We’re coming off an amazing start to the 2019 season with some epic for-the-ages battles that went down in Huntington Beach. This week, we’re bringing the beach to Austin. That’s right– as of this Friday, Krieg Fields will be the second stop on the 2019 AVP tour. We’ve got the inside scoop on things to do, great places to grab food, and how to navigate the event.
After all, if you’re going to be in Austin, you gotta soak in the music — and food — in this awesome town while you’re here. We also asked the pros and the AVP team about how they like to keep Austin weird. Let’s get to it!
…Inside The AVP Austin Event
First thing, you’ve gotta consult the full event 2019 AVP Austin Open schedule so that you don’t miss a minute of the action.
While the opening rounds begin on Friday, you can still catch some qualifying matches throughout the day on Thursday, March 16th. In Thursday’s Qualifying rounds, any team is allowed to sign up and compete, but only four squads will make it into Friday’s Main Draw. These matches can be tense — and, really, one more day of pro-level volleyball is always a good thing, if you ask us. The Qualifiers are open to the public, but no live scoring or livestreaming options are available for Thursday’s matches.
Once Friday rolls around, consider showing up early to grab some first come, first served General Admission seating. Or just give yourself a little extra time to cruise the Sponsor Village and enjoy the scene before the action starts.
Here’s the layout of the venue:
If you’re looking to get the full AVP experience in Austin, here are a few things on the menu throughout the venue:
Wilson has a ton going on this year, on-site. First, find their booth to grab free player cards of their sponsored AVP athletes (Casey Patterson, the McKibbins, Kelly Reeves, Tri Bourne, Irene Pollock, and Stafford Slick to name a few) then jump in the photo booth to be the star of your own player card! Don’t forget to sign your name on the 10-foot inflatable volleyball.
Before leaving the Wilson booth, use their volleyball vending machines and customize your own AVP Official Game Ball (add your name or a phrase, whatever you can think of…within reason). How cool is that?!?!
The AVP Kids’ Zone is a great way for kids of all ages (and kids at heart) to experience some good family fun. Climb the AVP Rock Wall, play a massive game of Soccer Darts and if you’re up for a challenge – take on The Toxic Drop Obstacle Course – an 88-foot inflatable challenge that you and your friends will love.
The AVP is working with Hydro Flask to help protect our beaches and reduce our plastic footprint through the use of FloWater filtered water dispensers onsite. So bring your Hydro Flasks from home and fill up onsite to stay hydrated in the Austin heat.
New partner of the AVP and the brand behind “Act of KINDness” is KIND snacks. Not only will they be adding delicious bars to the event, they’ll be joining AVPFirst and their Community Corner event on Sunday. It’s a chance for free volleyball lessons with the pros, some awesome snacks and lots of encouragement for the kids participating.
Another new partner is Rockwell, maker of big, badass watches. Their booth will showcase their top-notch gear – including the brand spankin’ new special edition AVP branded watches.
Of course, nothing beats a bit of beer on the beach. Swing by the Giant Kona Oasis this weekend. It’s a great place to buy ice cold beer or play some bar games in between matches. And if you want some of the local flavor, keep your eyes peeled for local favorite food trucks that’ll be showing up throughout the weekend.
Also, a special thanks goes out to all our participating vendors and sponsors that make this event even possible.
Checking in…and the championship rounds
We can’t wait to see you all three days (or four if you’re down for the Qualifiers) BUT, keep in mind that Championship Sunday gets crazy and you’ll need a little more time to navigate check-in, even for VIP tickets.
General admission is open to the public, so it is first come, first served. Many people arrive early on Sunday, so if you are looking to have a seat for the finals, we recommend showing up early for the first match on Stadium Court.
We suggest getting there as soon as the venue opens, allowing yourself time to get your tickets or claim a spot in General Admission before the first serve is up.
Tips for Krieg Fields…
Just off the Colorado River and Lady Bird Lake, Krieg Fields is a beautiful, wide open area. While it’s normally full of baseball fields, we’re bringing the beach with us.
The tournament site has a free parking lot so we recommend parking anywhere at Krieg Field. That said, the lots do fill up quickly so consider car-ride services, biking, or carpooling with buddies to the AVP Austin Open.
Bring your own water. Bring your own food– just please don’t bring any outside alcohol! We will have vendors on-site who will be more than happy to hook you up while you’re here.
The weather is looking hot…but also a little wet for this weekend (and the weather can change on a dime). So be sure to pack for some light rain gear. Keep your eyes on the forecast, but we’re hoping for some sunshine busting through.
Getting around Austin
Austin is one hot town– and after the last point is scored on any given day of the tournament, you should take advantage. If you’re planning to make a night of it, we recommend that you use your favorite ride-sharing app.
If you play long enough, you’re gonna need a smoothie break. When the players need to cool down, Juiceland on Cesar Chavez Drive is one of their stops. And it’s also just down the road from the venue. So, that’s handy.
So, what are you having when you need to refuel? Some great street tacos? Or a fresh batch of Nitro cold brew straight from the tap? Cenote is a great little neighborhood patio cafe just down the street from the AVP Austin Open that’ll wake you up and get you fed. Nothin’ like a nitro-boosted kickstart to your day after a rough night out.
Juan in a Million is an East Austin mainstay, serving up great Mexican food since 1980. 39 years later, people still show up for the (in)famous Don Juan Taco. They say that taco is big enough to feed a family of four. Or maybe one AVP player after a match.
It may be a few miles away from the event, but Sway is worth the trip. This modern restaurant has style for days, tons of delicious Thai cuisine and, yeah, the specialty drinks (both alcoholic and the *ahem* unleaded variety) are great.
Casey Patterson highly recommends eating at Mr Natural because of their delicious gluten-free options. Whether you’re feeling something savory or sweet, baked goods or just some breakfast, this vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free specialty restaurant is just up the road from the venue.
Got more burning questions about what’s happening at the AVP Austin Open? We’ve got you covered right here.
Hey Austin locals: We’d love to hear some of your recommendations for places you like in town. Let us know on Twitter, FB and Instagram!…And who knows? Maybe we’ll be hanging at your favorite joints this week!