As volleyball star Steve Obradovich, hotel owner Kevin Martin and bar operator Mario Marovic walked along the shores overlooking the city pier in early 2023, they decided the coastal location would be the perfect backdrop for a sports tournament that would one day rival the US Open of Surfing.
The idea — the sport that brought us a bump, set and spike would be good for charity, the economy and local branding.
Obradovich, an Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP) Hall of Famer, told the Business Journal that he got together with Martin, founding partner of Eagle Four Partners, the operator of Pendry Newport Beach and owner of the Balboa Bay Club, and Marovic, who operates Blackie’s Bar, Dory Deli and Stag Bar, near the city pier.
The trio believed the popular surf hangout would be the perfect backdrop to lure tourists, volleyball fans and local beachgoers.
“I said I think we should have a tournament at Blackie’s Beach,” he said, referring to sands between the 28th street jetty and the pier. “I’ll get all the best players.”
At that moment, the Newport Beach Volleyball Invitational was born.
Luring Tourists to Central OC
A few months later, the inaugural tournament was launched in 2023, billed as the “the largest one-day volleyball tournament” where players compete for prizes totaling more than $250,000.
It features eight teams playing in a four-against-four tournament.
Money raised from the tournament benefits the Orange County Youth Sports Foundation.
This year, more than $10,000 was raised for the charity, an event spokesperson told the Business Journal.
During this year’s daylong event held in mid-October, businesses rented booths along the edge of the beach, interacting with fans and beachgoers.
Local business leaders and invited guests hobnobbed with each other while sampling drinks from Guinness in a VIP area between the two beach volleyball courts, where games were continuously held from mid-morning to late afternoon.
Marovic, who owns several other bars and restaurants in Orange County including Wild Goose Tavern in Costa Mesa, said an annual beach volleyball tournament by the Newport Pier is a proactive way to draw people from the Central Orange County coast to this stretch of the Balboa Peninsula, an area home to several bars, hotels, restaurants and other businesses including his string of bars.
“Blackie’s Beach has always been an iconic brand of the city of Newport Beach,” Marovic told the Business Journal. “It’s a great opportunity to get everyone from the entire city of Newport as well as the overall area to come back, rediscover this special place.”
Martin said the beach volleyball invitational is the latest in a string of events, such as Hoag Hospital’s golf tournaments, the local harbor’s boat parade and the city’s annual film festival, meant to brand Newport Beach as a lifestyle destination.
“Our business plan included really elevating Newport Beach overall,” Martin told the Business Journal.
More Teams, Extended Days
Obradovich said the invitational’s first year had eight team sponsors. Six of them returned this year, with two new sponsors filling in the other slots.
Interest was high enough this year for there to be a waiting list for team sponsorships, Obradovich added.
Martin said he could see the invitational growing into a multi-day event. More than 3,000 people attended this year’s invitational.
“Next year, I think we’re going to go to more teams, make it a weekend event,” Obradovich said. “There are enough players to do it. The prize money may double.”
Phil Dalhausser, who won a gold medal in beach volleyball at the 2008 Beijing Games and was inducted into the International Volleyball Hall of Fame in 2023, headlined the Team Citrus Ford team, which won first place in the men’s division.
His teammates were AVP Pro Tour champion Taylor Crabb, 2016 Rio Games and 2020 Tokyo Games qualifier Nick Lucena and U.S. men’s national volleyball team members and brothers Brenden Sander and Taylor Sander.
“I have been fortunate enough to call beach volleyball my profession for over 20-plus years,” Dalhausser told the Business Journal.
“I’ve played against the best players in the world, as well as on American soil, and being able to compete at four-man and now get to play with the guys I’ve competed against for years, is just fun. It made beach volleyball fun again for me, which I am grateful. That, plus a nice payday!”
Team Provenio Capital was led by World Tour gold medalist Geena Urango, 6-time AVP Champion Betsi Flint and 2016 Rio Games bronze medalist Carli Lloyd.
Also on the team were Stanford All-American Charlie Ekstrom, Loyola Marymount star Megan Rice and AVP qualifier Toni Rodriguez.
Each winning team was awarded $52,000 for their first-place finishes.
Major contributors for the tournament include Balboa Fun Zone, Visit Newport Beach, Balboa Bay Resort Club, Guinness, Ontario Auto Center Citrus Motors and Blackie’s by the Sea, among others.
The 2024 Newport Beach Volleyball Invitational Winners
Men’s 1st Place: Team Citrus Ford ($52,000)
• Taylor Crabb
• Phil Dalhausser
• Nick Lucena
• Brenden Sander
• Taylor Sander
Men’s 2nd Place: Oceanfront Recovery ($37,000)
Men’s 3rd Place: Orange County Pace ($22,000)
Men’s 4th Place: Baldwin & Sons Construction ($22,000)
Women’s 1st Place: Team Provenio Capital ($52,000)
• Charlie Ekstrom
• Betsi Flint
• Carli Lloyd
• Megan Rice
• Toni Rodriguez
• Geena Urango
Women’s 2nd Place: Slunks ($37,000)
Women’s 3rd Place: VEA Newport Beach ($22,000)
Women’s 4th Place: Kincaid Construction ($22,000)
