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 Dec. 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.

MILLIONS GENERATED

The Lahaina Civic Center, which is smaller than the practice gyms for some of these vaunted programs, provides the venue for the tourney host, O'ahu'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 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.

"... 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."

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.

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.