Innovative car company extends partnership with the AVP to bring international Olympic qualifying tournament to St. Petersburg, Fla. for the first time
COSTA MESA, Calif. and ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (June 19, 2015) – The AVP (Association of Volleyball Professionals) and smart USA announced today that the professional beach volleyball tour and the innovative car company have reached an agreement for title sponsorship of the FIVB smart St. Pete Grand Slam presented by the AVP. The tournament runs through Sunday at Spa Beach Park in downtown St. Petersburg, Fla.
“We are truly grateful to be able to extend our partnership with smart to bring this global event to St. Pete,” said Donald Sun, the AVP’s Managing Partner. “As a long-time supporter of beach volleyball, smart has helped spur the growth of the sport. We see the brand as a true partner in our endeavors and as the perfect fit for an event like this that brings such worldwide appeal.”
The FIVB smart St. Pete Grand Slam presented by the AVP is part of the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour, which runs from late April through mid December, offering a record prize purse of $9.3 million (USD). With the exception of the World Tour Finals, all FIVB World Tour events, including the St. Pete Grand Slam, are part of the Olympic qualification process. Results from each event count toward Olympic rankings, which determine the teams that will represent their countries in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
The FIVB smart St. Pete Grand Slam presented by the AVP marks the first time that an FIVB Grand Slam event has been held in St. Pete. The week-long tournament features 32 two-player men’s teams and 32 two-player women’s teams representing the top beach volleyball talent from more than 20 nations competing for $800,000 in prize money and Olympic qualification points.
Fans attending the FIVB smart St. Pete Grand Slam presented by the AVP will be treated to a full week of world-class beach volleyball competition featuring Olympic champions and world-renowned athletes playing in an unmatched atmosphere. The courts will be surrounded by the ultimate beach festival – filled with food, music and interactive activities.
General admission to the FIVB smart St. Pete Grand Slam presented by the AVP is free. For those interested in the ultimate beach volleyball experience, Gold Skybox Tickets as well as premium ticket packages are available for purchase at www.avp.com. Gold skybox tickets and premium packages offer fans exclusive access to an elevated and shaded private lounge with exceptional views of all the action on the stadium court.
The tournament will be broadcast live Saturday, June 20 on NBC (4-6 p.m. ET) and Sunday, June 21 on NBC Sports Network (2-4 p.m.) and NBC (4-6 p.m.)
Fans attending the tournament will see the newest smart model perched in the grandstands overlooking stadium court. In addition to sponsoring the FIVB smart St. Pete Grand Slam presented by the AVP, smart sponsors the European championships in Klagenfurt, Austria and supports 12 men’s and women’s professional beach volleyball teams worldwide.
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, California, USA.
About smart
smart, a part of the Mercedes-Benz USA portfolio, has its U.S. headquarters in Montvale, New Jersey. The smart model-line consists of five fortwo models: the pure coupe, passion coupe, passion cabriolet and all electric drive versions of the coupe and cabriolet. All smart models sold in the U.S. are covered by a four-year, 50,000-mile new vehicle limited warranty.
Classified as ultra-low emissions vehicles by the State of California Air Resources Board, smart models are just under nine feet long, 5 feet tall and 5 feet wide. Despite their microcar exterior dimensions, smart vehicles are surprisingly roomy inside and have a full array of technological and safety features including the patented tridion safety cell which is designed to protect occupants in the event of a collision. All smart vehicles, designed to be 85% recyclable and over 95% reclaimable, are produced in the environmentally oriented “smartville” factory in Hambach, France. Additional information on smart can be found at www.smartusa.com.
Media contacts:
Greg Ball Crystal Fukumoto Diédra Wylie
AVP / BZA Public Relations AVP / BZA Public Relations Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
gregb@bzapr.com crystalf@bzapr.com diedra.wylie@mbusa.com
760-271-9183 cell 310-709-8690 cell 949-598-4855 office