Maui Invitational Announces Inaugural Maui Esports Invitational featuring Rocket League and delivered by goPuff
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MAUI, Hawaii (Nov. 12, 2020) – Organizers for the 2020 Maui Invitational announced today a first-of-its-kind collegiate esports tournament, the Maui Esports Invitational featuring Rocket League and delivered by goPuff, to be held ahead of the Maui Invitational, the premier early season college basketball tournament. The virtual competition will see 20 collegiate esports teams from around the country compete for prizes and the opportunity to be named the first-ever Maui Esports Invitational Champion.
Fans are encouraged to follow along when the live-action kicks off on ESPNU and the Rocket League Twitch channel for the quarterfinals at 8 p.m. ET Nov. 19 and semifinals at 4 p.m. ET Nov. 20. The finals will be telecast on ESPN2 at 5 p.m. ET on Nov. 22.
“The Maui Invitational is known for providing unparalleled competition in collegiate basketball, so expanding that legacy into the esports space is a natural next step,” said Tom Valdiserri, Executive Vice President of the Maui Invitational. “Through esports, we have the ability to reach a new audience while engaging our existing fans in an exciting way.”
The teams confirmed to participate in the inaugural esports event mirror those of the 2020 Maui Invitational, including University of Alabama, Davidson College, University of Texas – Austin, Indiana University, University of Nevada – Las Vegas, University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill and Stanford University, along with eleven leading esports programs from around the country.
Two additional teams will be decided through an East and West regional qualifying competition, starting the week of Nov. 9. The top two teams from each region will join the other 18 teams to compete in the group stage.
Production for the virtual events will be completed in partnership with Estars Studios, a leading independent production company for esports and gaming events.
goPuff, the go-to platform for consumers’ everyday needs, joins the event as the presenting sponsor. Additional partners include HyperX, We Are Nations, Papa John’s and ASUS.
“With the collegiate esports industry experiencing immense growth, we are thrilled to present Maui Invitational’s inaugural esports tournament,” said Jonathan DiOrio, goPuff’s Chief Business Officer. “Whether in need of an energy drink and snack to keep playing or a new pair of headphones and a charger, we look forward to instantly delivering thousands of everyday essentials for more gamers throughout the tournament and beyond.”
The premise of Rocket League, developed by Psyonix, is a three-versus-three competition where teams play soccer but with rocket-powered cars, accumulating points by hitting a ball into a goal.
Due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, the 2020 Maui Invitational is relocated to Asheville, NC at the Harrah’s Cherokee Center- Asheville on Nov. 30 – Dec. 2. For more information on the 2020 Maui Invitational and the Maui Esports Invitational, you can visit www.mauiinvitational.com.
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Maui Esports Invitational PR Contact:
Kelsey Schroeder
Kelsey.Schroeder@kemperlesnik.com
(815) 979-7665
About the 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.
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 Jim Maui Invitational since 1990. For more information, visit www.kemperlesnik.com.
About Rocket League®
Winner or nominee of more than 150 “Game of the Year” awards, Rocket League® is one of the most critically-acclaimed sports games of our generation. Rocket League is a high-powered hybrid of arcade-style soccer and vehicular mayhem with easy-to-understand controls and fluid, physics-driven competition. Available on Nintendo Switch™, PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, Xbox One and Epic Games Store, Rocket League includes nearly endless customization possibilities, a fully-featured offline season mode, multiple game types, casual and competitive online matches, and special “Mutators” that let you change the rules entirely.
To learn more about Rocket League, please visit www.RocketLeague.com, “Like” it on Facebook, and follow it on Twitter @RocketLeague for all the latest developer updates and news.
About Psyonix™
Based in San Diego, CA, Psyonix is a critically-acclaimed video game developer and a leading expert in Unreal Engine technology. For more than 15 years, the studio has been a driving force behind some of the most successful games in the industry, including Gears of War, Mass Effect 3, XCOM: Enemy Unknown, Bulletstorm, Unreal Tournament III, Unreal Tournament 2004, and the award-winning Sports-Action hit, Rocket League®.
© 2015-2020 Psyonix LLC. Rocket League, Psyonix, and all related marks and logos are registered trademarks or trademarks of Psyonix LLC. All rights reserved. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.
About Estars Studios
Estars Studios is the leading, independent production company for esports and video games. Combining decades of experience in live sports production with a deep passion for competitive gaming, Estars Studios creates outstanding video content, premium esports competitions and more. It sets itself apart through productions that carry harder. For more information, visit estarsstudios.com or follow Estars Studios on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
About goPuff
goPuff is the go-to solution for immediate everyday needs, fulfilling customer orders of cleaning and home products, over-the-counter medications, baby and pet products, food and drinks, and in some markets, alcohol – in just minutes. With micro-fulfillment centers in every market it serves, the company delivers thousands of products quickly for a flat $1.95 delivery charge. goPuff is open 24/7 in many markets and late night everywhere else to bring customers what they need, when they need it most.
Founded in 2013 by co-founders and co-CEOs Rafael Ilishayev and Yakir Gola, goPuff is headquartered in Philadelphia and currently operates more than 200 micro-fulfillment centers servicing over 500 U.S. cities. To learn more, visit www.gopuff.com or follow goPuff on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. Download the goPuff app on iOS and Android.