Fort Wayne to Host ‘Major’ Tournaments

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Five tournaments are coming to Fort Wayne and officials say they will bring nearly 30,000 thousand visitors to the city. Visit Fort Wayne expects next month's basketball events to have a $5 million economic impact.

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – In 49 states, it's just basketball. But this is Indiana.

The Gym Rats Basketball Association, along Spiece Fieldhouse and local sports venues, will host five major tournaments and thousands of prep basketball players, coaches and officials from May 1-31, 2015 in Fort Wayne.

The list of May tournaments include:

Bill Hensley Run 'N Slam All Star Classic: May 1-3, 8,160 attendees

GRBA State Championships: May 9-10, 3,850 attendees

Lady Gym Rats Invitational: May 16-17, 2,275 attendees

Gym Rats Memorial Run 'N Slam: May 22-24, 8,060 attendees

Hoppin' 'N The Summit: May 30-31, 4,480 attendees

Returning to Fort Wayne is the annual Bill Hensley Memorial Run 'N Slam All-Star Classic from May 1-3. This highly-competitive tournament welcomes 8,160 participants from 10 different states, making it Gym Rats' largest event of the year. This event started in 1994 with only 32 total teams and has grown to 272 teams in 2015. The tournament is in honor of Gym Rats' founder and youth basketball pioneer the late Bill Hensley.

The five tournaments in May will bring in an estimated 27,000 attendees and $5.1 million dollars in economic impact to Fort Wayne.

For more information on upcoming Gym Rats Basketball Association tournaments, game times and schedules, contact Todd Hensley of Gym Rats at (260) 341-8995 or John Felts of Visit Fort Wayne at (260) 424-3700.

Visit Fort Wayne, the Fort Wayne/Allen County Convention and Visitors Bureau, is the not-for-profit organization whose purpose is to expand Fort Wayne's economy by attracting convention and leisure visitors. Each year, millions of dollars from visitor spending generate increased commerce, sustained jobs and enhancement of Fort Wayne's image.

Source: Visit Fort Wayne