“The Wimbledon of Beach Volleyball” will feature four days of thrilling competition, as well as the traditional Walk of Fame Pier Ceremony, Manhattan Beach Open Legends match, movie night, kids’ clinic and AVPFirst Manhattan Beach Junior Invitational youth tournament
COSTA MESA, Calif. and MANHATTAN BEACH, Calif. (July 22, 2015) –The AVP Manhattan Beach Open, presented by Acer, is set for August 13-16 just south of the Manhattan Beach Pier. In addition to top-notch competition, the 56th annual tournament promises to offer an action-packed four days filled with activities surrounding the courts. Few cities anywhere in the world embrace beach volleyball quite like Manhattan Beach does, so it’s fitting that the sport’s biggest celebration takes place there every summer, and this year is no exception.
General admission to the AVP Manhattan Beach Open presented by Acer is free. For the first time in the history of the tournament, the AVP will offer an elevated experience in its premiere VIP Skybox which will debut at the upcoming Manhattan Beach Open. Offering panoramic views of the shoreline, pier and center court, the beach-chic Skybox seating area includes full hospitality, access to a beer and wine bar, and lounge style seating. Courtside Box Seats will be available for fans who want to enjoy the tournament up close and in style. Fans interested in purchasing VIP ticket packages are encouraged to register now to receive presale information by going to the ticketing page at www.avp.com.
The 56th AVP Manhattan Beach Open presented by Acer is the longest-running continuous tournament in the history of beach volleyball and is regarded as the tour’s most prestigious and popular event. It will feature an expanded field of 32 men’s and 32 women’s main-draw teams and an open qualifier without a cap on the number of teams eligible to register continuing a tradition that has been a highlight of summer in the South Bay since 1960.
Adding to the excitement surrounding the tournament, teams emerging as champions from AVPNext developmental series tournaments in eight different regions across the United States will be awarded wild-card berths into the main draw of the Manhattan Beach Open. AVPNext regional champions will be determined by August 2.
August 13 will feature open qualifying tournaments for men and women, with eight teams from each gender advancing to main-draw play. As the qualifiers progress, the tournament will roll out the red carpet to host its annual Walk of Fame Pier Ceremony on the Manhattan Beach Pier, in which defending women’s champions Kerri Walsh Jennings (the all-time record holder with seven Manhattan Beach Open victories) and April Ross (who won her first Manhattan Beach Open in 2014), as well as defending men’s champions Phil Dalhausser (a four-time champion) and Sean Rosenthal (a two-time champion), will unveil the bronze plaques bearing their names that will be permanently etched into the pier. This event is free to attend and will be followed by a ticketed VIP reception in which attendees can mingle with the Manhattan Beach Open Champions of past and present as well as AVP Tour stars.
The Manhattan Beach Open has also partnered with the City of Manhattan Beach to host one of the reoccurring movie nights which will be free for all to attend. The movie will be shown on the big screen at stadium court, and all are encouraged to bring their family, friends, beach chairs and towels to enjoy an entertaining evening in one of summer’s most picturesque settings. Movie night will be held on August 14 from 6:00-9:00 p.m. and includes a kids’ clinic and parents’ happy hour hosted in the VIP Skybox area after the conclusion of play on that day (tickets can be purchased online at www.avp.com). August 16 will feature a Manhattan Beach Open Legends match, including some of the greatest professional players to ever compete in the legendary Manhattan Beach Open tournament.
Main-draw play will be contested Friday, August 14 – Sunday, August 16. The tournament will be broadcast live Sunday, August 16 on NBC from 1:30-3:00 p.m. PT, with additional coverage of the tournaments being streamed live online at www.AVP.com.
Before the tournament officially kicks off, there will be an AVP First Manhattan Beach Junior Invitational youth league tournament on August 11 – 12. More information is available at https://avp.com/avp-first/.
The AVP thanks its partners – Acer, Boston Beer, Barefoot, Kingston, Paul Mitchell, DripDrop, Jaybird, National Honey Board and Zislis Group, for their support of the AVP Manhattan Beach Open presented by Acer.
The AVP Manhattan Beach Open presented by Acer is the fourth event on the AVP’s 2015 schedule, which also includes events in New Orleans, New York City, Seattle, Chicago, Cincinnati, and Huntington Beach. The AVP also hosted and operated an Olympic qualifying tournament on the FIVB World Tour in St. Petersburg, Fl in June.
2015 AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour Schedule
Dates / Event Location
May 21 – 24 AVP New Orleans Open Laketown (Kenner, La.)
June 15-21 FIVB smart St. Pete Grand Slam presented Spa Beach Park (St. Petersburg, Fla.) by the AVP*
July 16-19 AVP Kingston New York City Open Hudson River Park’s Pier 26/25 (New York, N.Y.)
(Women’s qualifier at Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Pier 6)
Aug. 6-9 AVP Seattle Open Lake Sammamish State Park (Seattle)
(Women’s qualifier at Bottega Beach Training Center – 16720 Hwy 9, Snohomish, WA, 98296)
Aug. 13-16 AVP Manhattan Beach Open South side of pier (Manhattan Beach, Calif.)
presented by Acer
Aug. 27-30 AVP Chicago Open Oak Street Beach (Chicago)
Sept. 3-6 AVP Cincinnati Open Lindner Family Tennis Center (Mason, Ohio)
Sept. 10-13 AVP Championships at Huntington Beach South side of pier (Huntington Beach, Calif.)
*The FIVB smart St. Pete Grand Slam presented by the AVP, a 2016 Olympic qualifying tournament, was hosted and operated by the AVP as part of the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) Beach Volleyball World Tour. Separate from the AVP Tour, it featured teams from around the world in addition to the AVP’s top teams.
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About The AVP
Established in 1983, the AVP (Association of Volleyball Professionals) produces, markets and distributes volleyball events worldwide, including the popular AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour. While promoting family-oriented events and supporting a healthy lifestyle, the AVP is best known for its world-class athletes, who have won numerous Gold, Silver and Bronze medals in the Olympic games. The AVP headquarters are in Costa Mesa, Calif. More information about the AVP is available at www.avp.com.
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