KemperLesnik Partners with MAKO Medical as Official Testing Partner for the 2020 Camping World Maui Invitational
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CHICAGO, IL (Nov. 24, 2020) – KemperLesnik, long-time Tournament Organizers for the Maui Invitational, announced today that MAKO Medical will serve as the official COVID-19 testing partner for the 2020 Tournament. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Camping World Maui Invitational will be hosted in the Blue Ridge Mountains in Asheville, NC Nov. 30 – Dec. 2. Tournament organizers, in conjunction with stakeholders including the NCAA, County of Maui, Hawaii State Health Officials, Chaminade University Officials and participating schools, made the decision to relocate based on the new NCAA- adjusted schedule and the potential health and safety implications to fans and participants.
In partnership with MAKO Medical, the Buncombe County Health and Human Services and local hotels, the Tournament will create a “Maui Bubble” in Asheville to help reduce the risk and spread of COVID-19 and protect participating teams, staff and residents.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, MAKO Medical rapidly altered its laboratory services model to provide COVID-19 testing services, administering over 2 million COVID-19 tests from more than 20 states in the U.S. since the start of the pandemic. MAKO partners with medical providers, employers and governments to turn around COVID-19 test results quickly and accurately. As part of the Tournament’s health and safety protocol, MAKO Medical will provide precise daily Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) COVID-19 tests to be administered to teams, staff and partners within the Maui Bubble.
“We’re proud to partner with the Camping World Maui Invitational as the official COVID-19 testing partner,” said Chad Price, CEO of MAKO Medical. “Our rapid testing is utilized by over 20 state governments to provide fast and accurate results. Due to the Tournament’s needs for a quick turn around, MAKO Medical is a perfect fit.”
The 2020 Camping World Maui Invitational will feature top programs including the University of Alabama, Davidson College, Indiana University, University of North Carolina, Providence College, University of Texas, Stanford and UNLV.
“The Maui Invitational has always been about the best of college basketball,” said Dave Odom, Tournament Chairman for the Camping World Maui Invitational. “While we’re faced with a unique year, we’re grateful to be able to continue to put on a premier event that sets the tone for the college basketball season.”
In accordance with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services as a result of the ongoing pandemic, the Tournament is working closely with local and state authorities to operate and align with their mass gathering guidelines. Due to these restrictions the Tournament is operating under the guidelines that there will be no fans allowed in the arena. Current All Tournament or Booster Travel Package purchasers have been fully refunded for the original travel purchases. The Maui Invitational along with long-time title sponsor Maui Jim look forward to returning to the Lahaina Civic Center in Maui in 2021.
For more information, please visit mauiinvitational.com
About the Camping World Maui Invitational
In December 1982, then No. 1 ranked Virginia, led by National College Player of the Year Ralph Sampson, played little-known NAIA Chaminade University in Honolulu while on the way back from a trip to Tokyo. The Silverswords stunned Virginia 77-72 in what is recognized as the greatest upset in college basketball history. Two years later, in 1984, Chaminade University hosted the first Maui Invitational and it has proven to be the premier early-season college basketball tournament for 36 years running. Each year, the Maui Invitational attracts the top programs, best-known coaches and most outstanding players to compete in an exciting atmosphere that sets the tone for the college basketball season.
Camping World
Camping World Holdings, headquartered in Lincolnshire, Illinois, is America’s leading recreational vehicle and outdoor retailer, offering an extensive assortment of recreational vehicles for sale, RV and camping gear, RV maintenance and repair, other outdoor and active sports products, and the industry’s broadest and deepest range of services, protection plans, products and resources. Since the Company’s founding in 1966, Camping World has grown to become one of the most well-known destinations for everything RV, with more than 160 locations in 36 states and a comprehensive e-commerce platform. For more information, visit www.CampingWorld.com.
About Harrah’s Cherokee Center – Asheville
Harrah’s Cherokee Center – Asheville (HCCA) has hosted a diverse variety of events that reflects the creativity, uniqueness, and artistry that Asheville, N.C., and Western North Carolina is known for primarily. In recent years, the facility has hosted world-class sporting events such as NBA Preseason Games, two Fed Cup ties, the annual Men’s and Women’s Southern Conference Basketball Championships. For more information, visit HarrahsCherokeeCenterAsheville.com.
About Asheville
Exhilarating outdoor explorations amid the highest mountain peaks east of the Mississippi, profound cultural roots from literary giants to American royalty and inspired locals whose passion projects jump from pop-up kitchens to performance art – Asheville, N.C., has been a point of pilgrimage since the 1800s as a destination for inspiration, wellness, rejuvenation and self-expression. It doesn’t take long to see why George W. Vanderbilt chose this Blue Ridge city for his greatest legacy, Biltmore.
About Tournament Sponsors
Other sponsors include Continental Tire, the Maui Visitors and Convention Bureau, Roman, Tommy Bahama, Geico, Harrah’s Cherokee Casino, Ingles Markets, MAKO Medical, Koloa Rum & Co., Theraworx and Explore Asheville.
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, owns and operates major national events, including the Maui Invitational, the McDonald’s All American Games, the POWERADE Jam Fest, and activation and public relations for KitchenAid and its PGA of America partnership. KemperLesnik has operated the Maui Invitational since 1990. For more information, visit www.kemperlesnik.com.