Every year on Maui you can mark the start of the Thanksgiving holiday week by the sound of sneakers and basketballs on hardwood. The reason is the annual EA Sports Maui Invitational. This annual event attracts some of the top college basketball teams from around the country. I have posted on the invitational on THE Maui Real Estate Blog before, but this was the first year that I was actually able to attend a game first hand. I went to yesterday’s tip off game between Gonzaga and the University of Colorado. I was excited to be attending in general, but it was made especially fun by getting to see CU, my alma mater, in action.
While the Buffs came up a little short on the score board, it was an entertaining game in an intimate setting. The event is held at the Lahaina Civic Center which is just a little larger than a typical high school gym. There isn’t a bad seat in the house. While the venue is small, it doesn’t mean the crowd is subdued. Gonzaga brought a good sized crew of boisterous fans. They only added to the great atmosphere. If you are big time basketball fan, this is a great event to attend. You can’t beat beautiful November weather and college hoops in Maui. It was a lot of fun even for a more casual fan like me. This years tournament raps up tomorrow with Cincinnati and Gonzaga in the final. There are three other games with Chaminade squaring off against my Buffs, Maryland playing Wisconsin and Vanderbilt verses Arizona. If you are interested in attending next year’s EA Sports Maui Invitational, you can see the 2010 tournament field online.
