Eastern States Exposition has named a new general manager for Hooplandia, a 3×3 tournament celebrating basketball’s history in its birthplace, Greater Springfield, Mass.
Drew Dawson of Guilford, Conn., has joined the team. In this role, “he will oversee overall operations for the event and strategize leading up to festival weekend,” according to a statement.
Dawson holds “bachelor’s degrees in economics and business as well as English from Lafayette College in Easton, Penn. He earned his master’s in sports management from East Stroudsburg University in East Stroudsburg, Penn., and an executive certificate of completion in Foundations of Business Planning from the University of Hartford Entrepreneurial Studies program in West Hartford. In college, Dawson played NCAA Division I basketball for Lafayette College. He was inducted into the school’s athletics hall of fame as a member of the 2000 NCAA Tournament team,” according to a statement.
Dawson’s basketball story began at an early age.
“My journey in hoops begins around seven years old,” said Dawson in a statement. “That is when I was first introduced to the game and tried to hold my own against older neighborhood kids in the driveway or local park. It was not long before I became hooked, and my love for the game grew from there. Basketball has been good to me—the experiences, memories, lifelong relationships, travel, professional opportunities. Although my relationship and involvement in basketball have changed over the years, it has remained a constant and lifelong passion.”
Dawson’s “past roles include lead assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at both Lafayette College and the University of Hartford, formerly a member of the America East Conference. He is currently an adjunct faculty member and head prep coach at Choate Rosemary Hall in Wallingford, Conn., and founder of 3×360 Sports, a leading basketball-based event management and brand activation platform dedicated exclusively to the growth of FIBA 3×3 basketball,” according to a statement.
Dawson is also a FIBA-certified coach and member of the Ireland U20 National Team coaching staff.
When asked why he chose Hooplandia, Dawson said, “3×3 basketball is the world’s number one urban team game, and it will appear in the Olympics for a third time in Los Angeles in 2028. Between this buzz and the support of Eastern States Exposition and the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, Hooplandia has a ton of momentum, and it is already one the country’s most dynamic 3×3 events. I’m eager to join the team and add to it.”
“At my first Hooplandia,” he continued, “I’m most excited to see the effects of our community engagement; I hope to expand participation, sponsorship, strategic partnerships, the spectatorship, and local and regional relations all to new heights. I’m really motivated by the prospect of building Hooplandia into one of the most widely recognized and successful 3×3 events and alternative sports festivals internationally.”
Hooplandia takes place June 19-21 this year, and registration is open now at Hooplandia.com.
