The 2012 EA SPORTS Maui Invitational had an estimated economic impact of $11.5 million in visitor spending to Maui County, resulting in a $3.4 million increase over the prior year. The Championship Round of the Tournament was held Nov. 19-21, 2012 with nearly 5,000 people, participating in or attending the Tournament, making the island of Maui their destination for Thanksgiving Week. Since its debut in 1984, the EA SPORTS Maui Invitational has boosted the local economy by more than $164 million and attracted participating teams, along with their boosters and fans, from 99 NCAA® Division I universities representing 40 states from all regions of the U.S.

"The EA SPORTS Maui Invitational provides a tremendous economic benefit to many businesses on the island including hotels and restaurants," said Terryl Vencl, executive director of the Maui Visitors Bureau. "We are extremely pleased with the increased economic impact that the Tournament produced this past year. Our residents and businesses take pride in extending the Aloha Spirit and welcoming thousands of visitors to the island each year to enjoy the Tournament and experience the wonderful scenery, people and culture."

Further expanding the island of Maui and Tournament awareness worldwide, more than 6.6 million television viewers watched the 2012 EA SPORTS Maui Invitational Championship Round games on U.S. and International ESPN Networks. ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU offered live television coverage in the U.S. of all 12 Championship Round games from Maui's very own Lahaina Civic Center. And, ESPN's international broadcasts of Tournament games were seen on the following networks: ESPN Africa, ESPN2 Australia, ESPN Brazil HD, ESPN/ESPN2 Caribbean, ESPN Europe, ESPN Latin HD, ESPN Middle East, ESPN Pacific Rim and ESPN UK.

"Beginning our 30th year of the nation's premier early-season college basketball tournament on Maui, we're proud of the impact the event has been able to have on local businesses, charities and the people of this great island," said Tom Valdiserri, execuitve vice president of KemperLesnik, operator of the EA SPORTS Maui Invitational. "The Tournament's focus centers on great competition and community involvement in the world's greatest location." 

Local Business Support

The Tournament also works with and utilizes the services of many Maui County businesses. On average, the Tournament's annual direct spend with businesses in Maui County is more than $1 million. Several local businesses the Tournament works with include: ABM for janitorial services, Aloha T-Shirt Shop for championship t-shirt printing, Comfort Zone Catering for catering services, Jose Caubet of Ka'anapali Woodworks for trophy creation, Maui Rents for tenting supplies, Maui Lighthouse for electrical services, Service Rentals Lahaina for lighting and heavy equipment, Timpone Hawaii for custom surfboards and GP Roadway Solutions for barricades and fencing.

Local Community Support

In addition to business support, the Tournament supports a number of community organizations through various programs such as the Charity Free Throw Contest at the Coaches Press Conference which, since 2001, has donated nearly $25,000 to local Maui schools. In 2004, a silent auction was added to the Tip-Off banquet festivities and to date the Tournament has raised approximately $50,000 for the Maui Foodbank and the Starwish Foundation.

In 2012, Chaminade University and the Tournament, working with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Maui, Boys & Girls Club of Hawaii, Maui's Department of Parks & Recreations, Hawaiian Airlines and adidas, conducted the adidas Hoops Clinics presented by Hawaiian Airlines which consisted of three kids basketball skills clinics and two coaches clinics. 

And, for the first time, the Tournament hosted children along with chaperones from Lanai and Molokai for the Lahaina clinic, who not only participated in the clinic at Lahaina's Malu Ulu Olele Park but also witnessed first-hand Chaminade's practice at the Lahaina Civic Center. The group also met the ESPN broadcast team of Sean McDonough, Jay BIlas and Bill Raftery. 

For the fourth straight year, the Tournament worked with the U.S. Military to help a soldier recover and transition from duty into civilian life. As a participant in the Marines' Wounded Warrior Regiment program, Lance Corporal Joseph M. Webb, U.S. Marine Corps, was honored as an official game ball presenter before the Chaminade/Texas first round matchup. 

Lastly, local King Kekaulike High School basketball player, Chase Iwata-Bartelme, was selected as the host of several segments for the nationally-syndicated TV program "EA SPORTS Game Time." The program featured Chase covering games, team activities and conducting interviews with coaches and players throughout Tournament week.

The 2013 EA SPORTS Maui Invitational Championship Round includes Arkansas, Baylor, California, Dayton, Gonzaga, currently ranked No. 1 in the AP poll for the first time in school history, Minnesota, Syracuse and host Chaminade. Ticket and travel packages for the 2013 Championship Round are now on sale. Visit the official Tournament website at mauiinvitational.com/travel or contact Oahu Travel, official travel agent of the EA SPORTS Maui Invitational, at 800.826.3822 for more information. And make sure to order your Tournament branded merchandise at mauiinvitational.com/merchandise.