Hawaiian Islands Invitational: New ESPN Soccer Event in 2012

ESPN Regional Television, Inc. (ERT), in cooperation with the Hawai’i Tourism Authority (HTA) and Major League Soccer (MLS), announce the creation of the Hawaiian Islands Invitational, an international soccer event beginning Feb. 23 & 25, 2012, at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawai’i. The annual event will feature four games over a two-day period and will host squads from around the globe. The Hawaiian Islands Invitational will be carried on ESPN3.com and on a number of ESPN International networks. The inaugural event will include an MLS squad and three additional international teams to be announced at a later date.

“ESPN is excited and pleased to be working with the Hawai’i Tourism Authority on bringing a new event to Honolulu” said Clint Overby, ESPN Senior Director of Events. “Along with Major League Soccer, it will be a team effort in making this event a reality and we look forward to the collaboration.”

Hawaiian Airlines has also stepped-up as the official world-wide airline carrier of the Hawaiian Islands Invitational.

“We are appreciative to the Hawai’i Tourism Authority efforts in making this event a reality,” said David Matlin, Executive Director of the Hawaiian Islands Invitational. “The international flavor of the Hawaiian Islands Invitational will help strengthen Hawaii’s position as a destination of choice among Pacific Rim countries. We are also very appreciative that Hawaiian Airlines has jumped on board to serve as our official airline carrier. “

“The popularity of soccer in Hawaii is tremendous,” said Governor Neil Abercrombie. “The Hawaiian Islands Invitational will be enjoyed by those who love this sport nationally and internationally. There is no other sport in the world that brings cultures together like soccer and, as a State, we will not only welcome the teams but also the fans that will visit Hawaii to be part of this tournament.”

“MLS is proud to return to Hawai’i, together with our broadcast partner ESPN and the HTA, whom we’ve worked with in the past,” said Will Wilson, MLS Executive Vice President. “We look forward to MLS’ successful participation in the Hawaiian Islands Invitational.”

“The Hawaii Tourism Authority is very pleased to be a part of the first ever Hawaiian Islands Invitational. The event will support our marketing efforts by attracting visitors from our major target and emerging markets,” said Mike McCartney, HTA president and CEO. “In addition, the television exposure and timing in close proximity to the Pro Bowl will reap great publicity benefits for Hawai’i. But just as important, the Invitational will be a wonderful attraction for Hawaii residents. Soccer is an incredibly popular sport in our state, with youth soccer in Hawai’i registering more than 25,000 players and having more than 4,000 volunteers each year. We expect that the event will draw a great deal of local interest and attendance.”

LeadOff Sports Marketing has played an integral part in securing the international teams for the 2012 event, while HTA will be a major player in the execution of the Invitational.

Aloha Stadium, the largest outdoor arena in the state of Hawai’i, will feature a new synthetic playing surface and is home to the University of Hawaii’s Warriors football team and hosts a multitude of other events, including the Sheraton Hawai’i Bowl and the NFL Pro Bowl.

The family-friendly tournament and year-round great weather resort destination of Honolulu, Hawai’i will host the teams for a week of training camps, local soccer clinics and other cultural events surrounding the Invitational. Additional information can be found on the Hawaiian Islands Invitational Web site at www.hawaiianislandsinvitational.com or at www.espnplus.com.

ESPN Regional Television/Event Ownership
The nation’s largest syndicator of collegiate sports programming, ESPN Regional Television (ERT) annually produces more than 1,000 telecasts of sporting events. Programming includes football, basketball, NCAA events, golf and NHRA events accounting for more than 2,200 live and/or original hours of programming. In addition to event ownership, ERT is the production headquarters for ESPNU, the 24-hour college sports network; syndication rights-holder and producer of national, regional and local shows for college conferences (e.g. – SEC, BIG EAST, Big 12, Mid-American, WAC). 

ESPN Regional Television markets and/or owns several sporting events, including collegiate football events: Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Bowl St. Petersburg; Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl (Fort Worth, Texas); BBVA Compass Bowl (Birmingham, Ala.); MAACO Bowl Las Vegas; New Mexico Bowl (Albuquerque); Sheraton Hawai’i Bowl (Honolulu); Texas Bowl (Houston); MEAC/SWAC Challenge presented by Disney (Orlando, Fla.) and The Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards. Collegiate basketball events: 76 Classic (Anaheim, Calif.); Champion’s Classic (Madison Square Garden; debuts 2011); Charleston Classic (S.C.); Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic (Honolulu); Old Spice Classic (Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando, Fla.); Puerto Rico Tip-Off (San Juan); All-College Basketball Classic (Oklahoma City), Sears BracketBusters. In addition, the Hawaiian Islands Invitational (Soccer); ESPNU Warrior Classic (Lacrosse); and the ESPN National Golf Challenge. For more information, visit ESPNPlus.com.

Major League Soccer
Headquartered in New York City, Major League Soccer is the top-flight professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. MLS features many stars from the U.S., Canada, and around the world. Major League Soccer’s 16th season, which will feature 18 clubs each playing 34 regular season matches, will kick off on Tuesday, March 15, 2011. Those clubs include Chicago Fire; Chivas USA; 2010 MLS Cup champion Colorado Rapids; Columbus Crew; D.C. United; FC Dallas; Houston Dynamo; LA Galaxy; New York Red Bulls; New England Revolution; Philadelphia Union; Real Salt Lake; San Jose Earthquakes; Seattle Sounders FC; Sporting Kansas City; Toronto FC; and, in their inaugural seasons, Portland Timbers and Vancouver Whitecaps. An expansion team in Montreal will debut in 2012. For more information about MLS, log on to the League’s official website at www.MLSsoccer.com.

LeadOff Sports Marketing
LeadOff Sports Marketing is a professional sports marketing agency headquartered in New York City. With an extensive network and vast international experience, LeadOff Sports Marketing delivers custom designed services and marketing programs configured to promote their clients business objectives. A multi-faceted agency, Leadoff Sports Marketing engages teams, leagues and corporations with strategic business development initiatives, while also serving as a conduit between North America and Asia in creating sponsorship, marketing, branding and athlete representation opportunities between the two continents.  For more information about LeadOff Sports Marketing, log on to www.leadoffsportsmarketing.com

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