Hoopbus Makes History in Rockford
Plus Seven Partners With Chicago Blackhawks Foundation, Hoopbus to Renovate Blackhawk Park Court
On July 31, 2021, history was made in Rockford, Illinois, when Plus Seven Company welcomed the Hoopbus to the Forest City as part of a multi-layered free community activation and celebration entitled "Hoopbus Rockford: A Mural Court Celebration." After officially becoming a 2021 Hoopbus Tour stop eight weeks prior, Plus Seven and Hoopbus hosted a citywide tour during which the iconic Hoopbus visited eight parks and community centers before making its final stop at The Getaway at Blackhawk Park, the primary site of our mural basketball court renovations project.
At The Getaway that evening, Plus Seven and Hoopbus welcomed 300 Rockfordians to the official mural court unveiling alongside program partners. The event kicked off at 4 p.m. with the unveiling of the custom mural, designed by Rockford native Ryan "Stuk One" Lape and installed by the Los Angeles-based Hoopbus artists team. Following the court ribbon cutting, the Chicago Blackhawks Foundation led a Get Out and Learn (G.O.A.L.) Street Hockey Clinic on the new court, highlighted by an appearance from Blackhawks and Rockford IceHogs coach and Olympic Gold medalist Kendall Coyne Schofield. Additional evening activities included Junior NBA and Junior WNBA youth games, a city three-point contest, DJs and music, open shooting on the Hoopbus and new mural court, and local food and beverages.
From late May through event day, Plus Seven created and delivered all Hoopbus Rockford efforts, including marketing and public relations, local artist application process, partnership development and fulfillment, fundraising, vendor relations, event logistics, committee building, and comprehensive event design and execution.
Plus Seven Company would like to thank the following entities for supporting the project:
Hoopbus (Los Angeles & Chicago), Co-Production
Chicago Blackhawks Foundation, Presenting Sponsor
Community Foundation of Northern Illinois, Court Sponsor
FurstStaffing, Hoop Sponsor
BMO Harris Bank, Lou Malnati's Pizzeria, Sponsor
Comcast, Woodward, Rockfordian Sponsor
Individual Rockfordian Give Lively Donors
Rockford Park District, In-Kind Park Partner
Power 106.3, In-Kind Media Partner
Rockford Park District Youth Sports, Program Partner
BSN Sports, Pepsi in the 815, Rock Valley College, In-Kind
FlyGuyFilms, DJ Rated AG, TNT Funnel Cakes, In-Kind
Ryan "Stuk One" Lape, Mural Design
Zer, Frannie, Moon, Mural Installation
BMO Harris Bank Center, Partnership Support
Rockford Area Arts Council, Artist Application Support