After Long Delay, Hooplandia Scheduled for June 2023
SPRINGFIELD — After nearly three years of pandemic-era scheduling hurdles, Springfield and West Springfield will host Hooplandia, the largest 3×3 basketball competition and celebration on the East Coast, on June 23-25, 2023.
The event, which will be hosted by the Eastern States Exposition and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, will feature hundreds of games for thousands of players of all ages and playing abilities, with divisions for young girls, boys, women, men, high-school elite, college elite, pro-am, OGs, wheelchair, Wounded Warrior, Special Olympians, veterans, first responders, and more.
The event will feature more than 70 outdoor blacktop courts placed throughout the roadway and parking-lot network of the Eastern States Exposition fairgrounds in West Springfield; slam-dunk, three-point, free-throw, dribble-course, vertical-jump, and full-court-shot skills competitions; themed state courts for all six New England states; featured ‘showcase games’ held on new court surfaces in the historic Eastern States Coliseum and on the Court of Dreams, the center court of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame; and a festival environment throughout the weekend with food, music, entertainment, and family activities.
The announcement was made today at Eastern States Exposition (ESE) with Eugene J. Cassidy, President and CEO of ESE; John Doleva, President and CEO of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame; West Springfield Mayor Will Reichelt and a host of other regional civic leaders.
“It is a thrill to finally be able to say, ‘game on for Hooplandia!’” said Eugene Cassidy, president and CEO of the Eastern States Exposition. “We are re-energized by the resilience, vision, and collaboration of our partners in this exciting initiative to celebrate basketball. It has been three years of overtime to bring reality to a project and purpose that has never lost its power or potential. Once again, we are excited to transform our grounds into the magical kingdom of Hooplandia for thousands of visitors next summer.”
John Doleva, president and CEO of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, added that “Springfield is the heart and soul of the basketball world, from its humble beginnings to our home as its Hall of Fame. Hooplandia is a natural extension of this legacy, with a grassroots competition and celebration for all ages. We are proud to help build this event, which we hope will grow to become a summer staple of Greater Springfield for years to come.”
A year-long community-outreach effort will begin immediately. Registration will open on March 1, 2023.
