Fans’ Free Fun Gets Spiked for Net Profit

The Assn. of Volleyball Professionals has put an end to the free fun in the sun it used to offer local spectators.

This weekend’s Miller Lite U.S. Championships in Hermosa Beach will be the first Los Angeles-area beach volleyball tournament to charge general admission, and fans aren’t thrilled.

The AVP began charging for about 500 courtside chairs four years ago, but there has always been free access to the 4,500-seat center-court bleachers and outer courts.

At the 36th annual Manhattan Beach Open two weeks ago, demonstrators protested the new Hermosa Beach fee, and a petition, later presented to the Hermosa Beach City Council, was circulated.

But the city, which will receive 25% of ticket revenues, approved it, and a large fence covered with wind screen will seal off the tournament area near the pier from the rest of the beach.

Admission is $6 today, $10 Saturday and $12 Sunday for bleacher seats and access to outside courts. The courtside chairs run $15-$20.

AVP President Dan Vrebalovich says ending the decades-old free admission policy will help improve the image of the sport, which made its Olympic debut in Atlanta.

“Less value is placed on a free event,” Vrebalovich said. “The perception is that it doesn’t carry as much prestige. And you have no business as an athlete playing for thousands of dollars in a sport nobody is willing to pay to see.”

Vrebalovich expects a small drop in attendance this weekend because the game’s roots are in the area and longtime fans here may be more reluctant to pay than those in other cities.

“It’s naive to think more people or the same amount of people are going to show up,” he said. “We’ll see what we’re worth.”

Most players favor the new policy. Karch Kiraly, seeded No. 1 with partner Kent Steffes, said the sport is big enough to charge for all events.

Kiraly and Steffes, gold medalists in Atlanta, have won 10 AVP tournaments this year, including the last two.

Each has earned more than $2 million playing beach volleyball. This year, Kiraly has made $295,331, Steffes $240,831.

“In any sport you have to pay if you want to see the world’s best players, and this should be no exception,” Kiraly said during the Manhattan Beach Open.

Hermosa Beach city officials aren’t so sure beach volleyball falls into the same category as the NBA and major league baseball, but they’re willing to find out.

“How it turns out remains to be seen,” said Mary Rooney, Hermosa Beach assistant city manager.