Hosting FIVB vs AVP

[guest2]

This may have been discussed somewhere else but I was wondering why a promoter would work with the FIVB as opposed to the AVP.

Assume for a second that the AVP will guarantee all the top US stars, wouldnt it make more sense for the promoters to spend less and bring in the AVP? Are there fans who will go to an FIVB event but not an AVP? That doesnt seem right if the advertising outlay and other event stuff is the same

[stormdb]

From a pure fan experience, I ike both the AVP and FIVB events for different reasons. Last year I attended my first FIVB event - the St. Petersburg Grandslam put on by the AVP. I really enjoyed seeing and learning the international players and rooting for the U.S. teams. On the AVP tour, I am often a fan of both teams, and not quite so vociferous in cheering for any one team. It's nice to have a team to really root for on the FIVB tour.

That said, I am a fan of beach volleyball, and love seeing the many U.S. teams on the AVP tour, not just the few who make the main draw on a FIVB stop.

I'm headed to the FIVB Cincinatti Open put on by the AVP this year. Last year, in addition to the St. Pete GS, my wife and I also went to NY for the AVP tour. I won't be going back this year. I know they got a lot of foot traffic and the stop seemed to do well, but it was just not that fun for me as a fan -- the three side courts were in a "cage," and there was no room to really sit or even stand with a good view. The center court bleachers were small, no end seating and all on concrete. I support the AVP in what it does, but the experience in NY was nowhere near the effort and cost of travel, hotel, etc. I wish they would go back to Belmar or some other real beach for the east coast slot, but I understand that getting foot traffic or the casual observer to drop in is much harder at a real beach.

[johnbar]

I don't know, but maybe the FIVB tour has more/better sponsors signed up, so yo don't need to chase the money yourself?
Or do they both depend more on local sponsors?

[volleyballjim]

After 3 trips to the FIVB Long Beach here is my take: FIVB is much higher level, but at a fan level, its not that apparent (at their level AVP and FIVB look spectacular on play). AVP has a more "local" feel, the kind of place you want your friends to join you; FIVB is more clinical

but MUCH more well orchestrated (READ: Money)....I still prefer an AVP event over an FIVB mainly because of name recognition. You just don't really know the international pros like you do the long list of domestic players. As I've always said, I'd rather watch a T-ball game if I know 1/2 the kids than a major league game...(YES, I DO get it guys, the type of play is not comparable but if you don't know anybody, it just doesn't work for the average fan)...

[johnbar]

Good point, VBJim. The FIVB events are very well run, but I, too, like an event where I recognize more than a handful of players.

But this doesn't really address Guest2's question. Why would a promoter prefer to put on an FIVB event rather than AVP?

[gr8ful]

It's all about the $$$$$$$$$$$

[johnbar]

The question is, whose money? Where is it coming from?
My guess was the FIVB sponsors, but that was just a guess.

[geddyleeridesagain]

I think hosting an FIVB event in an Olympic year (and to a lesser degree the run-up year, like 2015) is an attractive proposition for U.S. promoters, sponsors and TV execs. In off years, maybe not so much. But a couple of mitigating factors, perhaps: One, hosting a major or grand slam pretty much guarantees that the top U.S. teams - the ones with the most name recognition to the casual fan - will be there. That's a good thing. Two, hosting an international event broadens the pool of potential advertisers/sponsors beyond what an AVP event would draw.

I am curious about the rationale behind the upcoming event in Cincy, though. My understanding is that it's an Open, which usually means lower ranked teams. I'm guessing that something has been arranged so the likes of Kerri, April, Phil, Nick etal play in it. The local promoter in Cincy has been doing this a long time and ain't no fool.

Personally, I prefer FIVB events as a spectator - they're very well run and the quality of play from top to bottom is excellent. I remember going to an outer court in Long Beach last year and going all "holy s#@t" watching two teams I'd barely heard of put on an absolute show. Fun stuff.

[graham]

With there only being 3 Grand Slams before Olympic qualifying ends, Kerri, April, Phil and Nick HAVE to play in a couple Opens to meet the 12 tournament requirement. So there probably wasn't any need for a special arrangement to get them to participate in Cincy.