The 2019 Norwich Gus Macker, held on East Main Street. This was the last year Norwich was able to hold the event. (Photo by Frank Speziale)

NORWICH — The 2021 Norwich Gus Macker event has been cancelled for a second year in a row.

James Mullen, the Executive Director of the Norwich YMCA, said that because Gus Macker is not a ticketed event, but rather an open-access event, it is impossible to regulate the amount of people attending.

"Unfortunately the regulations by New York State are limiting our event and venues at 33 percent capacity for up to 200 people outdoors. Or, if we had an event that had up to 500 people outdoors we would have to require a negative COVID-19 test, face coverings, social distancing, and also a ton of work surrounding cleaning and disinfecting," Mullen stated in a Facebook video announcing the cancellation.

This marks the second year of cancellation for the Norwich Gus Macker. The 2020 event was meant to be the 25th anniversary. According to Mullen, the plan now is to hold the 25th Annual Gus Macker in 2022.

"It will be our second attempt at it," Mullen stated in the video. "So it will be 25 part two."

Gus Macker first began in Lowell, Michigan by a group of friends playing basketball in a driveway. Over the years it has grown to a nationwide event. In New York State, six towns participate in the Gus Macker tournaments: Norwich, Hornell, Olean, Ithaca, Rochester, and Cicero.