After a summer of uncertainty whether the tournament would be allowed to proceed, the local promoter for the Gas Macker 3-on-3 basketball tournament says Grand Island is embracing the upcoming event. There is room, though, for more teams.
In two-and-a-half weeks, the town of Grand Island will host the popular tournament for its first time. The Gus Macker was hosted in downtown Buffalo for nearly a quarter century until 2014, when it moved to Darien Lake. Though it was announced in May that the tournament was moving to Grand Island, town council members didn't give their approval until July.
Reasons for the delay were reported concerns about security staffing. Local officials finally voted to green-light the tournament after they were satisfied about those concerns. In the meantime, local organizer Corey McGowan said teams hesitated to sign up. More than 200 have since joined but McGowan says there is still space for interested teams to apply. The deadline to do so has been extended to August 17.
In the meantime, interests in the town that were hesitant about the tournament at first have since warmed up to it, according to McGowan.
"The businesses that see that potential are taking advantage of it," said McGowan. "They're offering different specials that weekend. Some are actually going to be at the event."
The Gus Macker at Grand Island will be held August 29 and 30. Courts will be set up on a stretch of Grand Island Boulevard between Baseline and Whitehaven Roads. That part of the road will be closed to cars but businesses on that strip can still be access through alternative entrances.
