Huntington Beach may be Surf City USA, but Newport Beach is making a play for the title of Beach Volleyball USA.
The affluent beach community, with about 10 miles of coast, is slated to host the Beach Pro Tour Elite 16 this fall, marking the tournament’s return to the United States for the first time since 2018.
The event—brought to the city by USA Volleyball, Newport Beach-based private equity group Eagle Four Partners, FIVB (the sport’s international governing body) and Volleyball World—could feature some of the biggest names in beach volleyball when it plays out on the sands near Newport Pier, Oct. 7-11. Following that event, on Oct. 12th, the third annual Newport Beach Volleyball Invitational will take place. The prize money for both events is $550,000.
“Our beach is one of our most important assets,” Gary Sherwin, president and CEO of Visit Newport Beach, told the Business Journal. “To have a premier beach event in our city is long overdue. The whole beach lifestyle is prominent to our brand.”
Sherwin said a beach volleyball event in Newport Beach adds to the city’s other high-profile events such as the Newport Beach Film Festival and its reputation for shopping at places like Fashion Island and luxury dining destinations, such as Ocean 48.
The Beach Pro Tour Elite 16, free for spectators, also benefits local businesses.
USA Volleyball is bringing the tour to Newport Beach Pier, home to several restaurants and shops, such as Baja Sharkeez, Dory’s Deli, Super Panga, Blackie’s by the Sea and The Pier Shop.
Kevin Martin of Eagle Four Partners said fans would likely patronize local restaurants and shops after watching a few sets of volleyball.
Martin said the marketing plan is still in development, and the tournament’s local economic impact will play out over the next few months. Organizers ultimately hope to leverage LA28 volleyball events in Anaheim and Long Beach to draw fans of the game to Newport Beach.
“We need to introduce Newport Beach as a place to stay,” Martin, whose company owns hotels such as the Pendry Newport Beach at Fashion Island, told the Business Journal.
“We think this is a good investment toward the Olympics,” he continued. “This is already the epicenter of volleyball. This is where volleyball at its highest level is played.”
The Pendry as well as the Vea Newport Beach and the Balboa Bay Resort are all offering packages that cater to the volleyball tournament.
Fast Growing Sport
Southern California is cementing its place as the epicenter of volleyball’s explosive growth, according to USA Volleyball CEO John Speraw.
Speraw, who won NCAA National Championships in 1993 and 1995 as a UCLA middle blocker and who also played on the American team in the Olympics, told the Business Journal that volleyball is the most played high school sport, nationally, for girls.
USA Volleyball bringing Beach Pro Tour Elite 16 to Newport Beach is part of the organization’s plan to promote the sport.
“It aligns with our overall mission to use this opportunity to help elevate and accelerate the growth of the sport nationally. That starts right here in Southern California,” he said.
He said as many as 30 Olympians would be playing on the sand during the Beach Pro Tour Elite 16’s championship weekend.
Speraw also hopes this year’s event will help establish Newport Beach as the place to stay when volleyball fans from around the world come to Southern California for the LA28 to watch volleyball events in Anaheim and Long Beach.
“This is our launching point for how we see our commercial involvement, to help intentionally grow the sport,” he said.
