No New Frills at Manhattan Beach Open

Beach volleyball players have long recognized the Manhattan Beach Open as the top event on the Assn. of Volleyball Professionals Nissan Series and fans of the sport hold the tournament in high regard.

But what the so-called “Wimbledon of Beach Volleyball” needs to attain true major championship status is growth, something the AVP tour has been pushing for, but city of Manhattan Beach officials have met with lukewarm enthusiasm.

In negotiations with the city for this year’s tournament, AVP Commissioner Leonard Armato requested that the city allow additional bleacher seating, a VIP entertainment area that would include alcohol service -- a toned-down version of a luxury box -- and dates over Labor Day weekend so that NBC could televise the event in the wake of the Olympics.

Instead, the tournament will take place today and Sunday, be broadcast on Fox Sports Net and will have no alcohol service in its VIP area. There will be some additional bleachers on the pier but not as many as the tour hoped.

What it all means is that while the Manhattan Beach Open is a major championship in the minds of many, it resembles any other AVP tournament.

But the Manhattan Beach Open remains the longest-running professional beach volleyball tournament in the country.

“I grew up in Manhattan and all I ever wanted to do was win that tournament,” said Eric Fonoimoana, who won a beach volleyball gold medal in the 2000 Olympics and last year won the tournament with partner Kevin Wong. “I always think that it is the major tournament. But is it going to get bigger? That remains to be seen.”

The tour wanted to construct larger bleachers surrounding center court, but a municipal code restricts the height of structures on the beach and another forbids obstructing beach views from the coastline bike path and pier. So only two sides of the court will have seating, and there will be about 1,500 fewer seats than Armato requested.

The alcohol service was rejected because of a state law that forbids alcohol on beaches. Armato also requested permission to put on a fireworks show, put a beer garden on the pier and hang promotional banners around the city 30 days in advance of the tournament. All were rejected by the Manhattan Beach City Council.

He also asked for a multiyear deal between the city and the tournament, but the city would not agree to it without a cancellation clause, so the biggest tournament in beach volleyball remains on a year-to-year contract.

“We do not see any value in a multiyear agreement,” Manhattan Beach City Manager Geoff Dolan wrote in a letter to Armato last November. “An annual review gives both parties the opportunity to consider necessary or desired modifications.”

The Manhattan Beach Open traditionally is played the second weekend in August, but it was moved this year to avoid conflict with the Athens Olympics.

Armato pushed hard for Labor Day weekend, mostly so the tournament could be shown on NBC, but Manhattan Beach officials feared an already crowded holiday weekend at the beach might get out of control with the added activity.

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Manhattan Beach Open

* Where: Manhattan Beach Pier.

* When: Main draw, today-Sunday, matches begin at 9 a.m. Women’s final, Sunday, 2:30 p.m.; men’s final, Sunday, 4 p.m.

* TV: Fox Sports Net, Sunday.