Wildwood's Basketball Tournament

Basketball tournament tops off Wildwood's year
By TRUDI GILFILLIAN Staff Writer, (609) 463-6716
Published: Tuesday, December 27, 2005

Updated: Tuesday, December 27, 2005WILDWOOD-Tournament director and Mayor Ernie Troiano Jr. were hard pressed Monday to remember just when the Boardwalk Basketball Classic got its start.Troiano, busy organizing the annual basketball event at the Wildwoods Convention Center, guessed 1993 would have been the first year and he blamed his age for his struggle to remember.But it's more likely the tournament's tremendous growth that makes the beginnings a little fuzzy.Back then, the tournament was held at Wildwood High School and featured eight teams, four boys and four girls. Today, the five-day tournament is scheduled to host 68 teams from New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, Maryland and Delaware.The growth has Troiano looking at ways to possibly expand, maybe up to 100 teams and six days. "We have a waiting list of teams," Troiano said.It also means local businesses can look forward to an end-of-the-year economic boost."It's definitely a help to our year-round businesses at what is a slow time of the year. We have a lot of people in town using motels, restaurants. It's a nice boost for all of them," said Andy Cripps, executive director of the Greater Wildwood Chamber of Commerce.Troiano estimated thousands of people make their way to the convention center for the games, many staying overnight or making use of the island's eating establishments.John Siciliano, executive director of the Greater Wildwoods Tourism Improvement and Development Authority, said no statistics have been compiled on the economic impact of the tournament, but it's definitely a help in what would other be a quiet time of the year.Plus, it's something local residents can enjoy, he said. "It's a boost. It's fun. We enjoy doing it and showcasing the convention center. It gives the kids (a chance) to play in a large setting and it's good basketball," Troiano said.

To e-mail Trudi Gilfillian at The Press:TGilfillian@pressofac.com