ATLANTA (Feb. 19, 2008) – The best professional beach volleyball players will return to Atlanta May 29 – June 1 for the AVP Atlanta Open, the eighth event of the 2008 Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP) Crocs Tour, the Atlanta Sports Council announced today.
Once again, host Atlantic Station will turn into a huge beach party featuring 2,000 tons of sand and four days of sun, fun and fierce competition. More than 25,000 spectators have attended the first two years of the AVP Atlanta Open, with both weekend sessions selling out.
“Sports fans in Atlanta really look forward to this event as it has captivated the city in its first two years,” said Gary Stokan, Atlanta Sports Council president. “And our success is due in large part to our wonderful relationships with both Atlantic Station and the AVP.”
Competition in men’s and women’s brackets will take place over four days with Thursday, May 29 serving as the open qualifier, Friday, May 30 and Saturday, May 31 (afternoons and evenings) will feature main draw action and Sunday, June 1 will showcase men’s and women’s finals. The finals matches will be televised nationally on Fox Sports Net.
Tickets for the event will be available at www.avp.com closer to the event.
Tentative session times are Thursday, May 29 (8 a.m. – 6 p.m.), Friday, May 30 (8 a.m. – 6 p.m. day session & 7 – 10 p.m. night session), Saturday, May 31 (10 a.m. – 5 p.m. day session & 7 – 10 p.m. night session) and Sunday, June 1 (9:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.). Tickets are required for each session except Thursday’s qualifier, which is free to the public.
The AVP Crocs Tour is comprised of the best men’s and women’s professional beach volleyball players in the U.S. and the world. Featuring more than 150 of the sport’s top competitors, the Tour includes world-class athletes such as 2004 Olympic gold medalists Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor as well as other Olympic medalists and professional stars like Holly McPeak, who won the sport’s first gold medal in Atlanta. Last year, Jake Gibb and Sean Rosenthal defeated Mike Lambert and Stein Metzger in a tight men's final, 21-16, 17-21, 15-13. Walsh and May-Treanor defeated Rachel Wacholder and Tyra Turner to claim the Women’s title, 21-9, 21-15.
About the AVP, Inc.
AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour, Inc. is a leading lifestyle sports entertainment company focused on the production, marketing and distribution of professional beach volleyball events worldwide. AVP operates the industry's most prominent national touring series, the AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour, which was organized in 1983. Featuring more than 150 of the top American men and women competitors in the sport, AVP is set to stage 18 events throughout the United States in 2007. In 2004, AVP athletes successfully represented the United States during the Olympics in Athens, Greece, winning gold and bronze medals, the first medals won by U.S. women in professional beach volleyball. For more information, please visit www.avp.com.
Atlanta Sports Council – Sports Commission of the Year 2000, 2004 & 2006
The Atlanta Sports Council promotes the value of sports growth in Atlanta and Georgia by acting as an authority on the economic impact, visibility and quality of life issues associated with sports. Its mission is to lead, organize and support sports development with the goal of building Atlanta’s reputation as the Sports Capital of the World. For more information, please visit www.AtlantaSportsCouncil.com.
# # #
Contact:
Eric Oberman
Atlanta Sports Council
404-586-8506
eoberman@macoc.com
