The lineups are in and the stage is set. The GeekWire Bash dodgeball tournament is days away.
Thirty three high-energy teams — some returning for another shot at glory, others entering the field for the very first time — will battle it out between the nets as we crown the ultimate dodgeball champion on March 7. Take a look at the bracket below, and see where your company lands. Some intriguing first-round matchups are in store.
Frenetic action on the dodgeball court isn’t the only thing to see at the Bash, a giant geek festival taking place from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. at CenturyLink Field Event Center next Thursday. This year, the whole family is invited join over 2,000 fellow geeks for video games and virtual reality experiences, tabletop and card games, the all-new GeekWire Robotics Cup, an indoor zipline, and much more.
General admission tickets are on sale here, and a few slots remain in the foosball and ping pong tournaments.
On the T-Mobile dodgeball court things will heat up as the fast-throwing geeks from reigning champions Zillow take on PR firm Allison+Partners.
Other returning squads include BestBuy, Colliers, Getty Images and tournament sponsor T-Mobile. Redfin is also back, located on the opposite side of the bracket this year from its real estate rival Zillow.
Notable newcomers such as KING5’s “Yellow Jackets” team will be looking to make a strong run and avoid a first-round detour to the Second Chance bracket, which ensures that all teams will play at least twice. The winner of the Second Chance bracket will square off with the winner of the main bracket for a final showdown and dodgeball bragging rights.
Best of luck to all dodgeball competitors — and we’ll be announcing brackets for ping pong, foosball and Catan next week. Special thanks to Bash presenting sponsor First Tech Federal Credit Union and to Dodgeball Seattle for additional tournament support.
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.
See you on March 7th, and make sure to limber up those throwing arms!
Tournament Rules (subject to change) can be found here.
What are the stakes? Read about last year’s champions and the epic intensity of this tournament here.
How many players are on each team? Teams must consist of 8 players with at least 4 women. There are no substitutions or bench players allowed.
What happens if our team loses our first match? Your team will be entered into the “Second Chance Bracket,” which will be comprised of the teams who lost their first round matches. This gives your team an opportunity to keep competing in the tournament. The winner of the “Second Chance Bracket” will face off against the winner of the main bracket for the championship match. Depending upon timeframe, the championship match may consist of a best of three games.
What happens if our team loses our second match in the “Second Chance Bracket?” Your team will be eliminated from the dodgeball 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.
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 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.
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.
What if I can’t make the tournament? If you can no longer participate in the tournament, please let us know immediately by emailing Colton Edwards at colton@geekwire.com.