Hoops After Dark

Cavaliers

Cleveland, OH –&nbsp;After a successful inaugural 2022 Hoops After Dark League, the City of Cleveland and the Cleveland Cavaliers will once again bring this impactful community event to Cleveland’s neighborhood recreation centers. An important part of&nbsp;Mayor Justin Bibb’s comprehensive violence prevention strategy, the&nbsp;2023 Hoops After Dark&nbsp;powered by the Cleveland Cavaliers&nbsp;program will be open to male participants ages 18-26. Last year's League saw&nbsp;more than 100 young men compete for the top title.

The 8-week program kicks off on June 12th&nbsp;and 14th&nbsp;with tryouts and continues throughout the summer with games on Monday and Wednesday nights at Cudell Neighborhood Resource and Recreation Center (NRRC) and Zelma George NRRC.&nbsp; The league concludes with the championship game on August 15th&nbsp;at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.&nbsp;

This year’s initiative uses sports and wraparound social services to create community, offer customized intervention opportunities, and provide the city’s male youth with the tools to continue to make a positive impact on their local communities.

“We’re excited to continue our great partnership with the Cavs as we bring back Hoops After Dark for its second summer and hope to build on last year’s success that saw 112 young men participate,”&nbsp;said Mayor Justin M. Bibb, City of Cleveland Mayor.&nbsp;“This program is part of our larger, comprehensive public safety plan aimed at addressing the root causes of crime through a variety of prevention, intervention, and enforcement efforts.&nbsp; Programs like this one, which directly connects our residents to resources and services, helps break the cycle of crime and puts us on a sustainable path to violence reduction.”

The basketball format will include NBA-style activities such as tryouts, a draft, a championship game at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, and other celebratory events.&nbsp;Players will participate in personal development workshops prior to each game.&nbsp;These enriching workshops provide participants with an opportunity to gain useful life skills, including job readiness, financial literacy, gun safety, and more. Participants will also be connected with community services that provide support in the areas of emotional, social, spiritual, physical, environmental, and occupational health.&nbsp;

“We are proud to partner with Mayor Justin Bibb and the City of Cleveland to bring back one of the summer’s most anticipated community events. Hoops After Dark is more than just basketball — It is an important mentorship and life skills development program that can ultimately serve as a life-changing opportunity for participants,” said Nic Barlage, Cleveland Cavaliers, Rock Entertainment Group, and Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse CEO. “Combined with our civic initiatives done in collaboration with the City of Cleveland and Cuyahoga County, including our neighborhood court refurbishments and investments in STEM Labs, Hoops After Dark further demonstrates the Cavaliers' and Rock Entertainment Group's unrelenting commitment to making a meaningful impact in our community.”

2023 Hoops After Dark&nbsp;powered by the Cleveland Cavaliers&nbsp;Schedule:

* Transportation to the tryout and tournament locations will be provided from six neighborhood recreation centers:&nbsp;

*Participants must arrive by 8:00 p.m. to take advantage of the transportation opportunity.&nbsp;

For complete details about Hoops After Dark powered by the Cleveland Cavaliers, visit Cavs.com/hoopsafterdark.&nbsp;

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City of Cleveland and Cleveland Cavaliers Partner to Host 2nd Annual Hoops After Dark League

Cleveland, OH – The City of Cleveland will launch Hoops After Dark powered by the Cleveland Cavaliers, a six-week NBA-style basketball tournament and development program designed for men ages 18-26. The program is part of Mayor Justin Bibb’s comprehensive violence prevention strategy.

Tryouts for the eight-team league will take place on Monday, June 27th and Wednesday, June 29th at the Cudell and Zelma George Recreation Centers.&nbsp; Tournament action runs July 11th through August 19th.

“Public safety is our number one priority, and we are focused on creating opportunities for our residents to participate in a variety of programs providing intervention and education,” stated Mayor Justin M. Bibb.&nbsp; “We are excited to launch Hoops After Dark in the community and are so grateful to the Cavs for their ongoing support of our efforts to stop violence before it starts.”

This initiative has re-imagined the formerly successful midnight basketball program by using sports and wraparound services to create community, offer customized interventions and mitigate participation in crime.

Hoops After Dark powered by the Cleveland Cavaliers participants will be required to attend life skills workshops an hour before each game. The workshops include a variety of topics such as job readiness, financial literacy, gun safety and more. Participants will also be connected to services that support optimal wellness in the areas of emotional, social, spiritual, physical, environmental and occupational health. The basketball format will include NBA-style activities such as tryouts, a draft, a championship game and other celebratory events.

“The Hoops After Dark initiative to give young men in our community positive direction and opportunities to help them find the right path is the type of program we enthusiastically support,” said Cavaliers CEO Nic Barlage. “We are investing in the future of these men and in our city and neighborhoods.”

The six-week tournament action begins July 11th through August 19th with two games and practices held each week at the Cudell Recreation Center (1910 West Blvd.) and Zelma George Neighborhood Recreation Center (3155 MLK Jr. Dr.) Both rec centers have refurbished basketball courts courtesy of the Cavaliers. Games will be played on Monday and Wednesday nights with&nbsp; required personal development workshops beginning one hour prior to each game.

Tryouts to make the roster for one of the eight Hoops After Dark powered by the Cleveland Cavaliers&nbsp; teams will take place from 8:30 p.m. – 10:30 p.m. on Monday, June 27that the Cudell Neighborhood Recreation Center and on Wednesday, June 29th at the Zelma George Neighborhood Recreation Center.&nbsp; Transportation to these locations will be provided from six neighborhood recreation centers:

*Participants must arrive by 8:00 p.m. to take advantage of transportation opportunity.

For complete details about Hoops After Dark powered by the Cleveland Cavaliers, visit Cavs.com/hoopsafterdark.

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City of Cleveland Launches Hoops After Dark, Powered by the Cleveland Cavaliers

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