On March 29, Foley Sports Tourism and Tanger Outlets in Foley announced a new partnership to bring the inaugural Hoop It Up basketball tournament to the city. The 3-on-3 player, half-court games will take place on the Tanger Outlet grounds Oct. 22 and 23 as part of the national Hoop It Up tour.

“Hoop It Up is a brand, one of the biggest groups out there; they’re first class,” said Executive Director of Sports for the city of Foley Don Staley, at the press conference. “Here in Foley, we’re first class and we went after Hoop It Up. But we needed a partner in order to pull it off and we needed space to pull it off … what better partner than Tanger?”

After talking to the general manager of Tanger Outlets in Foley, Debra Brown, she went up the corporate ladder with Tanger. Brown mentioned the large parking lot in the back of the outlets would be perfect for this type of tournament.

All ages — from children at 6 years old and up to traveling basketball teams — will participate in this tournament to qualify for the national championships. Teams are expected from as far away at Atlanta and Nashville for this qualifier. Staley also expects representation from the Gulf Coast.

“Notoriety from Tanger, notoriety from Foley is really starting to achieve because of the great things we’re doing, the support of these (Foley High School) basketball coaches … between all these positives, this first year could be very successful; successful for Tanger because of the foot traffic they’re going to get in between games and the packages they’re going to put together. We fully expect them (players) to be in our restaurants and expect them to be in our hotels.”

Brown echoed Staley’s comments about the partnership.

“Tanger Outlet is extremely excited to be a partner with Foley Sports Tourism to be able to bring this event to the community,” she said. “We’re excited about everything we’re going to be able to do and excited about the traffic it’s going to bring. We’re expecting an impact on Tanger but all the community.”

There are two types of sport events: economic impactful events and quality of life events. The Hoop It Up tournament leans toward quality of life.

“Any change we get to bring folks into the city of Foley to show them all the amenities — for that matter — south Baldwin County, we’re bringing attention, branding to this area and showing what an incredible place this is down here,” Staley said. “This quality of life event will be one a 12-year-old will remember for the rest of his life.”

And Staley’s anticipating more to come.

“We fully expect this to be something to go forward in the years to come, but you’ve first got to walk before you can run,” Staley said. “We’ve got to successfully put this event on and we’ll rely on our friends at Foley High School and all the AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) folks that jump on this tournament.”

Staley is hoping for 75 to 100 teams.

“But we could be way off of that … I hope we are,” Staley explains. “I hope we’re packed out back.”

To bring Hoop It Up to Foley, the $15,000 bid fee was split 50/50 between the Foley Sports Tourism and Tanger Outlets.