Hoopfest Preps Well Underway

SPOKANE — Preparations for Hoopfest are well underway in downtown Spokane as brackets have been released for the world’s largest 3-on-3 basketball tournament.

Matchups for Hoopfest 2008 were announced Thursday morning. To view where your team is playing, click here
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Meantime, dozens of volunteers and organizers are putting in long hours to transform the streets of Spokane into basketball courts.

Center Court is where everything begins on Thursday. The white tents next to the court is where people will begin picking up their packers and gear beginning at 4 p.m.

Team registration begins Thursday from 4 to 6 p.m. and continues Friday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Riverfront Park is packed with people setting up for the event. The Nike Hoopfest Store opens on Thursday, while clothing racks and cubbyholes are all ready to sell Hoopfest t-shirts, sweatshirts and other items.

The city of Spokane is getting ready by making sure the downtown streets are in great shape for players and fans. The Spokane Clean Team has been sweeping and picking up trash, while potholes are being patched by the Street Department.

But Hoopfest would never come together if it wasn’t for the volunteers.

“Anytime you can do something for kids, you’re just excited to be out here,” says volunteer Jackie Fisher. “Obviously, you have your elite athletes, but if you’re out here at Hoopfest, it’s mainly for the kids. Anytime they can get out and play, that’s what we’re all about.”

The Fisher family owns Rhino Sports and by the end of Hoopfest they will have volunteered more than 40 hours, plus all the Rhino gear they donate.