Thousands flocked to Lahaina, Maui, last month, where eight of the nation's elite college basketball teams were competing.

Since 1984, the EA Sports Maui Invitational — played in the 2,400-seat Lahaina Civic Center during Thanksgiving week — has raised more than $100 million for the local economy during a usual lull in the travel season, according to the Maui Visitors Bureau.

A significant percentage of the profits benefited the Boy Scouts of America-Maui County Council's Camp Maluhia and other charities.

The tournament, which was won by the UConn Huskies, required a staff of more than 300, and the organizer, KemperSports, hired more than 80 percent of those workers locally.

In addition to the nonprofit organizations, local groups — from vendors to police officers to entrepreneurs — fed off the 4,000 fans, alumni and team personnel who flew to Maui.

The Maui Visitors Bureau can't get enough of the Invitational, which has a long-term agreement with ESPN to broadcast live a minimum of nine tournament games each year through 2011.

The agreement beams brief images of Maui's beaches, Haleakala, and the neighboring islands of Moloka'i and Lana'i to 10 million viewers each year.

The boost to the local economy is remarkable, not to mention the national exposure generated each November, said Terryl Vencl, executive director of the Maui Visitors Bureau.

Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa agreed, but also said he wished there was a way to get more fans into the tournament.

Part of the Invitational's draw is the venue's intimacy, but that can cause a problem when popular teams are invited. This year's field included USA Today/ESPN preseason and NCAA champs.