One of the Utah Jazz's core values is "community obsessed" and that extends beyond the state of Utah.
The Jazz and LA Clippers will donate all proceeds from their preseason opener to the Maui Strong Fund to benefit wildfire relief in Lahaina, Maui. The game will take place on Sunday, Oct. 8 and will tip off at 7 p.m. MT at SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center on the campus of the University of Hawai‘i at Māno.
“We are pleased to announce that all proceeds from our first preseason game with the Los Angeles Clippers, which will take place on Oahu on October 8, will be donated to the Maui Strong Fund to benefit wildfire relief,” the Jazz said in a statement. “In joining with the Clippers in Hawai’i, we are proud to work alongside the Hawai’i Tourism Authority in support of its residents and provide continued visibility of ongoing relief efforts. The Utah Jazz prioritize community stewardship as a core value and are focused on showing the greatest care and concern for the victims of the devastating Maui wildfires. We are proud to partner with the Clippers on this trip that will be so much bigger than basketball.”
The island of Maui was struck by a devastating fire earlier this month that ravaged thousands of acres. Among the territories hit hardest was the city of Lahaina, which was around 90% contained as of Wednesday morning — one of three fires not yet fully contained.
Utah will return to the islands for the first time since its last preseason visit in 2015. The team will spend a few days at BYU Hawaii for training camp before tipoff with the Clippers.
The preseason opener will also mark Utah’s return to KJZZ (Channel 14) as part of their new broadcast deal. The over-the-air station, which reaches all 3.3 million Utahns, will air all non-nationally televised Jazz games for the foreseeable future as "The Home of the Utah Jazz." During the broadcast, the Jazz will feature a special Hawaii program to showcase the island and provide additional support for all those affected.