By wuhudaily.cn

On the afternoon of August 16, the 2026 "Gong BA — Wuhu 3x3" women's basketball tournament tipped off at Jiuzi Square.

Under the blazing sun, agile players moved in seamless coordination across the court — lightning-fast breaks, physical defense and precision three-pointers. Possessions changed hands within seconds, keeping spectators on the edge of their seats.

Professional commentary, pulsating music and roaring crowds blended into a wall of sound. Fans packed the perimeter of the court, creating a distinctive summer spectacle along the banks of Jinghu Lake.

"I've been to many games. The tournament is large-scale and open to everyone, with invitational teams from other cities. It's both professional and entertaining. Having such a trendy, fun basketball event right at our doorstep is fantastic," said basketball enthusiast Sheng Tianyi.

The afternoon sun was high, and so was the crowd's enthusiasm. Many came in groups, some bringing their children to soak up the atmosphere. Social media blogger Cai Mengyun was busy capturing the game's highlights on her phone. "The games are thrilling. I want to record these moments and share them online so more people can see this event and feel the energy of our city," she said.

Short videos like those posted spontaneously by Cai are abundant online. Since the tournament opened on July 23, unique tags such as "city landmark venue," "mass participation" and "influencer engagement" have helped the inaugural "Gong BA — Wuhu 3x3" event break through to wider audiences. To date, related topics have generated over 6.3 million views online. Average daily attendance stands at nearly 3,000, with weekend numbers exceeding 6,000, reflecting broad public participation and acclaim.

Beyond the tournament's growing popularity, the sustained "sports plus cultural tourism plus consumption" multiplier effect has fired up summer spending and become a new highlight of the city's nighttime economy.

During the event, the municipal federation of trade unions rolled out dining consumption vouchers in five rounds totaling 500,000 yuan. Intime inPARK offered dining discounts exclusive to tournament goers, creating a "play-watch-spend" experience. Four rounds have been issued so far, with 377,000 yuan redeemed, driving 4.772 million yuan in consumption. Tournament traffic continues to fuel sales growth in surrounding business districts. The event also supports rural revitalization by purchasing watermelons and yellow peaches from local farmers as interactive gifts, enriching the spectator experience while opening new sales channels for growers — a win-win for all.

An official with the municipal federation of trade unions said the tournament's coverage continues to expand. Following the 3x3 workers' basketball tournaments in the three main urban districts of Jinghu, Jiujiang and Yijiang, Fanchang District has also launched its "three-on-three" workers' summer basketball tournament, extending the event to county-level areas. The 3x3 basketball craze is heating up across the city.