AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour Headed to Atlanta
ATLANTA (Jan. 26, 2006) – The AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour has awarded Atlanta a stop on its AVP 2006 season schedule the Atlanta Sports Council and AVP Tour announced today. Atlanta was selected over competing cities Austin, Texas, Indianapolis, Philadelphia and San Diego.
The AVP Atlanta Open is scheduled to take place in Atlanta’s new Atlantic Station and will draw the world’s best men’s and women’s professional beach volleyball players for four days of competition July 6-9. The tournament will be broadcast nationally on Fox Sports Net.
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Pictured are: Gary Stokan, president Atlanta Sports Council; Leonard Armato, AVP Tour CEO; Holly McPeak, three-time Olympian and winningest female beach volleyball player of all time
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AVP’s Atlanta debut also features a promoter partnership with the Atlanta Sports Council. The Atlanta Sports Council will be responsible for selling all local revenue for the tournament, including tickets, concessions, sponsorships and hospitality, with AVP maintaining control over all of its assets.
“This is a big win for Atlanta,” said Gary Stokan, Atlanta Sports Council president. “The AVP Tour will give our city an annual marquee lifestyle sports event that will really stand out as something special in an already impressive annual sports lineup. And bringing beach volleyball back to Atlanta where it made its debut as an Olympic sport will pay special tribute to the 10-year anniversary of the Centennial Games.”
“We are excited to bring the AVP Tour to Atlanta,” said Leonard Armato, CEO and Tour commissioner. “The AVP is proud to be included as a premier sports event in a city that has hosted the Centennial Olympic Games, past Super Bowls and the 2003 NBA All-Star Game. We are thrilled to be working with the Atlanta Sports Council and we look forward to bringing the excitement of the Tour and beach volleyball to Atlanta.”
The AVP Tour is comprised of the best men’s and women’s pro 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 and Karch Kiraly, who won the sport’s first gold medal in Atlanta. The AVP’s main goal is to deliver its fans the experience of an amazing athletic contest surrounded by an unforgettable beach party.
About the AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour, Inc.
AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of AVP, Inc. (OTC: AVPI.OB), a 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 staged 14 events throughout the United States in 2005. 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.
About the Atlanta Sports Council
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.
