NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. (March 24, 2014) – The Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP), the premiere domestic professional beach volleyball tour in the U.S., today officially announced its 2014 schedule, featuring seven tournaments across the country from May through September.
In 2014, the AVP’s schedule will include seven tournaments, in different regions of the U.S. from Florida to Southern California. In its third year under the guidance of AVP Managing Partner Donald Sun, who purchased the tour in 2012, the AVP has expanded its property to include tour stops this season in St. Petersburg, Fla.; Milwaukee; Salt Lake City; Manhattan Beach, Calif.; Cincinnati; Atlantic City, N.J.; and Huntington Beach, Calif.
The AVP is the exclusive domestic beach volleyball home of the nation’s top athletes ,including Olympic gold medalists Kerri Walsh-Jennings (2004, 2008, 2012), Todd Rogers (2008) and Phil Dalhausser (2008); Olympic silver medalists April Ross (2012) and Jen Kessy (2012); two-time Olympians Jake Gibb (2008, 2012) and Sean Rosenthal (2008, 2012); and Olympian Nicole Branagh (2008).
The tour also features many up-and-coming stars who are helping build the future of the sport, such as Casey Patterson, Theo Brunner, Summer Ross, Emily Day and 2013 AVP rookies of the year Tri Bourne and Lane Carico.
Tickets for the 2014 AVP tournaments will go on sale in the coming weeks, and information will be available at 104.236.90.106.
“The 2014 AVP schedule is our strongest and most exciting to date,” AVP Managing Partner Donald Sun said. “These markets have shown tremendous support for the AVP and our athletes, and the continued growth of the tour is a testament to the strength of our sport. IMG is globally recognized and respected for the work it has accomplished in the sports and entertainment industries, and given its track record of success with action sports and lifestyle brands, it is a perfect fit for the AVP.”
The AVP’s partnership with IMG brings together an attractive, emerging lifestyle brand with a management company renowned for its expertise in partnering with premiere properties in sports and many other fields.
“IMG’s vast experience in the sport and strong relationships with consumer and corporate brands will offer an added value opportunity for the AVP as the Tour continues to expand in the U.S. and leading into the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro,” said James Leitz, Senior Vice President of IMG Action Sports. “The AVP is the brand on the beach, and these players are the real deal. I am confident that alongside Donald and his team, 2014 is going to be a powerful year for the AVP.”
Six of the cities where the AVP will play in 2014 were also on last year’s schedule, and the AVP will look to build on significant momentum established in those markets. The tour will also play this season in Milwaukee, at Bradford Beach, for the first time since 1998, when beach volleyball legend Karch Kiraly took home one of his record 148 tournament titles along the shore of Lake Michigan. Each of the AVP’s seven tour stops will feature three or four days of world-class beach volleyball competition featuring Olympic champions and world-renowned athletes competing in an unmatched beach-party atmosphere filled with music, food and interactive activities.
2014 AVP pro beach volleyball tour schedule
| Dates | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| May 29 – June 1 | St. Pete Open | Spa Beach Park (St. Petersburg, Fla.) |
| July 3 – 6 | Milwaukee Open | Bradford Beach (Milwaukee) |
| Aug. 7 – 10 | Salt Lake City Open | Liberty Park (Salt Lake City) |
| Aug. 15 – 17 | Manhattan Beach Open | South Side of Pier (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) |
| Aug. 28 – 31 | Cincinnati Open | Lindner Family Tennis Center (Mason, Ohio) |
| Sept. 5 – 7 | DO AC Pro Beach Volleyball Invitational | New Jersey Avenue and the boardwalk adjacent to Showboat and Revel (Atlantic City, N.J.) |
| Sept. 25 – 28 | AVP Championships at Huntington Beach | North Side of Pier (Huntington Beach, Calif.) |
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
IMG Worldwide is a global sports, entertainment and media business, with nearly 3,000 employees operating in 30 countries around the globe. IMG’s areas of expertise are diverse and wide ranging: IMG College; IMG’s Joint Ventures in China, Brazil and India and Turkey; IMG Media; IMG Events and Federations; IMG Fashion; IMG Models; IMG Art+Commerce; IMG Clients; IMG Academies; IMG Consulting and IMG Licensing. More information is available at www.img.com. Follow us on Twitter (https://twitter.com/#!/IMG_Worldwide) and like us on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/IMGWorldwide).
Media contacts:
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