Oregon Hoopla, Salem’s largest sporting event, is back for its 27th year, returning to its original location on Court Street after a brief relocation due to construction.
A Homecoming for Hoopla
The event, which began in 1999, has grown to include over 1,000 basketball teams, 5,000 athletes, and 50,000 visitors over six days. Tournament director Jason Unruh, who has been organizing Hoopla since its inception, expressed his excitement about the event’s return to Court Street.
Unruh’s father, Carroll Unruh, and local businessman Jim Kniffin founded Hoopla to raise funds for a local drug and alcohol awareness program. The event has since become a staple of the Salem community, with Unruh describing it as ‘a big old family reunion for the city of Salem.’
This year’s event will feature a reunion of Unruh’s high school basketball team, with the five seniors from his team, including himself, competing in the 50+ division. The event will also include a Unified Basketball Clinic for middle and high school athletes, as well as a free class teaching basketball fundamentals for kids.
Hoopla will take place from July 21 to July 26, with games starting at 6 p.m. on Tuesday and continuing throughout the week. The event will also feature food vendors, sponsor tables, and DJ booths, with the national anthem being played on Saturday morning.
Original reporting: Salem Reporter — read the source article.
