Saturday tip off beckons for 64th All Native Basketball Tournament

Both the Russell Gamble Gymnasium and the Civic Centre Rink
will be the host venues for the 2024 All Native Basketball Tournament

By road, sea and air they have made or are making their way to Prince Rupert, from across the Northwest, the province and into Alaska the teams and followers of them of the ANBT are about to bring some life to the city for a full week of Tournament play.

Some of that travel perhaps to be impacted by a snowfall warning in place for the Skeena Valley region today and overnight.

The annual gathering of the Nations in pursuit of Basketball excellence, also serves as a reunion for families and generations of past participants.

With events beyond the basketball courts of the Russel Gamble Gymnasium or Civic Centre Rink surface making for the focus for the large volume of visitors that have once again made their way to Prince Rupert.

Among those events is the Vendor Gallery of the Civic Centre Auditorium which will open up for the public with tomorrow's launch of the tournament.

The Basketball play Tips off Saturday with Kitkatla and Hazelton on the floor for the Master's Division, the icebreaker for 2024 starts bright and early at 8AM. 

The Women', Intermediate and Master's Divisions make for the opening day play.

Sunday brings another full day for the schedule with the Men's and Intermediate  division in play, as well as the much anticipated and now Sold Out Opening Ceremonies in the Russell Gamble Gymnasium.

Organizers noted of the Sold Out Status on Thursday, advising that standing room only bands will be on sale on the day of the opening.

The play continues through next week, each day bringing teams one day closer to advancement or elimination in the four brackets of play for ANBT 2024.

We outlined the brackets of play at the end of January

As they have for many years of the tournament CFNR is the host broadcaster, bringing the play by play and streaming video to those communities far from Prince Rupert cheering on their teams.

You can access their feed and all of their notes of the 2024 event here.

One note for those in town for the event, or for those in the city heading to the Civic Centre complex over the weekend is that related to parking.

With the Tournament tipping off on Saturday and the Prince Rupert Rampage hosting the first game of the 2024 CIHL Semi Final Playoffs, Saturday will be the most congested day of the weekend for the area around the Civic Centre.

So having a wise logistical plan in place likely will reduce any frustrations for the two events.

Also BC Transit has moved the Bus Stop at the Civic Centre to in front of McBride.

Notes on all of that can be found here.

As well, motorists are reminded that much of the area of McBride near the Civic Centre is a No Parking Zone. There should be signs in place to advise of that for those heading that way.

For notes from Tournament organizers follow their Social Media stream here.

More notes on the planning to the Tournament and updates as it moves forward can be found from our archive.  That portal will also feature our Results page which will go live on Saturday.

You can access that page here.