Maui Invitational 'expected' to be moved to new Hawaiian location due to Maui wildfires, per report
The 2023-24 Maui Invitational is “expected” to be moved from the Lahaina Civic Center to the University of Hawaii on the island of Oahu in Honolulu.
This news, which stems from a report from CBS Sports’ Seth Davis, comes a few weeks after wildfires devastated Lahaina, where the basketball tournament is traditionally held. The Civic Center was not damaged during the fires but is now being used to coordinate relief efforts by FEMA.
Talks surround moving the event to the University of Hawaii’s SimpliFi Arena at the Stan Sheriff Center, which seats 10,300 as opposed to Lahaina Civic Center’s 2,400.
BREAKING: The Maui Invitational is likely to stay in Hawaii. My story for @TheMessenger
Maui Invitational Expected to Be Played in Honolulu at the University of Hawaii: Sources (Exclusive) – The Messenger https://t.co/d72CeyNgcM
— Seth Davis (@SethDavisHoops) September 12, 2023
The report also states that several cities in the continental U.S. have offered to host this year’s tournament, but event organizers are determined to keep the game in Hawaii as a fundraising drive for the Maui fires, among other reasons.
The 8-team tournament will feature several big names such as Tennessee, Purdue, Syracuse, UCLA, Kansas, Marquette, Gonzaga and Chaminade, which is located in Honolulu.