The 2014 Gus Macker tournament is moving to a new location. The 3-on-3 basketball event will be held at Darien Lake this year.
The Buffalo Police Athletic League will host the tournament. Executive Director Modie Cox says proceeds from the event will go to toward supporting the organizations’ youth athletic and educational programs.
“We serve about 25 to 30,000 children annually. We work with seven community centers in the city of Buffalo. Our mission and our goal is to help the kids of the city of Buffalo and western New York, so this is critical to us and without Darien Lake stepping up and making us their charitable partner we could provide these essential services to the city of Buffalo and the kids doing this on our own anymore,” said Cox.
Cox says this year’s Gus Macker would have been canceled if Darien Lake hadn’t intervened to save it as finding sponsors was very difficult.
Darien Lake will be offering free park admission good for two days for registered players and spectators will be able to receive discounted admission for $25. It’s also paying for admission, transportation and parking for more than 100 children from city community centers, because of the moved location.
Gus Maker organizer Scott McNeal says they’re excited to be bringing the tournament back to Buffalo.
“Darien Lake offers the necessary space and infrastructure for the thousands of players and families that come to participate in and watch the games,” said McNeal.
Buffalo’s Gus Macker is the second-largest nationwide with more than 3,000 players and spectators annually. The tournament will take place on July 19th and 20th.
McNeal says they plan to host the Gus Macker at Darien Lake again next year as well.