The Hawaii Tourism Authority and the Hawaii Convention Center have reached an agreement to bring three new sporting events to the complex in Honolulu this year.
The convention center will play host to new tournaments for futsal (indoor soccer), basketball and volleyball. All three events will be held in the Hawaii Convention Center's Kamehameha Exhibit Hall, and will bring in numerous youth teams in different age groups from outside the state to compete with teams from the Aloha State.
According to the agreements, Honolulu will host the Pacific Futsal Cup from 2018 to 2021; the Jam on It Pacific Rim Championship, a basketball tournament produced by the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU), from 2018 to 2020; and an AAU volleyball tournament.
"The Hawaii Convention Center's sports courts are proving to be a valuable contributor to our sports marketing strategy for the state, both in motivating groups to come here who might not otherwise do so, and also giving our local teams the opportunity to compete against teams from outside Hawaii without having to travel abroad," George D. Szigeti, the tourism authority's president and CEO said in a statement. "Ultimately, the sports courts are helping to support Hawaii's tourism industry, particularly the service providers that visiting teams rely upon to play in the tournament and enjoy their experience in the islands."
In 2017, the convention center hosted AAU volleyball and basketball tournaments featuring youth teams from across the U.S., in addition to the Hoops in Hawaii Holiday Classic Tournament, the first NCAA basketball tournament held at the convention center.