The excitement for the upcoming Gus Macker basketball tournament began at Buffalo Wild Wings Thursday evening, as Ironton Gus Macker held its sponsor dinner and Macker Mania event.

“This is a kickoff to promote the Gus Macker three-on-three basketball tournament that’s coming up May 16 and 17,” Beth Campbell, Ironton Gus Macker chairman, said.

Giveaways every 15 minutes, basketball shooting contests and a grand prize giveaway of a free team entry, originally a $140 fee, were all part of the event.

“We normally get a large crowd that comes out to this,” Campbell said. “And Buffalo Wild Wings does a great job for us.”

Campbell said the Gus Macker tournament usually raises around $5,000 and all of the money goes to the Friends of Ironton and then back into the city in some way.

“The Friends of Ironton are our biggest backer,” Campbell said. “This year the money will be going toward the Memorial Day fireworks and the Ro-Na restoration.”

Sponsors for the event include Marathon, Catlettsburg Refining, LLC, Buffalo Wild Wings, Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital, Citizens Deposit Bank, The Tribune, Friends of Ironton, Tri-State Rehab Services, Patriot EMS, Bob Clyse car dealership, Holiday Inn Express and Suites, The Printing Press, Inc, 103.3 WTCR and St. Mary’s Medical Center. Lew Albert Insurance also donates a $250 cash prize for the winner of the slam dunk contest during the tournament.

“Our sponsors are great,” Campbell said. “Without them, we wouldn’t be able to do any of this.”

The cost to register a team is $140 and the deadline to register online is Monday. To register, go to www.macker.com.