Jan. 28--The Chicago Theatre will host a basketball event for the first time on March 28, when the venue hosts the Powerade Jam Fest, a skills competition in advance of the March 30 McDonald's All-American games at United Center.
The event is usually held at high school or college gymnasiums. Last year's Jam Fest was at the University of Chicago. This year's event will feature slam dunk and 3-point contests, as well as the new Legends Stars Shootout pairing current high-school stars with the games' famous alumni.
"It will be a historic pairing," Douglas Freeland director of the McDonald's games said in a press release. "Hoops fans will see an exciting show of 3-point accuracy and thunderous dunks right in the heart of the Loop."
A halfcourt setup will be placed on center stage, with front-row seats flanking the center-court circle.
"Playing basketball on the grand stage will be quite a spectacle and will proudly display the versatility of the legendary Theatre," said Joel Fisher, executive vice president of MSG Sports, part of the Madison Square Garden Company that controls the operations of the Chicago Theatre.
This year's celebrity judges for the dunk contest will be named later. Last year's judges were Jabari Parker, Jerry Stackhouse, Cappie Pondexter, Ron Kittle and Phife from A Tribe Called Quest.
New Trier's Jeannie Boehm was the only Chicago-area player named to either All-American roster.
Tickets go on sale Saturday, Feb. 6, with reserved seating from $20 to $45. The event will be televised on ESPN2.
