By: Troy MacNeill

AAU 3v3 in Times Square
Dates: September 16 – 17, 2023
Location: Times Square
Schedule | Event Page
 
TIMES SQUARE, N.Y. (September 13, 2023) – AAU Basketball will be playing 3v3 basketball in the center of basketball universe. The bright lights of Times Square will shine on all the athletes coming to compete in the Basketball Mecca, New York City.
 
AAU 3-on-3 Basketball and the AAU Urban Initiative are teaming with the NYPD and the NYC Mayor’s Office of Sports to host this inaugural AAU 3v3 event.
 
New York has forever been known as the Mecca of Basketball, with Madison Square Garden, Rucker Park, and some of the greatest streetball and NBA players calling New York home. Now, AAU Basketball will take center stage and put on a show to rival Broadway. 
 
An estimated 75 teams will be traveling to Times Square to go head-to-head in 3-on-3 basketball. With five courts located in between 46^th and 48^th street, athletes will have a chance to show off their skills on the streets of New York City. Boys’ teams from 4^th grade to 12^th grade and girls’ teams from 9^th to 12^th grade will be comprised of four players. Each team will play a minimum of three games, with a chance of making it to the title game and playing for an AAU Championship.
 
Games will begin on Saturday morning and run through Sunday, September 17. Championship games will be played on courts that will be placed on the Broadway Plaza. AAU Basketball fans and spectators will be able to watch the non-stop action as they walk down the streets of NYC.  
 
This event is another huge step in the AAU Urban Initiative. The AAU Urban Initiative was created in 2015 to provide participation opportunities in urban environments that were historically underserved. The initiative partners the AAU with local government, law enforcement, faith-based groups, educational institutions, and other groups to bring communities together through sports in service to America’s youth.
 
“The Urban Initiative has been a dream of mine for the past 10 years. I wanted to bring sports, and the benefits of participation, to the youth who needed it the most,” said President Mirza. “Now with the formal partnership of NYPD, the Urban Initiative will take a giant step forward to bring AAU sports to many more young athletes from underserved areas, helping us continue our mission of ‘Sports for All, Forever’.”
 
NY Metropolitan AAU District Governor Jim Fox and AAU Urban Initiative lead Joe Armenio have been hard at work with the NYPD and the AAU National Office to create a once in a lifetime experience for athletes competing in the middle of Times Square. Not only are we creating memorable moments for our athletes, but we are also providing a sense of community and teaching harmony in the city.
 
Joining the festivities of the AAU 3v3 basketball will be the Metro Chess Challenge. Starting at 10 a.m. on Saturday, chess players can bring their game and their clocks to support the AAU Urban Initiative and the Urban Chess Collective. Chess matches will take place throughout the day with prizes and giveaways.
 
You don’t have to miss out on any of the action! Follow AAU Basketball on Facebook and Instagram to see the show in Times Square.