What is Red Bull King of the Rock?

For 29 long years, more than 1,500 men dreamed of nothing but getting off of Alcatraz. But beginning on July 17, hundreds will try their hardest to make it onto the island, with the goal of being crowned King of the Rock. Red Bull King of the Rock will be the first sporting event held on Alcatraz since the inmates left the island over 50 years ago. This one-on-one basketball tournament will kick off with six qualifiers on the West Coast, with participating cities including: Los Angeles, San Diego, Phoenix, Seattle, San Francisco and Oakland. Sixty-Four contestants will emerge from these six qualifiers and make their way to Alcatraz, one of the world’s most iconic and recognizable locations, for the final showdown hosted by All-Star guard Rajon Rondo on September 18.

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 (2 and 3 pointers). All games will be played on a half-court layout with four games running at once, each with their own referee, court manager and scoreboard. Players definitely 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. In the end, there can be only one king, so out of the 64 finalists, only one will be crowned “King of the Rock” and collect the $10,000 prize.

Event Details

1-on-1 Tournament

Saturday, Sept 18, 2010
8 PM

Qualifier Information

Each Red Bull King of the Rock Qualifier will be a 64-person bracket competition. Only the first 64 players to register will be accepted into the competition, so players should arrive on time if they want to compete.

• LOS ANGELES - July 17

  Westchester Recreation Center
  7000 West Manchester Ave.,
  Los Angeles, CA 90045

  9:00 AM - Registration Opens
  10:00 AM - Competition Begins

• SEATTLE - August 7

  Seattle Center Outdoor Basketball Court
  370 Thomas Street, Seattle, WA 98109

  9:00 AM - Registration Opens
  10:00 AM - Competition Begins

• SAN DIEGO - July 24

  Embarcadero Marina Park South
  111 West Harbor Drive,
  San Diego, CA 92101
  (Behind San Diego Convention Center)

  9:00 AM - Registration Opens
  10:00 AM - Competition Begins

• SAN FRANCISCO - August 28

  Golden Gate Park, Panhandle Park Courts
  Oak St. & Clayton St., San Francisco, CA 94117

  9:00 AM - Registration Opens
  10:00 AM - Competition Begins

• PHOENIX - July 31

  Grayhawk Community Park
  20199 N. 78th Place, Scottsdale, AZ, 85255
  (Located at the southwest corner of Hayden Road & Thompson Peak Parkway)

  4:00 PM - Registration Opens
  5:00 PM - Competition Begins

• OAKLAND - September 11

  Mosswood Park
  3612 Webster St. (W MacArthur Boulevard between Webster Street and Broadway)
  Oakland, CA 94609

  9:00 AM - Registration Opens
  10:00 AM - Competition Begins