners’ wallets.

According to Spokane Municipal Code 10.03.110, animals are prohibited in Riverfront Park and city streets authorized to be used for special events such as Hoopfest, Bloomsday and Pig Out in the Park. Those in violation could face a class-3 infraction that carries a fine of $50, plus additional court costs amounting to $103 total.

Another no-no is directed toward those who want to make a quick buck by setting up a beverage or food stand inside the Hoopfest boundaries. Event vendors must be licensed.

As Steltenpohl prepares for his last Hoopfest as executive director and all the headaches that come with the title, he still brings the enthusiasm.

“I love the energy down here,” he said. “And to know you have something to do to put it together is a great reward.”