2011 TOURNAMENT BOOSTS MAUI ECONOMY BY $8.1 MILLION
2011 EA SPORTS Maui Invitational Boosts Maui Economy and Supports Community
The nation's premier early-season college
basketball tournament contributes $8.1 million to local economy
MAUI, Hawaii, Feb. 15, 2012 - The 2011 EA SPORTS™ Maui Invitational® Hosted by Chaminade University contributed $8.1 million to the local economy through visitor spending which generated revenue for Maui businesses and global exposure for the island of Maui. The Tournament celebrated its 28th year by working hand-in-hand with the Maui community to stimulate the local economy, hosting youth and coaches clinics and supporting non-profits.
"Once again, the EA SPORTS Maui Invitational provided a tremendous economic benefit to many businesses on the island including hotels, restaurants and local retailers," said Terryl Vencl, executive director of the Maui Visitors Bureau. "Each year, our residents and businesses welcome thousands of visitors to the island to enjoy the Tournament and experience everything it has to offer."
Tournament Impact
According to the latest data released to the Maui Visitors Bureau, approximately 5,115 visitors including coaches, players, boosters, officials, team and game personnel, media, sponsors and avid basketball fans from across the country traveled to Maui to attend the tournament at the Lahaina Civic Center. Attendance for the 2011 event was approximately 75-percent out-of-state fans versus 25-percent in state fans. Since its debut in 1984, the EA SPORTS Maui Invitational has boosted the local economy by more than $153 million.
"We're proud of the Tournament's rich history of providing a significant economic boost each year to the island of Maui and the record we've established of giving back to the local community in many different ways" said Tom Valdiserri, execuitve vice president of KemperLesnik, operator of the EA SPORTS Maui Invitational. "The Tournament remains the nation's premier early-season college basketball tournament year after year, and we are pleased to work with the local Maui community to boost its economy."
Global Exposure
Further expanding Maui awareness worldwide, a Tournament record of more than 8.6 million television viewers watched the 2011 EA SPORTS Maui Invitational Championship Round games on ESPN Networks - ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU - which offered live television coverage of all 12 Championship Round games again in 2011. ESPN's international broadcasts of the Tournament were seen in more than 2,000,000 households and on the following networks: ESPN Africa, ESPN2 Australia, ESPN Brazil HD, ESPN/ESPN2 Caribbean, ESPN Dos, ESPN Israel, ESPN Latin HD, ESPN Middle East and ESPN Pacific Rim.
Charitable Giving
Charitable giving is a perrenial focus of the EA SPORTS Maui Invitational. In 2011, Chaminade University and the Tournament, working with the Boys & Girls Club of Hawaii, Maui's Department of Parks & Recreations, Hawaii Medical Service Assocation (HMSA) and adidas, conducted three free kids basketball skills clinics and three coaches clinics.
The coaches clinics were attended by more than 150 coaches and were led by Tournament Chairman Dave Odom, retired coach and current ESPN analyst Fran Fraschilla, Basketball Hall of Famer Nancy Lieberman, Chaminade men's basketball coach Eric Bovaird and Chaminade women's basketball coach Bobby Keanini.
The three kids clinics took place at the Boys & Girls Clubs in Ewa Beach and Honolulu, as well at Malu Ulu Olele Park in Lahaina. The clinics brought basketball skills programs to deserving kids on Oahu and Maui in events designed to share the joy of the game of basketball while supporting the Hawaii Foodbank. The Chaminade University men's basketball program, including coach Bovaird, worked with kids on skills, drills, dribbling, passing and shooting on the basketball court. All participants were asked to bring two canned goods, which were donated to the Hawaii Foodbank. In return, each participant received an adidas basketball and the opportunity to win tickets to the Tournament, which has hosted clinics since 2003.
The 2011 EA SPORTS Maui Invitational hosted a Charity Free Throw contest with all eight participating coaches the Sunday before tip-off. Local students were paired with a head coach and competed in a contest of free throw shooting. The Tournament donated money to each of the following participant schools' basketball programs; Maui Waena Intermediate, Iao Intermediate, Sacred Hearts, Lahaina Intermediate, Baldwin High School, Lokelani Intermediate and St. Anthony. In addition, students from Lahainaluna High School were provided the opportunity to be ball boys and girls on the Lahaina Civic Center hardwoods on game days.
For the third straight year, the Tournament worked with the U.S. Army's Warriors in Transition program, which helps soldiers recover and transition from duty into civilian life. As a participant in the program, Lance Corporal Joshua Jablon honored as an official game ball presented before the Chaminade/UCLA first round matchup.
In addition, the Tournament has contributed thousands of dollars to local charities, such as the Aloha House, Baldwin High School, Boy Scouts of Maui, Maui Job Corps, Lahainaluna High School, Maui Food Bank, the Tongan Youth Organization, Da' Crew, Napili Canoe Club and Starwood Foundation of Hawaii, among others.
The 2012 EA SPORTS Maui Invitational Championship Round includes Butler, Illinois, Marquette, Mississippi State, North Carolina, Texas, USC and host Chaminade. Ticket and travel packages for the 2012 Championship Round are now on sale. Visit the official Tournament website at mauiinvitational.com or contact Oahu Travel, official travel agent of the EA SPORTS Maui Invitational, at 800.826.3822 for more information.
About EA SPORTS
EA SPORTS™ is one of the leading sports entertainment brands in the world and 2012 marks its twelfth year as title sponsor of the Maui Invitational. With top-selling videogame franchises, award-winning interactive technology, global videogame competitions and breakthrough digital experiences, EA SPORTS delivers personal access to the emotion of sports through industry-leading sports simulation videogames, including Madden NFL football, FIFA Soccer, NHL® hockey, NBA JAM, NCAA® Football, Fight Night boxing, EA SPORTS MMA, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR® golf, and EA SPORTS Active.
About Tournament Sponsors
Other tournament sponsors include the Maui Visitors Bureau, County of Maui Department of Parks and Recreation, Hawaii Tourism Authority, adidas, Progressive, GNC, Geico and Reese's. The Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa, Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa and Westin Maui Resort & Spa, all located in the beautiful Ka'anapali Beach Resort area, serve as host hotels. KemperLesnik has operated the EA SPORTS Maui Invitational since 1990.
About Chaminade University
Chaminade University, the only Catholic university in Hawaii, provides a rich educational experience. Chaminade is a place where people grow: professionally, intellectually and spiritually. The Society of Mary, the Marianists, founded Chaminade University in 1955 (as St. Louis Junior College.) Chaminade University offers its students an education in a collaborative learning environment that prepares them for life, service and successful careers.
About KemperLesnik
KemperLesnik is a sports marketing, events and public relations agency. Ranked by Crain's Chicago Business among Chicago's top PR agencies, KemperLesnik produces integrated communications programs and manages major national events, including the EA SPORTS Maui Invitational, the McDonald's All American High School Basketball Games, the POWERADE Jam Fest and activation for KitchenAid and its PGA of America partnership. For more information, visit www.kemperlesnik.com.
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Alex Prosperi
Media Relations Manager
847.480.4886 office
alex.prosperi@kemperlesnik.com
