Seating to Be Sold for Beach Volleyball Tournament

Manhattan Beach and the Assn. of Volleyball Professionals have agreed to allow paid seating at the annual Manhattan Open volleyball tournament, although the number of seats to be sold has not been determined.

Last summer, the promoter drew fire from residents and volleyball players by attempting to charge for all seats.

The city’s coastal plan limits the sale of seats to 25% of attendance, and a proposal to change that must be submitted to the California Coastal Commission.

In 1993, the promoter began charging for 25% of the available seating, but wanted to increase that number to cover costs. The 37-year-old tournament, run by AVP for the last 10 years, used to be free, and many residents and volleyball players want it to stay that way.

The City Council agreed Tuesday to draft a contract that would allow the promoter to charge for seating and relinquish the city’s role in helping to finance the event. The contract will specify that the tournament, which provides seating for about 6,000, can’t grow any larger and must give the city a percentage of the revenue.

“The issue of paid seating hasn’t been resolved yet,” said City Manager Geoff Dolan. “Some council members are prepared to see completely paid seating, others think it should be phased in over a couple of years. The details still have to be worked out.”

AVP officials have long claimed that if they do not charge admission, which ranges from $6 to $30, they cannot foot the bill for the nationally televised tournament. President Dan Vrebalovich said the agreement with the city is good news to the volleyball profession.

“This tournament is extremely important not only to the AVP, but to the sport of beach volleyball,” Vrebalovich said. “We liken it to what Wimbledon is to tennis. It’s very important for us to continue with the tradition of having this tournament.”

A grass-roots group started by Donley Falkenstein of Hermosa Beach collected more than 1,200 signatures and protested the Manhattan Open in addition to the AVP-sponsored Miller Lite U.S. Championships tournament held in Hermosa Beach in August when the promoter charged for all seating, which was allowed under the city’s coastal plan.

Falkenstein, 36, who grew up in Manhattan Beach, has contested the move. He is concerned that the promoter, which holds beach tournaments at throughout the summer, will limit access to the beach.

Vrebalovich contends that the beach is still open and that in order for the tournament to continue the organization has to charge for seats.

“If we do not charge for seating we would be bankrupt too quickly,” Vrebalovich said. “The tournament has grown and its too expensive to run it at the same level expected with charging. People pay money to see other kinds of entertainment like the movies and we’re charging a fair price.”