Plans to host the Gus Macker 3-on-3 basketball tournament in Grand Island are proceeding, says the local promoter serving as the point man for the event.
A report published by the Grand Island Dispatch hints of concerns by town officials over the popular event. Tournament organizers were still awaiting word whether they had approval to proceed with the event, scheduled for late August.
Security staffing was a point of concern. The original plan was to utilize town police and Erie County Sheriff’s Deputies, but the latter will be tied up with the Erie County Fair and a Buffalo Bills preseason home game. A subcontractor has since been identified and presented to town officials, says the local promoter serving as point man for the tournament.
"This past week we had a meeting with the town board, Thursday, so that company could be introduced to the town board," said promoter Corey McGowan.
For many years, the Gus Macker Tournament was hosted in downtown Buffalo but last year was moved to Darien Lake. Tournament planners wanting to return it to the Buffalo area are looking for a scaled-down version in Grand Island.
McGowan, in a phone interview with WBFO, said the security-related hurdles were no cause for concern and a normal part of the planning process.
"These are just standard special event procedures," he said. "Obviously you need security at a special event, and when it fell through with the Town of Grand Island Police and a mixture of others, because of those other events we had to go get a subcontractor."
The tournament is planned for August 29 and 30 and will involve the closure of a section of Grand Island Boulevard between Baseline and Whitehaven Roads. Registrations for teams were still being accepted at the tournament's official website.
