By Erin Craig, Vice President, Southside Neighborhood Association, Event Director—
MUNCIE, IN—For the first time since 2011, Gus Macker 3-on-3 Tournament is set to return to Muncie in 2026. The Southside Neighborhood Association, led by Erin Craig, Courtney Marsh, and Steve Craig made it official in a contract signing at The Common Market in Muncie. They were joined today by members of the team they have assembled to organize the event, supporters, and friends to celebrate the return of the iconic tournament to Muncie’s south side.
The return of the Gus Macker tournament started with a thought nearly 2 years ago from Erin Craig, who reached out to Gus Macker leadership to inquire about hosting the event in Muncie again. Shortly after that contact, the pieces to make it happen started to fall into place, and now that thought has become a reality.
The tournament will be held July 18 & 19, 2026 at Southside Middle School, a familiar venue for Gus Macker from the past.
For the Southside Neighborhood Association, bringing the tournament back to Southside was as important as bringing it back to Muncie. Steve Craig, member of the Southside Neighborhood Association and member of the organizing team bringing the tournament back to Muncie had this to say when asked why this is important to them to bring the tournament back, “A huge part of the reason to bring back Gus Macker is that people have been asking for it. It was a tradition and part of many families’ summers for years. It has been missed. Basketball is a piece of Indiana culture.
The opportunity to bring it to a new generation of youth was an important contributing reason as well. Individuals who played before, can now introduce Macker to their children or grandchildren. Also, you have to consider the economic impact that it brings to our city. It will bring in guests to our hotels, restaurants, and other businesses. It was very important to us that it be held on the Southside. We live, work, and play here. We’ve heard those residents, and they have been asking for an event to take place here. It’s a chance for them to bring their families out for some fun in their own backyard.”
Long time players in Gus Macker tournaments shared stories of Muncie’s past tournaments, and the excitement and anticipation for the event were palpable. Courtney Marsh, President of the Southside Neighborhood Association said, “The buzz is starting and we hope to see our community come together for the return of Gus Macker, an iconic tournament that once filled our community with excited basketball players and fans each summer. It’s on its way back, summer 2026!”
Event Director and Vice President of the Southside Neighborhood Association, Erin Craig, is ready to continue this tradition for Southside and Muncie, “Gus Macker offers so many things to the communities they choose to host their events, like the opportunity to support local charities while providing family-friendly fun and bringing economic dollars to local businesses. My favorite aspect, and the reason I wanted the opportunity to have Macker back in Muncie is, the community togetherness it breeds. Gus Macker offers basketball in a unique way that really does bring every person in no matter your skill level, age, or experience. It truly offers the opportunity to bring everyone together.”
