The third annual Rip City 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament is taking over the Rose Quarter July 30-31, courtesy of Presenting Partner Les Schwab Tire Centers. One of the state’s premier outdoor basketball tournaments, Rip City 3-on-3 features divisions for all ages and skill levels, and benefits Special Olympics Oregon. The tournament raised more than $25,000 for Special Olympics Oregon last year, with the goal to exceed that number this year.
Before 2014’s inaugural event, Portland had been without a flagship 3-on-3 tournament since 2011, the last time “Street Jam” was held at the Rose Quarter. Organized and managed by Eventuris, which was founded by the long-time producers of the largest 3-on-3 tournament in the world, Rip City 3-on-3 has an entirely different look and feel than its predecessor.
“It’s great to see participation and excitement for Rip City 3-on-3 growing each year,” said Chris McGowan, President & CEO of the Trail Blazers and Rose Quarter. “We hope to have more teams than ever to reach our goal of topping our fundraising efforts for Special Olympics Oregon.”
Rip City 3-on-3 will utilize a new tournament format consisting of pool play beginning Saturday morning, leading into the exciting single-elimination playoffs on Sunday. The results of pool play will provide the basis for seeding teams into the playoff brackets. Each team will get a minimum of three scheduled games over the course of the two-day tournament.
The tournament will feature around 50 courts throughout the Rose Quarter campus, with a wide variety of divisions available for registration. Awards will be given to the teams that finish in first and second place in each division. This year’s Presenting Partner is Les Schwab Tire Centers, longtime supporters of Special Olympics Oregon. Other partners include Sprite, Nike, Dutch Brothers and the City of Portland for this year’s tournament.
Registration is now open at ripcity3on3.com, and teams that sign up by June 20 receive the best pricing options. Each participating player will also receive a ticket to a Trail Blazers preseason game to open the 2016-17 season. The final registration deadline is July 18. Those interested in participating in the tournament as a sponsor or vendor should email info@ripcity3on3.com.
“What a Trail Blazers season! We never doubt Rip City! And we can’t wait to bring this excitement into the summer at the third annual Rip City 3-on-3 Tournament.” said Special Olympics Oregon CEO Margie Hunt. “We are privileged to partner with our hometown team on this great event which benefits hoop fans throughout the state, including those with intellectual disabilities.”
Many Special Olympics athletes will be competing during this year’s tournament – several on Unified Sports teams. Unified Sports is a great way for people with and without intellectual disabilities to play on the same team and promote social inclusion through sport. Having sport as a shared activity is just one more way that preconceptions and false ideas about individuals with intellectual disabilities are swept away.
A 3-point shootout, Sprite Slam Dunk Contest, skills challenge – featuring esteemed judges from the Trail Blazers organization – and Nike Youth Basketball Clinics will also take place over the weekend. Awards will be given to the winners of each competition. Contestants are not required to register for the 3-on-3 tournament to participate in these additional events.