Page 41 - BusinessWest June 12, 2023

“In the end,
we’re going to have a signature event for Greater Springfield that’s going to generate business for a lot of people and a lot of regional businesses, not the least of which will be hotels and restaurants. But it’s also going to raise awareness about basketball.”
that level — but believes it’s possible. “We’re at the beginning stages of this.
And I think we’re in a really good position to launch this. Having the number of teams that Gene’s talking about and getting some momentum here is very important. This first year and the second year are going
to be very important to position this tour- nament as a premier tournament for the future.”
He compared the progression of the tournament to a concentric circle that expands farther out each year.
“Spokane draws from all 48 states con-
sistently. They have international teams,”
he said. But after the first year or two in
Springfield and West Springfield, “with
B-roll to show and as we recruit teams
and share through social media, all those
things will build as we go further and fur-
ther out. So I think Gene is right. We’ll go
beyond New England this year, and we’ll go beyond that to Phila- delphia and down to the Washington, D.C. area. And if we’re able to accomplish that, then we really are in kind of a national march with this by years three to five.”
Besides signing Dunkin’ on as presenting sponsor, Hooplandia has attracted many other big-name sponsors and supporters, includ- ing Baystate Health, Ford Dealers of New England, local Boys and Girls Clubs, PeoplesBank, Westfield Bank, and Bulkley Richardson, to name just a few.
“We are thrilled to support the inaugural Hooplandia event,” said Mary Kay Wydra, president of the Greater Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau, adding that its Western Massachusetts Sports Commission division is committed to supporting athletic events that bring visitors into the region and contribute to the economic vital- ity of Western Mass. “Hooplandia is a great collaboration between the Eastern States Exposition and the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame — two important attractions that have joined together to pro-
John Doleva (left) and Gene Cassidy didn’t think, when Hoop- landia was announced in early 2020, that it would take three more years to tip off, but they say it will be worth the wait.
vide even more opportunities for increased visitation to the region.” All that is gratifying to Cassidy. “Getting the community to buy
in is really important,” he said. “In the end, we’re going to have a signature event for Greater Springfield that’s going to generate business for a lot of people and a lot of regional businesses, not the least of which will be hotels and restaurants. But it’s also going to raise awareness about basketball.”
As well it should, he and Doleva agree — especially in the right- ful Hooptown USA, the one thousands of miles east on I-90 from
Spokane. BW
—Joseph Bednar
let’s eat.
the federal restaurant group thefederalrestaurant.com vintedwinebar.com postoitalian.com
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