Macker returns: 3-on-3 tourney is this weekend

By Sarah Hall

Editor

Starting this Friday, hundreds of athletes from around the country will descend upon the town of Cicero in preparation for the largest 3-on-3 basketball tournament in the area.

The Gus Macker tournament begins the afternoon of Friday, Aug. 12, and runs through Sunday. The proceeds from the seventh annual event will benefit the CanTeen teen center. It’s the center’s largest annual fundraiser, having raises about $120,000 since LaFave brought it to Central New York in 2010 after state budget cuts threatened the program.

This year’s event, which will take place at Cicero-North Syracuse High School on Route 31, will include a total of 163 teams.

“It’s very similar to last year’s event,” Tournament Director Julie LaFave said. She said sponsorships are also on par with last year after a significant dip from 2014. “As of right now, we are only $1,500 down from last year’s. It’s still a big cut from 2014, but it will certainly help the bottom line for the 2016 event.”

Sponsorships fell after the tournament moved to C-NS from Driver’s Village after the expansion of the car dealership. While the relocation meant better visibility, closer proximity to the CanTeen itself and a better space overall for the event, it did have a major downside: sponsorship revenue declined by 41 percent between 2014 and 2015.

“Some sponsors decided to no longer sign on because our new event was no longer ‘in their backyard,’ so to speak,” LaFave said. “Others kindly explained that they like to try to rotate charities every few years.”

Since launching the Macker tournament, the center has taken in fewer donations from the public, so that one fundraiser has been its main source of funding. The CanTeen needs about $30,000 to $40,000 annually to continue operations. Last year, however, the tournament took in just over $8,000 in sponsorship revenue.

Organizers are hopeful the financial outlook will improve in the coming years.

“We were able to have a successful last-minute push,” LaFave said. “We had a few new sponsors sign on at the last minute, which we were thrilled to start working with.”

But for this weekend, the money takes a backseat to the fun. The event kicks off Friday with a chicken barbecue hosted by Cicero Fire Department, followed by a corporate tournament and competitions between North Syracuse school district teachers and administrators. In addition to the regular 3-on-3 games, Saturday’s activities include opening ceremonies, a Mascot Game and performances by the Macker Girls dancers. Things wrap up Sunday with a championship game. All the while, vendors will be on-site to provide food, drinks and goods to participants and spectators.

“Our event is much more than just a basketball tournament. We actually call it a basketball festival,” LaFave said. “People come from around the state and the country for the competition on the courts.”

For more information, visit macker.com/macker-tournament/2016-gus-macker-tour/273-syracuse-cicero-ny.html or find them on Facebook.

Schedule of events

Friday, Aug. 12