On June 21, 2018, Colonnade Group and Faush Summit Entertainment unveiled Iron City Hoop-A-Palooza, a 3 on 3 basketball tournament, that will welcome basketball fans of all ages and skill levels to Birmingham this summer. The tournament is just one in a series of events and opportunities created to celebrate the NBA’s return to Birmingham via the BBVA Compass Iron City Showdown and to give basketball enthusiasts across the Birmingham metro a way to participate in this great event. 

Teams can compete across four divisions, namely: Youth, Friends & Family, Elite, and Corporate. The tournament will tip off in July, with first round games taking place on July 21, July 28, and August 11 at 11 unique locations across the Birmingham metro. Each location’s first-round winner will advance to the semifinals on September 23. The final round will feature the two remaining teams of each division, who will square off on October 2 at Legacy Arena at The BJCC during the BBVA Compass Iron City Showdown. This will crown each division’s champion. 

To continue the celebration of basketball in Birmingham, each Hoop-A-Palooza participant will also receive a ticket to the BBVA Compass Iron City Showdown, to see in person the Houston Rockets take on the Memphis Grizzlies in the first NBA game hosted in Birmingham in 12 years. The game was announced in early May and was made possible through title sponsor BBVA Compass’ relationship with the Houston Rockets.

Teams of 3-4 can now register at IronCityHoopAPalooza.com. Entry fees start at $80 for the Youth division (going into the sixth grade and under), $100 for the Friends & Family division (basketball lovers and weekend warriors), $100 for the Elite division (advanced players ready for fierce competition), and $250 for the Corporate division (players representing Birmingham businesses and institutions). Hoop-A-Palooza qualifying events will be free to attend and open to the public.