FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 12, 2025
Media Contact: downtowndcbid@berlinrosen.com
The free community event supported by the District’s Downtown Summer Activation Grant Program will transform F Street NW into a basketball tournament and community celebration with food trucks and family activities.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (August 12, 2025) – The DowntownDC Business Improvement District (BID), the Washington Wizards and the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED) invite the DC community to a weekend of basketball, food and activities at the Wizards 3v3 Tournament outside of Capital One Arena. On September 6 and 7, F Street NW between 6th and 7th streets NW will transform into a dynamic, open-air basketball tournament and community celebration from noon to 10 pm daily.
The Wizards 3v3 Tournament is being supported by the District’s Downtown Summer Activations Grant program, which funds events to activate the Gallery Place-Chinatown area and support local businesses while the transformative renovations to the arena are underway. The program is a partnership between DMPED and the DowntownDC BID.
Up to 100 teams will participate in the free tournament, powered by 3×360 Sports, utilizing five half-courts on F Street outside of Capital One Arena. Participants will compete in one of four age brackets, with the first-place winners receiving an award. All participating teams will be given the opportunity to redeem an exclusive ticket offer to an upcoming Wizards game during the 2025-26 season.
The age brackets are:
- Boys’ and Girls’ Youth Recreational (Ages 10-13)
- Boys’ and Girls’ High School Recreational (Ages 14-18)
- Men’s and Women’s Adult Recreational (Age 19+)
- Men’s and Women’s Pro Am (Age 18+)
Each team can have up to five people and all participating teams are guaranteed at least three games. The tournament will begin with pool play in each division, which will determine who advances to a single-elimination playoff bracket. The first team to 21 points in each game wins.
In addition to the tournament, the event will feature a free youth clinic for ages 6-14 on Saturday, September 6 at 12:30 pm, 1:30 pm and 2:30 pm, along with family activities, food trucks and music. Attendees can also enjoy appearances by the Wizards Dancers and the Wizards mascot G-Wiz. This event is presented in part by District of Play, Monumental Sports & Entertainment’s multi-year commitment to expand youth sports access across Washington, D.C.
“The Wizards are an anchor of downtown life, and we’re proud to partner with them and Monumental Sports and the Mayor’s Office, to bring this tournament to the heart of the city,” said Gerren Price, President and CEO of the DowntownDC BID. “While Capital One Arena undergoes renovations, events like this help keep the energy downtown, drawing people to Gallery Place-Chinatown, supporting local businesses, and activating public spaces in new and exciting ways.”
“By partnering with the DowntownDC BID to turn F Street into outdoor courts for the Wizards 3v3 Tournament, we’re energizing fans and driving foot traffic to the businesses that make our neighborhood special,” said Monumental Sports & Entertainment Chief Marketing Officer Hunter Lochmann. “Washington, D.C. is a basketball city, and we’re excited to see that passion on full display.”
“Thanks to Mayor Bowser’s continued investment through the Downtown Summer Activation Grant program, we’re bringing continuous activity and energy to Gallery Place-Chinatown,” said Nina Albert, Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development. “Events like the Wizards 3v3 Tournament are the kind of exciting activations that bring people downtown and support our small businesses.”
All events are free and open to the public. Those interested in showing off their skills can register a team HERE for a chance to win prizes. Youth ages 6-14 are invited to register HERE for the free basketball clinic on Saturday, September 6. You can find more information about the event HERE.
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About Washington Wizards
The NBA’s Washington Wizards are owned and operated by Monumental Sports & Entertainment, America’s leading integrated sports and entertainment company and ranked as one of the most valuable globally. The team captured the 1978 NBA Championship when it was known as the Washington Bullets and has appeared in two NBA Finals. Five players from the franchise have been inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (Bob Dandridge, Elvin Hayes, Gus Johnson, Earl Monroe, and Wes Unseld). To learn more, please visit washingtonwizards.com .
About DowntownDC BID
The DowntownDC Business Improvement District (BID) was founded in 1997 as the Washington D.C.’s first private nonprofit place management organization where property owners agree to tax themselves to fund services that enhance people’s experiences in the neighborhood. The BID’s area includes 530 properties and is defined by Massachusetts Avenue on the north, including the Walter E. Washington Convention Center at Mount Vernon Square, to Constitution Avenue on the south, and from Louisiana Avenue on the east to 16th Street on the west.
About District of Play
The event is part of Monumental Sports & Entertainment’s robust “District of Play” youth sports initiative. Launched in September 2024, Monumental Sports’ public-private partnership with the District to build a new Capital One Arena includes a multi-million-dollar Community Benefits initiative, which sparked the “District of Play” program. Championed by MSE Founder and CEO Ted Leonsis, the program fosters accessible spaces for youth to grow through sports while engaging parents, coaches, and communities. Learn more at www.monumentalsports.com/DistrictOfPlay.