ZANESVILLE – Efforts to bring the Gus Macker basketball tournament back to Zanesville took a major step forward with the selection of a host site at Ohio University Zanesville/Zane State College and the YMCA of Zanesville, as community partners, sponsors and organizers work toward the event’s return in July 2027.
Next, the Gus Macker executive committee will have a 30- to 40-minute site walkthrough in August with facility, campus and concession representatives to review the venue layouts and complete the proposed site plan. That’ll include mapping out the areas for the hoops, parking, overflow, and food vendors, added Dominique Proctor, the Gus Macker Zanesville committee’s executive chair.
Then, the committee can start working on a final contract with the tournament’s headquarters. Discussions are expected to start after Labor Day.
The contract is a three-year agreement with a first-year opt-out, in case 2027’s tournament falls short of expectations. Though, a well-attended event could secure two more in 2028 and 2029, the TR previously reported. Another agreement could be looked at after that.
Registrations for four-person squads at $180 are still expected to open up in March 2027, Proctor confirmed.
“I’m excited about where we are,” he told the TR. “From where we were in December 2025… we have built so many partnerships. Now, we’re transitioning into the execution phase of this tournament.”
Approximately $41,000 has been raised or committed by sponsors, an additional $23,000 since April. The original goal was $30,000. Contributions are handled by the Muskingum County Community Foundation and its Love Thy Neighbor Pass-Through Fund to ensure transparency and accountability, the TR previously reported.
The committee will continue to fundraise, Proctor noted, and there are still some sponsorships available. The best way to get more information is by leaving a message the Gus Macker Zanesville Facebook page.
Gus Macker Zanesville previously had two collaborative fundraising events with Chipotle in May and Applebee’s in June. The committee is working with A Taste of Ohio Wine, Bourbon & Beer for a couple more fundraisers in the fall. More details will come in the future, Proctor said.
Gus Macker is also open for more volunteers. Facebook is also the best way to express interest.
The Gus Masker tournament hasn’t been gone for around 15 years, and its revival has been led by the full 15-person committee that first started efforts in 2023.
Shawn Digity is a reporter for the Zanesville Times Recorder. He can be emailed at sdigity@usatodayco.com or found on X at @ShawnDigityZTR.
This article originally appeared on Zanesville Times Recorder: The long game pays off as Gus Macker organizers secure a Zanesville venue
Reporting by Shawn Digity, Zanesville Times Recorder / Zanesville Times Recorder
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By Shawn Digity, Zanesville Times Recorder | USA TODAY Network
