Thanks to the Invitational

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LAHAINA - Local hotel, restaurant and shop owners said that the EA Sports Maui Invitational tournament provided a nice little basketball bounce for the economy during an off season of an already-down year for tourism.

Front Street might not be packed nightly this week, but after the crowds had dispersed from the final matchup of the Maui Invitational on Monday night, Lahaina had folks in Oregon and North Carolina jerseys and T-shirts still strolling the sidewalks, shops and restaurants.

The NCAA-sanctioned Division I basketball tournament is in its 25th year and has a reputation for attracting some of the biggest basketball schools - and their devoted fans - to the Valley Isle over the Thanksgiving week.

The invitational brought in an estimated $8 million to Maui last year; final figures were not available Wednesday, but tournament Director Briana Wells said she sees no reason why this year's numbers should be any different.

"I'd say we will do the same, if not better," Wells said. "Indiana and North Carolina booster groups travel very well. Oregon is closer because it's a West Coast team, and Notre Dame is coming on strong with its high ranking (No. 8 in the AP and coaches polls this week).

"I can't say if college basketball is recession proof, but I think it's admirable how the boosters are sticking by their schools."

For North Carolina games (The Tar Heels are the consensus No. 1 ranked team in the nation) the stands in the cramped Lahaina Civic Center gymnasium were nearly filled with light blue and white. For Indiana, it was a sea of red and white and for Oregon gold and green.

Scott Freitas, brewmaster for the Maui Brewing Co. up the highway in Kahana, said that the newly renovated microbrewery and restaurant has been packed with basketball fans for the past few evenings.

Jerry Kunitomo, owner of BJ's Chicago Pizzeria on Front Street, said business was up 20 percent.

"Anything is welcome," said Kunitomo, who also is a member of the LahainaTown Action Committee, a business marketing association. "We're looking for this tournament to be a buoy. From about Halloween to December 15, it's usually a desert around here. It's traditionally the toughest part of the year. The only bright spot usually is this week."

The start of the Maui Invitational tournament coincided with more bad news about Maui's tourism industry. The number of visitors was down 20.5 percent from a year ago to 159,053 in October, according to the Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism.

The Lahaina Civic Center, which is smaller than the practice gyms for some of these vaunted programs, provides the venue for the tourney host, Oahu's Chaminade University. The tournament features 12 games over three days.

The tournament is really made for TV, since it's featured on ESPN's networks. ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU combined to cover live of all of the tournament games, which last year drew 4.5 million viewers. Maui tourists generate billions annually for island businesses - and while $8 million might not be much in comparison - "It's nothing to sneeze at," said Maui Visitors Bureau Executive Director Terryl Vencl.

"The tournament has an even greater economic impact because of the huge exposure for us across North America that we could not otherwise afford to buy," Vencl said. "I'm talking television exposure. Three days of showing Maui across the nation with its beautiful island sunsets. It's cold over on the Mainland right now. But people see that image and listen to the commentators, and we hope it creates a feeling about who and what Maui is. That's not a commercial. That's hours and days of game time, plus word of mouth from the boosters."

The civic center seats only 2,400, and most games are sellouts or near sellouts, tournament organizers said. Many of the fans purchase multigame ticket packages, so it's difficult to gauge exactly how many people attend the games. Last year, the tournament attracted about 4,500 out-of-state visitors, according to one of the sponsors, the Maui Visitors Bureau.

It was clear by speaking with spectators that the tournament remains a hot ticket with Maui sport fans. These are people who said they were hungry to watch top-tier college athletics of any kind without having to take a six-hour flight to the West Coast.

"In a down economy, there's no shortage of events we can have like this to bring people to Maui," said Oregon fan and Maui Realtor Jess Kappelman.

Kappelman said he was just discussing with his co-workers trying to develop a way to connect with University of Oregon alumni at the event to help drum up business.

His girlfriend, Theary So, who works in the visitor industry, added that West Maui is a perfect location with its proximity to beaches, restaurants and resorts.

Dick Aanderud of Portland arrived on Maui with 10 family members. The down economy didn't disrupt their plans because, he said, they bought their tickets and made other arrangements back in July. They'd also been saving for it, he said.

"The beaches are just great," he said. "Amazing."

Wells said she's heard from more than a few families where one spouse may not be a basketball fan but certainly loves the beach.

"It's a happy compromise," she said.

Tom Hicks of Chapel Hill, N.C., said he is on his third trip to Maui to follow the Tar Heels. He goes to the games and golfs, and his wife likes to shop, Hicks said. The economy didn't keep him away, because like many fans interviewed, he'd bought his tickets long before the downturn.

"As long as they invite North Carolina back, I'll be back here in four years (the minimum period for Mainland teams to return to the invitational)," Hicks said.

Rich Taute and his family of five live in Vancouver, Wash., but are formerly from Oahu and Maui. He also said they've had this trip planned for months.

Usually, the Tautes come back to Hawaii every other year. This is the first time they made their trip coincide with the tournament.

"This is just incredible," he said of the big-game atmosphere. "I watched this for years on television. We decided to make it work to be here."

It's estimated that the tournament has bolstered the local economy by $130 million since it began in 1984. The tournament also benefits a number of local organizations including Lahainaluna High School and the Boy Scouts of Maui. Visiting players and coaches often team up with local schools for basketball clinics and fundraisers as well.

The tournament's organizers, KemperSports, have a license agreement with Maui County to hold the event in the Lahaina Civic Center through 2012. ESPN's television contract for the tournament runs through 2011.

Craig Anderson, general manager of The Westin Maui Resort & Spa, said his resort has been a tournament sponsor for about a decade and hopes to soon continue that relationship with another two-year contract extension.

The giant Kaanapali resort hosts teams, boosters and their families, not only for team meals and parties, but also for Thanksgiving dinner.

"It's an economic fast break," Anderson quipped. "It certainly helps. The truth about these contracted events is that it's business booked in advance and provides stabilization.

"It also comes at a really great time (the off season), and we also really enjoy our role, too," Anderson said. "The tournament is a fabulous event. We get to see the hottest young basketball talent in the country in a venue that is smaller than many high school gymnasiums. It's also an experience for the kids, a lot of whom come from America's breadbasket and otherwise may never have a chance to experience Maui."

Other fans, such as Tim Westbrook and family of Cincinnati, said they simply have been saving up for the trip and would not let an economic downturn keep them away from coming back as soon as possible.

"What's not to like?" he said. "It's our favorite team (the Tar Heels). It's Thanksgiving, so the kids don't have to miss as much school. And it's Hawaii."

* Chris Hamilton can be reached at chamilton@ mauinews.com.