SAN FRANCISCO, CA--(Marketwire - July 15, 2010) - On September 18, basketball superstar Rajon Rondo will be bringing "the rock" to The Rock. The all-star guard will set foot on the infamous island to host the finals of Red Bull King of the Rock, a one-on-one basketball tournament that will culminate with a showdown in The Yard of the former prison. Those wanting to reach the hallowed grounds of Alcatraz must earn their spot through one of six qualifier tournaments that kick off starting July 17 in Los Angeles. After Los Angeles, additional qualifiers will take place in San Diego, Phoenix, Seattle, San Francisco and Oakland. Sixty-four finalists will emerge from these six qualifiers and meet at one of the world's most iconic locations for the final battle. In the end, there can be only one King, so out of the 64 finalists, only one will be crowned "King of the Rock."
As the first official sporting event ever held on Alcatraz, Red Bull King of the Rock will be the first time a basketball has hit the hard concrete of The Rock since the inmates left the island nearly 50 years ago. Rajon Rondo shared his excitement at being involved with the project: "I'm really looking forward to making basketball history with this event. Of all the places you could play a game of basketball, Alcatraz has got to be one of the wildest. It's really going to be exciting to see what goes down on The Rock on September 18." A video clip of Rondo can be seen at www.redbullusa.com/kingoftherock.
Both the Qualifiers and the Finals on Alcatraz will follow a straightforward concept where players go head-to-head in raw outdoor basketball, using a single-elimination tournament bracket. Games will last five minutes and be subject to regulation hoops rules and scoring (two and three pointers). Players have to be tough to make it to The Rock, but must also play smart -- five fouls equals an automatic loss. After each game, the loser walks, and the winner must remain on the court to immediately face his next opponent. Thus, the more a player wins, the longer he plays. So while pure hoops ability is essential, endurance will also play a major role in overall victory.
Event Schedule:
Qualifiers:
- July 17 - Los Angeles, Westchester Recreation Center
- July 24 - San Diego, Embarcadero Marina Park South
- July 31 - Phoenix, Grayhawk Park in North Scottsdale
- August 7 - Seattle, Seattle Center Courts
- August 28 - San Francisco, Panhandle Park Courts in Golden Gate Park
- September 11 - Oakland, Mosswood Park
Finals:
- September 18 - San Francisco, The Yard on Alcatraz
Red Bull King of the Rock is open to all ages, amateur and pro alike. Registration will take place on-site for each of the six qualifiers and will take the form of a 64-person bracket competition. Only the first 64 players to register will be accepted into each qualifier, so early arrival is encouraged. Players interested in competing should visit www.redbullusa.com/kingoftherock for more information.
Red Bull will be teaming up with 2K Sports, Converse, SLAM and 24 Hour Fitness for this historic event.
To embed the Rondo teaser, visit www.redbullusa.com/kingoftherock
To download the Rondo teaser, visit www.redbullcontentpool.com and search for "Red Bull King of the Rock." You will need to create an account.
Twitter - #rbkotr
Contact Information:
MEDIA INFORMATION
Media Contact:
Scott Houston
310-740-7099
Scott.houston@us.redbull.com
