Gus Macker
Gus Macker operates a nationwide grassroots 3-on-3 basketball tournament franchise, licensing its 50-year-old brand to local host organizations across 26+ U.S. cities. The Belding, Michigan-based company generates revenue primarily through per-team registration fees ($180-$200) and branded merchandise sales.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1974
- HeadquartersBelding, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Gus Macker does
Gus Macker is a privately held grassroots 3-on-3 basketball tournament platform founded in 1974 by Scott McNeal in Lowell, Michigan, and currently based in Belding, Michigan. The company operates a decentralized, franchise-like model in which it licenses the Gus Macker brand, registration infrastructure, and operational playbook to local host organizations — typically nonprofits, community foundations, and civic groups — which then manage venue logistics, local sponsorships, and volunteers for events in their communities. The central organization runs the macker.com website, which provides team registration, bracket management, tournament schedules, and Hall of Fame content; teams register directly through the site for tournaments in their region.
The core product is the Gus Macker 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament series, organized across age-divided brackets from youth (ages 6-10) through adult (40+) and competitive Top Men's and Top Women's divisions. The 2026 World Tour spans 26+ locations across nine U.S. states (Michigan, New Mexico, Ohio, New York, Indiana, Minnesota, Missouri, California, and Pennsylvania), running from February through November. The platform supports both outdoor and indoor venue formats, with the Mt. Pleasant, MI tournament at Central Michigan University's Morey Courts as the indoor anchor. The largest single event — the Great Lakes Bay tournament in Midland, MI, hosted by The Legacy Center for Community Success — draws 300+ teams and 8,000+ daily visitors, with over 70% youth participation.
Gus Macker's revenue is generated primarily through team registration fees, which range from $180 to $200 per team depending on tournament location (most priced at $188 or $192). A secondary revenue stream is branded merchandise sold through the Threads by Gus Shopify storefront (gusmacker.myshopify.com) and at tournament venues. The company is founder-owned and operates with 11-50 employees; the technology stack is a conventional event-management website with no public APIs, no SDKs, and no documented AI capabilities. Customer segmentation is horizontal across youth and adult recreational basketball players, with tournament proceeds typically supporting local causes such as youth programs, education, healthcare research (e.g., the Indianapolis tournament supports IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center), and community development.
Gus Macker firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Gus Macker
- Legal name
- Gus Macker
- Website
- https://macker.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1974
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Gus Macker operates a nationwide grassroots 3-on-3 basketball tournament franchise, licensing its 50-year-old brand to local host organizations across 26+ U.S. cities. The Belding, Michigan-based company generates revenue primarily through per-team registration fees ($180-$200) and branded merchandise sales.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Gus Macker industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Recreational Sports Events
- NAICS
- Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events (7113)
- SIC
- Retail-Apparel & Accessory Stores (5600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Meet & Invitational Organizers (MPAKADAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Sports Fundraising & Development Services (Foundations, NIL Collectives Support) (MPAKAKAK), Licensing, Merchandising & Co-Branded Products (Sponsored Merchandise, Collabs) (MPAKALAE), Cause, Community & CSR-Linked Sports Partnerships (Foundations, Youth Programs) (MPAKALAJ), Sports Collectibles, Fan Gear & Licensed Merchandise Retail (CRAMABAO)
Keywords
Where Gus Macker is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Belding
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Gus Macker business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Team Registration Fees: Teams pay registration fees to participate in Gus Macker tournaments. Fees vary by location, ranging from $180 to $200 per team depending on the host city. This is the primary revenue stream for the organization.
- Merchandise Sales (Threads by Gus): Gus Macker sells branded merchandise including apparel through the Threads by Gus Shopify store (gusmacker.myshopify.com), with merchandise available at tournament venues.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard Team Registration |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Gus Macker product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Gus Macker organizes and operates grassroots 3-on-3 basketball tournaments across the United States through a decentralized network of local host organizations (nonprofits, schools, community associations) that license the Gus Macker brand. Teams register and pay entry fees ($180-$200 per team depending on location) through the central macker.com website to compete in age-divided brackets from youth (6-10) through adult (40+). The organization also sells branded apparel and gear through the Threads by Gus Shopify storefront.
Product overview
Gus Macker operates as a national 3-on-3 basketball tournament organization founded in 1974. The core product is the Gus Macker 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament series, which runs across 26+ U.S. locations in 2026. Supporting offerings include Threads by Gus (a Shopify-based merchandise store for branded apparel), the Gus Macker Hall of Fame (recognizing tournament contributors since 2018), and On the Bench With Gus (a video content series for community engagement). The tournament format organizes players by age brackets (6-10 through 40+) and skill levels, with local organizing committees hosting events at various venues.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Threads by Gus: Merchandise brand for Gus Macker apparel and gear, operated through a Shopify store at gusmacker.myshopify.com
Products and services
- Gus Macker 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament The flagship 3-on-3 street basketball tournament series that brings together players of all ages and skill levels for competitive half-court games across multiple U.S. locations. Features age-divided brackets from youth (6-10) through adult (40+) divisions, plus Top Men's and Top Women's competitive brackets. Teams register and pay entry fees of $180-$200 per team through macker.com.
- Threads by Gus An online and on-site merchandise storefront selling Gus Macker branded apparel and gear, including tournament merchandise sold at event locations. Operated as a Shopify-based store accessible via the main macker.com site navigation.
Companies that use Gus Macker
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Gus Macker technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Gus Macker partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Harbor Impact FoundationcoreLed by Rodney Alexander Jr., the Harbor Impact Foundation is bringing Gus Macker to Benton Harbor, MI in 2026. This is a new tournament location expanding the Gus Macker footprint into southwestern Michigan. The foundation works with local sponsors including Four Winds Casinos (Pokagon Band of Potawatomi) to organize and fund the event.
- Southside Neighborhood AssociationcoreThe Southside Neighborhood Association is bringing Gus Macker back to Muncie, IN after a 15-year absence. This partnership marks the return of the tournament to Muncie for 2026.
- 3v3 Impactcore3v3 Impact is organizing the first Gus Macker tournament in California in 30 years, scheduled for Camarillo, CA in August 2026. This partnership represents a significant expansion back to the West Coast. All proceeds support local charities.
- Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer CentercoreThe Indianapolis tournament supports cancer research at IU Simon Cancer Center. This partnership combines basketball with healthcare fundraising, with the tournament tagline 'Research Cures Cancer' and proceeds going to support IU's cancer research programs.
- The Legacy Center for Community SuccesscoreThe Legacy Center for Community Success hosts the Great Lakes Bay Gus Macker Tournament in Midland, MI. Proceeds benefit education, youth development, and substance use prevention programs. The tournament draws 8,000+ visitors daily with 300+ teams competing.
- TOP (Tournament Organizing Partners)coreLocal organizing groups (TOP) manage individual tournaments. In Otsego, MI, TOP has run the tournament for 11 years and reinvests proceeds into community economic development, festivals, events, and grant opportunities for local businesses.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Gus Macker competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Hoopfest: The world's largest 3-on-3 basketball tournament held annually in Spokane, WA. Directly comparable to Gus Macker as a grassroots, multi-bracket, mass-participation 3-on-3 street basketball event with similar community/festival positioning.
- The Basketball Tournament (TBT): Elam Ending-format competitive 3-on-3 basketball tournament with a $1M winner-take-all prize. Directly comparable as a branded, nationally televised 3-on-3 basketball tournament organizer, though skewed to elite/professional players versus Gus Macker's grassroots model.
- Ballin' on the Bayou: Large 3-on-3 basketball tournament held in Louisiana. Directly comparable to Gus Macker as a multi-bracket, mass-participation grassroots 3v3 tournament with similar community/festival positioning and youth/adult divisions.
- King of the Rock: International 1-on-1 street basketball competition with regional qualifiers and a world championship. Comparable to Gus Macker as a branded street basketball tournament organizer with grassroots-to-finals structure, though focused on 1v1 rather than 3v3.
- Premier Basketball Championships: Operator of grassroots and competitive youth basketball tournaments across multiple states. Comparable to Gus Macker as a youth-skewing multi-division basketball tournament organizer with similar tournament-weekend and travel-team participation model.
- Hoop Group: East Coast-based basketball event organizer running camps, showcases, and tournaments for youth players. Comparable to Gus Macker as a multi-event basketball tournament operator serving youth and grassroots participants with similar bracket and registration mechanics.
Broad incumbents
- AAU (Amateur Athletic Union): Governing body for amateur sports including youth basketball. Comparable as a large-scale organizer of youth basketball tournaments and leagues nationwide; overlaps with Gus Macker on grassroots youth basketball event production but operates at materially larger scale and broader scope.
- USA Basketball: National governing body for basketball in the US, organizing youth national championships and FIBA-sanctioned competitions. Comparable as a basketball event organizer at the national level, but operates at much larger scale and as a sanctioned governing body rather than a grassroots tournament brand.
Emerging players
- Yakball 3v3: Digital-first 3-on-3 basketball tournament platform with online registration and bracket management. Comparable to Gus Macker in 3v3 basketball event focus, but younger and more tech-enabled, representing a digital-native competitive threat to Gus Macker's traditional local-host model.
- Big3 Basketball League: Professional 3-on-3 basketball league founded by Ice Cube featuring former NBA players. Comparable to Gus Macker as a branded 3-on-3 basketball property, but positioned at the professional entertainment end versus Gus Macker's grassroots amateur focus.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Gus Macker social profiles
Digital presenceGus Macker financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Gus Macker leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Gus Macker funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Gus Macker M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Gus Macker
What does Gus Macker do?
Gus Macker organizes and operates grassroots 3-on-3 basketball tournaments across the United States through a decentralized network of local host organizations (nonprofits, schools, community associations) that license the Gus Macker brand. Teams register and pay entry fees ($180-$200 per team depending on location) through the central macker.com website to compete in age-divided brackets from youth (6-10) through adult (40+). The organization also sells branded apparel and gear through the Threads by Gus Shopify storefront.
Is Gus Macker a public or private company?
Gus Macker is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Gus Macker founded?
Gus Macker was founded in 1974. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Gus Macker based?
Gus Macker is headquartered in Belding, United States, in the North America region.
How does Gus Macker make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Team Registration Fees are the primary driver. The others are merchandise Sales (Threads by Gus).
Who are Gus Macker's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Hoopfest, The Basketball Tournament (TBT), Ballin' on the Bayou, King of the Rock, Premier Basketball Championships and Hoop Group. Broad incumbents are AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) and USA Basketball. Emerging players are Yakball 3v3 and Big3 Basketball League.
Does Gus Macker have an API?
No public API is recorded for Gus Macker.
What industry is Gus Macker in?
Gus Macker's product category is Recreational Sports Events. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAKADAC, Meet & Invitational Organizers, with a secondary code of MPAKAKAK, Sports Fundraising & Development Services (Foundations, NIL Collectives Support). Its NAICS code is 7113 and its SIC code is 5600.