NEWPORT BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AVP (Association of Volleyball Professionals), the nation’s premier beach volleyball tour will officially kick off the 2017 season in Huntington Beach, Calif., from May 4-7. Coming off a record attendance year in 2016, the tour will make its way back to Hermosa Beach for the first time since 2010 and back to Austin since 2005. Featuring the most respected names in the sport, including AVP stars and Olympians Phil Dalhausser, April Ross, Xi Zhang, and Jake Gibb, among others, the eight-stop tour will run from May through September with additional stops in New York, Seattle, San Francisco, Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, and Chicago. For a full roster of athletes, go to AVP.com.
Established in 1983, the AVP has a 30-plus year rich history in creating, staging, and marketing some of the most innovative and engaging sporting events in North America. The organization has been home for some of volleyball’s pioneers and top professional athletes, including gold medalists Karch Kiraly, Kent Steffes, Misty May-Treanor, Kerri Walsh Jennings, Todd Rogers, Phil Dalhausser, and more.
“We are thrilled to bring beach volleyball back to these major metropolitan cities, including our return to Hermosa Beach and Austin,” said Donald Sun, managing partner, AVP. “No matter if you’re the casual beach enthusiast or a volleyball fanatic, our goal is to put on the ultimate beach experience, whether you’re witnessing some of the best athletes on the sand in compelling competition or soaking up the festival area – this is not your average day at the beach. We are looking forward to this season and seeing which veterans have more to prove and who of the up-and-comers will emerge into full success.”
“I'm truly excited about kicking off the 2017 season in Surf City USA, a town that means so much to me as a long-time resident and a place that embraces not just beach volleyball but beach culture at large,” said 14-time AVP champion and Olympian Casey Patterson. “I am really looking forward to bringing our sport to eight amazing cities, interacting with fans, and introducing it to a new audience.”
The 2017 AVP Pro Tour schedule is as follows:
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2017 Dates |
Event |
Location |
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| May 4-7 | Huntington Beach Open | Huntington Beach Pier, Calif. | ||||||||||
| May 18-21 | Austin Open |
Austin, Texas – Krieg Fields |
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| June 8-11 | New York City Open |
New York, N.Y. – Hudson River Park’s Pier 26/25 |
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| June 22-25 | Seattle Open |
Seattle, Wash. – Lake Sammamish State Park |
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| July 6-9 | San Francisco Open |
San Francisco, Calif. – Pier 30/32 at The Embarcadero |
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| July 20-23 | Hermosa Beach Open | Hermosa Beach Pier, Calif. | ||||||||||
| August 17-20 | Manhattan Beach Open | Manhattan Beach Pier, Calif. | ||||||||||
| August 31-Sept 3 | AVP Championships in Chicago |
Chicago, Ill. – Oak Street Beach |
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In addition to watching world-class athletes battling for the podium, fans can also enjoy an interactive sponsor village experience, including free falling into the AVP Jump Zone, partaking in top local food options, and AVP’s wine & beer garden (age 21+, ID required), and more.
General admission is free. A limited number of VIP premium seating tickets are available at http://avp.com/tickets/. For media on editorial assignment, go to avp.com/press-registration to apply for credentials.
Follow @AVPBeach on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Snapchat to stay up to date and get behind-the-scenes access with your favorite athletes.
