Spokane Hoopfest Association

What Spokane Hoopfest Association does

Spokane Hoopfest Association is a Washington-state 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1990 that produces the world's largest outdoor 3-on-3 basketball tournament, held annually in late June in downtown Spokane, Washington. The flagship event spans 45 city blocks and 450 courts, hosting 6,000+ teams and approximately 25,000 players drawn from 44 states and 6 countries, supported by 3,000+ volunteers and drawing an annual audience exceeding 225,000 spectators, players, and volunteers. The organization was co-founded by Rick Betts and Jerry Schmidt, who merged two groups — one seeking to continue Midwest 3on3 play and another raising money for Special Olympics — and has since donated over $2.5 million to local charities and built or renovated 30+ community basketball courts.

The organization's core technology stack is operationally focused rather than differentiated: a proprietary tournament bracket system managing 465+ brackets across 450 courts with real-time score updates, an online registration platform (register.spokanehoopfest.net), iOS and Android mobile applications, a volunteer management portal via volunteermatters.org, and third-party EventHub-based vendor and court-sponsorship application systems. The association operates a portfolio of wholly owned programming subsidiaries, including Hooptown Youth League LLC (youth basketball for grades 3–8), Hooptown Elite (formerly Eastern Washington Elite, an Under Armour Rise Circuit travel program that has produced 60 Division 1 scholarship recipients), and Ignite Basketball Association, alongside premier high school events such as The Fitz Tournament and Embrace Hoopfest (a 24-hour charity challenge launched in 2025).

Revenue is generated through four primary streams: (1) per-team registration fees of $124–$224 across Adult, High School, Youth, Elite, International 3x3, Family, and free Special Olympics/Unified/Wheelchair divisions, with a $20 surcharge after the guaranteed deadline; (2) a tiered corporate sponsorship program (Major, Official, Supporting, Court) with 9+ named Major partners including Amazon, Nike, Under Armour, Coca-Cola, DICK'S Sporting Goods, Xfinity, MultiCare, Toyota, Northern Quest, Equipment Share, Guardian Life, and Numerica Credit Union; (3) vendor and exhibitor fees for food, merchandise, and arts/crafts vendors, plus a physical and online Hoopfest merchandise store; and (4) a court-naming rights program that brands tournament courts on backboards, bracket sheets, the mobile app, and the website. The 24-employee organization is led by Executive Director Riley Stockton under a Board chaired by Brandon Haugen.

Name

Spokane Hoopfest Association

Legal name

Spokane Hoopfest Association

Website

https://spokanehoopfest.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Spokane Hoopfest Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1990 that operates the world's largest outdoor 3-on-3 basketball tournament in Spokane, WA, drawing 6,000+ teams and 25,000 players annually. It funds its event through team registration fees, tiered corporate sponsorships, vendor fees, and merchandise sales, while running youth leagues and elite travel programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sports Event Management

NAICS

Other Spectator Sports (711219), Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries (713)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Amateur Event & Tournament Organizers (Meets, Invitationals, Opens) (MPAKACAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Regional Multi-Sport Games & Festival Organizers (MPAKADAK), Multi-Sport Complexes & Community Sports Parks (MPAKAEAH)

Keywords

• 3on3 basketball tournament
• Basketball event management
• Youth basketball league
• Sports event sponsorship
• Community basketball programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Spokane

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Team Registration Fees: Team registration fees ranging from $124 to $224 depending on division (Adult, High School, Youth, Elite, International 3x3, Family, Special Olympics, Unified, Wheelchair). Fees increase by $20 after the guaranteed deadline.
2. Vendor and Exhibitor Fees: Food, merchandise, and arts/crafts vendors pay fees varying by type and booth size. Riverfront Park and street vendor locations available. Non-profit beverage vendors generate proceeds for their causes.
3. Court Sponsorships: Businesses sponsor courts with branded backboards. Courts are named rather than numbered, providing prominent branding visibility. Includes team entries, Tip-Off Party tickets, and Sponsor Garden tickets.
4. Tiered Sponsorships: Four levels of sponsorship: Major, Official, Supporting, and Court sponsorships. Higher tiers include booth spaces, additional team entries, and marketing visibility.
5. Merchandise Sales: Hoopfest merchandise store selling exclusive branded gear including T-shirts (coveted collectibles with unique annual designs), apparel, and souvenirs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

Spokane Hoopfest Association operates the world's largest 3on3 outdoor basketball tournament (Hoopfest), held annually in downtown Spokane, Washington, spanning 45 city blocks with 450+ courts and hosting 6,000+ teams and 25,000 players. The nonprofit also runs year-round youth basketball programs including Spokane Regional Club Basketball, Hooptown Youth League, Hooptown Elite travel program, the Fitz Tournament and Fitz Clinic, plus community court construction and charitable giving initiatives.

Product overview

Spokane Hoopfest Association operates a portfolio of basketball programs anchored by the world's largest 3on3 outdoor tournament (HoopfEST), alongside youth development leagues (Spokane Regional Club Basketball, Hooptown Youth League), elite travel programs (Hooptown Elite), high school tournaments (The Fitz Tournament), and skills clinics (The Fitz Clinic). The organization also manages community impact initiatives including a court construction program and charitable giving. Supporting technology platforms include an online player registration system, EventHub-based vendor/exhibitor and court sponsorship applications, and a mobile app available on iOS and Android.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Hooptown Youth League, LLC: Youth basketball league for grades 3rd-8th boys and girls in the Inland Northwest.
• Spokane Regional Club Basketball
• Hooptown Elite
• The Fitz Tournament
• Embrace Hoopfest
• Community Court Enhancement Project

Products and services

• Spokane Hoopfest (3on3 Basketball Tournament) The world's largest 3on3 outdoor basketball tournament, held annually in Spokane, Washington. The event spans 45 city blocks with 450+ courts, hosting 6,000+ teams and 25,000 players from 44 states and 6 countries. Includes divisions for Adult, High School, Youth, Elite, International 3x3, Family, Special Olympics, Unified, and Wheelchair participants.
• Spokane Regional Club Basketball Premier youth basketball league for boys and girls in 7th and 8th grade, featuring a 10-game regular season and three weekend tournaments including the Boo Ball Fall Classic, Santa Slammer Winter Classic, and Hooptown Championships.
• The Fitz Tournament The Dan Fitzgerald Memorial Basketball Tournament, a premier high school basketball tournament honoring the memory of the legendary Gonzaga University coach Dan Fitzgerald. Has raised over $220,000 for charities supported by the Fitzgerald family.
• The Fitz Clinic Basketball development clinic for athletes in grades 8-12 wanting to elevate their game. Participants may be selected for the Hooptown Elite traveling basketball program.
• Hooptown Youth League, LLC Youth basketball league operated by Hooptown USA, affiliated with Spokane Hoopfest Association, offering recreational and competitive play opportunities for 3rd-8th grade boys and girls in the Inland Northwest.
• Hooptown Elite Tryout Clinic Formerly Eastern Washington Elite, the longest-running and most successful grassroots basketball program in the Inland Northwest, helping 60 players earn Division 1 scholarships. Affiliated with Spokane Hoopfest Association and participating in the Under Armour Rise circuit.
• Embrace Hoopfest A 24-hour basketball challenge for charity held during Hoopfest weekend, raising funds for children in foster care and local charities including Embrace Washington and Special Olympics East Region.
• Community Court Enhancement Project Program that has built or renovated over 30 community outdoor basketball courts around the Inland Northwest since 1990, providing year-round basketball access for local residents.

Quantifiable outcome

• $47 million economic impact to Spokane/Inland Northwest economy annually
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered major, official, core, minor and supporting.

• Northern Quest Resort & CasinomajorGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor sponsor providing venue support and hotel accommodations. Located 10 minutes west of downtown Spokane with 442 luxury rooms. Also sponsors Northern Quest Center Court.
• Equipment SharemajorGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor sponsor of Hoopfest event with equipment/share services branding presence.
• Xfinity (Comcast)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor sponsor associated with Xfinity Elite Division branding for premier competitive basketball.
• MultiCaremajorGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor sponsor and exclusive medical provider for Hoopfest. Sponsors the Slam Dunk Competition. Provides medical tent services and health/safety content.
• Numerica Credit UnionmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor sponsor of Hoopfest event.
• DICK'S Sporting GoodsmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor sponsor providing sporting goods support. Distributes gift cards to court monitors as part of volunteer incentive program.
• Toyota Inland NorthwestmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor sponsor supporting Hoopfest, associated with Toyota Shootoff contest.
• Guardian LifemajorGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor sponsor of Hoopfest event.
• AmazonmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor sponsor for 2022 and beyond. Sponsors Amazon Awards, Amazon Alley, and Amazon Lot featuring 13 courts with artwork by local Spokane artists.
• NikeofficialGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial sponsor providing merchandise and store branding. Nike Center Court and exclusive product rights for merchandise sales.
• Under ArmourofficialGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial sponsor with product exclusivity for apparel and beverage. Provides gear packages for court monitors.
• Coca-Cola (Swire)officialGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial sponsor with beverage exclusivity on the Hoopfest site.
• Embrace WashingtoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharitable partner for Embrace Hoopfest - 24-hour basketball challenge raising funds for children in foster care. Embracing Hoopfest weekend with coordinated fundraising efforts.
• Special Olympics East RegioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary charitable beneficiary of Hoopfest since 1990. Receives donations from event proceeds and community investment program.
• The Basketball Tournament (TBT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership bringing 4 teams, 3 games, and 2 nights of action featuring college alumni, ex-NBA players, and future NBA players for $2 million winner-take-all tournament.
• UW School of MedicineminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMedical students from UW School of Medicine provide health tips and training advice for Hoopfest participants. Partnership through Gonzaga Regional Health Partnership.
• Under Armour Rise CircuitcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHooptown Elite participates in the Under Armour Rise circuit, traveling to Kansas City and Atlanta during NCAA recruiting periods.
• Spokane Transit Authority (STA)supportingGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides Hoop Loop shuttle service for transportation to/from event with $2 all-day fares on City Line and Jefferson Shuttle.
• Delta Air LinessupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial airline partner offering special discounts for Hoopfest attendees with meeting event codes for booking.
• Davenport Hotels CollectionsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial hotel collection including The Historic Davenport, Davenport Tower, Davenport Lusso, Davenport Grand, and The Centennial. Preferred accommodations for Hoopfest attendees.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• BIG3 Basketball League: Professional 3-on-3 basketball league featuring former NBA players. Directly comparable in the 3x3 basketball space and competes for the same sponsor mindshare, though positioned as professional rather than amateur/community.
• Gus Macker 3-on-3 Basketball: Long-running nationwide 3-on-3 basketball tournament circuit operating in multiple cities each summer, directly comparable to Hoopfest in format, amateur/grassroots orientation, and outdoor street basketball culture. The most analogous large-scale U.S. 3-on-3 organizer.
• EBC at Rucker Park (Rucker Pro Tournament): Iconic street basketball tournament and pro-am event held at the legendary Rucker Park in Harlem. Comparable as a community-rooted outdoor basketball tournament with cultural significance, though smaller in absolute scale than Hoopfest.

Broad incumbents

• USA Basketball: National governing body for basketball in the U.S., running the FIBA 3x3 pathway and elite national events. Comparable as an organizer of competitive basketball events, with a broader governance and national-team mandate rather than community festival orientation.
• AAU (Amateur Athletic Union): The largest amateur sports organization in the U.S., running national basketball tournaments, leagues, and championships across age groups. Comparable as an amateur basketball event organizer with much broader national scope.
• Nike Hoop Summit: Annual international high-school all-star basketball event run by Nike. Comparable as a high-visibility basketball event with major apparel sponsorship, though positioned as a single elite exhibition rather than a mass-participation community tournament.

Emerging players

• The Basketball Tournament (TBT): $2M winner-take-all summer basketball tournament featuring college alumni and ex-NBA players. Already a strategic partner with Hoopfest but operates an overlapping summer basketball audience and competes for similar sports sponsor dollars.
• Overtime Elite (OTE): Elite youth basketball league and content platform competing for top high-school basketball talent and sponsor dollars. Comparable as an emerging player in the amateur/elite basketball space, but focused on year-round league play rather than weekend tournaments.
• Adidas Gauntlet: National grassroots basketball tournament series run by Adidas targeting elite high-school prospects. Comparable in targeting basketball talent and apparel sponsorship, but operates as a multi-stop national circuit rather than a single-city community festival.

Others

• YMCA: National community sports and recreation nonprofit offering youth basketball leagues and programming. Comparable as a community-oriented nonprofit sports organization and recipient of Hoopfest community investment, though operating on a much broader recreational programming footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SpokaneHoopfest
• Facebookfacebook.com/spokanehoopfest
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/spokane-hoopfest-association
• Instagraminstagram.com/spokanehoopfest/?hl=en

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Spokane Hoopfest Association