March Madness is about to begin.
No, not that madness. It’s time for the GeekWire Bash — featuring one of the most hotly-contested dodgeball tournaments on the West Coast. The fast-paced dodgeball action is just one component of our big Bash, a geek festival of sorts taking place from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the CenturyLink Field Event Center on March 15th. We’ll also have video games, virtual reality, adult tricycle races, sumo wrestling, board games and other geeky fun. Tickets on sale here.
This year’s dodgeball field looks more intense than ever. We’ve doubled the size of the tournament, expanding to 32 rough-and-tumble teams. We’ve also added two new courts, including one dedicated to warm-up and open play. The full bracket is below, so make sure to click on the image to see the matchups.
The team from Tune, the Seattle-based mobile software analytics company, will be back again this year to defend their crown, facing off against newcomer ReachNow. (Maybe ReachNow can block some of the fast-flying balls with a sporty BMW). Other key first-round matchups include an Eastside-Westside clash of Kirkland traffic navigation company INRIX versus Seattle online legal services directory Avvo, and two Madrona-backed companies — PayScale and Rover.com — will also battle it out.
But one of the most intriguing first-round match-ups is the final one in the bracket: Redfin versus Zillow. That’s right, the two real estate powerhouses are going to face off live on the GeekWire Bash dodgeball court for some serious bragging rights. You couldn’t draw up a script any better than this.
And before the conspiracy theorists start thinking that we intentionally matched up the Seattle real estate rivals, let me assure you that the bracket was set at random by GeekWire tournament czar Cara Kuhlman. In fact, when I discovered the matchup, I couldn’t believe it. This is gonna be fun. Let the trash talking begin!
Good luck to all participants, and we’ll be announcing our ping pong brackets later today and foosball brackets on Friday.
We’ll be sending out the full list of rules and logistical instructions to all dodgeball tournament participants, but here’s a quick FAQ with key details for all of our dodgeball competitors.
Where and when is the event? The GeekWire Bash will be held from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday, March 15th at the CenturyLink Field Event Center in Seattle, just south of CenturyLink Field.
When should I arrive? Doors open at 3 p.m. All dodgeball players need to be checked in by 3:30 p.m., and play will begin promptly at 4 p.m. We have more than 500 tournament competitors this year, so we’ll need your cooperation to move through the brackets as quickly as possible.
Where should I park? Various parking lots and street parking surround the CenturyLink Field Event Center. All-day parking is available in the CenturyLink Field Garage. Entrance to the garage is located off South Royal Brougham Way, between Occidental Ave S & 4th Ave S. You can also use the address of 330 South Royal Brougham Way in your GPS, although the physical address is not posted on the venue.
Leave your car at home and take a ReachNow BMW or MINI to the Geekwire Bash! ReachNow members can end their trips at the ReachNow Drop Zone located at the NW entrance of CenturyLink Field and Event Center off of Occidental Ave – no circling for parking required! #RockstarParking.
Where do I check in? Make sure to get your badge and drink tickets at the main registration desk on the west side of the CenturyLink Field Event Center. You’ll then be directed to the dodgeball tournament check-in desk for your respective tournament.
Who will we be playing? You can see the dodgeball brackets above. Note: Make sure your full team is assembled near the dodgeball court at least 15 minutes before your match time.
How will I know when to play my match? Check in with your full team with the tournament director for your tournament, and he or she will notify you of your potential match time. Brackets will be displayed prominently and updated as the tournaments progress. Make sure to check them regularly.
Are tickets to the event still available? General admission tickets to the anniversary bash are available for your friends and co-workers. Grab those here. All tournament tickets are sold out, except for a few remaining in foosball.
What if I can’t make the tournament next Wednesday? If you or your team can no longer participate in the tournament, please let us know immediately by emailing Cara Kuhlman at cara@geekwire.com.
What about my cheering section? We encourage you to bring one — just make sure your friends, colleagues and family get tickets in advance. Tickets to the party are available here. And, yes, there will once again be an awesome “spirit prize” for the team that best shows its geek pride during the event.
What’s at stake? Glory, and lots of it. You’ll be competing in the middle of a big crowd of more than 1,500 geeks. Most of all, this is a fun event and a chance to meet, connect with (and compete against) a wide variety of people across the tech industry. The competitive juices will be flowing, but this is really about having fun.
What should I wear? Comfortable clothes, and maybe a towel to dry off. Feel free to bring an extra shirt if you tend to break out in a sweat during your dodgeball matches. We will have a coat and bag check area near registration.
Dodgeball court: Matches will be held on the 60-foot by 30-foot CenturyLink dodgeball court in the netted area in the east part of the venue. Make sure your full team is assembled at the court 15 minutes before your official match time.
What are the rules of dodgeball? Teams consisting of 8 players will face off in 8-minute matches. There will be no substitutions, and no shots above the shoulders. A player is eliminated from the match if they are hit by a ball, or if their ball is caught by the opposing team. A player may re-enter from the bench if a teammate catches an opponent’s ball. At the end of regulation, the team with the most players on the court wins. Your team can also win if you eliminate every member of the opposing team. If an equal number of players remain at the end of the 8-minute regulation period, the first team to eliminate an opponent will win. A referee will officiate the matches. If your full 8-person team is not available at the start of the match, you will start with the players present.
What happens if our team loses our first match? Your team will be eliminated from the tournament, but your tournament registration includes full access to the party, including great activities such as beer pong, sumo wrestling, a classic video game arcade and much more. Plus, we have added an extra dodgeball court this year, just for open play!
What happens if our team wins our match? Make sure to report your win to the table captain, and make sure it is recorded on the big bracket near the tournament desk.
More questions? Email us at events@geekwire.com. See you next Wednesday afternoon, and good luck!
