Symonds Looking To Make DC-Baltimore Region Major Tourney Player

Ron Bailey, Publisher

October 17, 2007 - After a successful Back To School Showcase, Hoop Magic Sports Academy’s owner, Curtis Symonds, shared an interesting and compelling vision of what travel team/AAU young basketball could look like in the Washington/Baltimore area, going forward. The local hoops community would do well to listen.

“I just want people to look at us” as a premier basketball tournament hosting, and sports training facility said Hoop Magic’s owner; In Symonds’ estimation, his is “one of the best facilities around” (a claim justified by its cleanliness, court space, and amenities). That, coupled with his 20+ years of experience in sports planning, marketing, and promotion, plus the expertise of Hoop Magic’s staff – an important factor - drive him to believe the foundation is set for a youth basketball tournament-hosting paradigm shift in the Capitol Region.

“If you look at the D-M-V (D.C., Maryland, Virginia) area, you have some of the best (hoops) talent in the country” posited Symonds. “Why go out there (travel nationally for tournaments)? They (teams throughout America) can come here”.

“There is a world class airport, hotels, and eating spots, all within 20 minutes of here” continued Symonds, mapping his facilities’ advantages. “This is a very congenial spot”.

While Hoop Magic Sports Academy can handle tournaments of significant size in its 65,000 square foot facility, Symonds has a grander plan of hosting national level tourney’s, similar to Las Vegas, Charlottesville, Pittsburgh, Orlando, and a wide range of other locales, big and small.

What does he believe it will take to solidify his vision of promoting big time travel team/AAU tournaments? Not surprisingly, a group effort.

“I’m willing to partner” he shared. “An example is with the Capital Sports Complex…I’m willing to partner and engage sponsors”.

To the point of sponsors, Symonds concluded the combination of his first rate facility and its demographically varied clientele, added to that which travel team tourneys boast, would be extremely attractive to any organization interested in promoting their brand/product or institution . And of course any facility he partners with to host a large scale tournament will be similarly situated.

To sum, that synergy, created by excellent facilities (like Hoop Magic, Capital Sports Complex, and others) , ample hotel accommodations, world class transportation systems, managerial talent, and of course the level of hoops present, should ably facilitate a national level tournament in Symonds’ view.

That opinion, when analyzed against the facts, not only holds water, but is doable. The question is, can it be pulled off?

If left up to Curtis Symonds, there is no doubt it will. What’s needed is for other committed, involved, and capable individuals to join him.

To use sports-related euphemisms, who’s going to step up to the plate, take the shot, or tote the ball over the goal line?

It’s time to come together according to Symonds. Who is willing to join him?

(Note: Hoops Magic is holding its Fall Jamboree this weekend, October 19-21, 2007, consisiting of AAU/travel teams and local high school squads doing battle. For more details, click here and navigate to the Events Calendar portion of that site).