El Segundo, CA (May 31, 2001) - Super Agent Leonard Armato and his company
Management Plus have acquired the Association of Volleyball Professionals
(AVP) and will unite the world's best men's and women's professional beach
volleyball players under one umbrella organization that hits the beach June
8th as part of the Mervyn's Beach Bash at Hermosa Beach, Calif.
With this historic unification of the men's and women's competition, the 2001
AVP Tour will be able to capitalize on having one property that can maximize
sponsor dollars, marketing opportunities, media coverage and prize money.
The AVP will now stand alone as the only professional beach volleyball tour
in the country. It will follow the regulations set forth by USA Volleyball
and the Federation International de Volleyball (FIVB) and will allow its
players to compete in official tournaments en route to the 2004 Olympics.
"I am thrilled to be back on the beach and have this opportunity to help
rebuild a sport that I have such a passion for and believe in so strongly,"
said Armato, CEO of Management Plus, who actually founded the AVP and served
as its executive director in the 80's. Under his initial leadership, the AVP
developed into a national professional league, attracting major sponsors and
national television exposure along with increases in player prize money.
His involvement is expected to give the sport a much-needed boost following a
number of lackluster seasons. "Beach volleyball is an extremely exciting
spectator sport and enjoyed tremendous success following its debut as an
Olympic sport in 1996," said Armato. "Beach volleyball was the hottest ticket
at the 2000 Sydney games and has recently been declared a permanent Olympic
sport. We want to make sure to keep the momentum going for the sport in the
United States."
Top players who have signed four-year commitment contracts include Olympic
gold medalist Karch Kiraly, along with Olympians Sinjin Smith, Rob Heidger,
Carl Henkel, Dax Holdren, Todd Rogers, Canyon Ceman and Kevin Wong. Female
stars include Olympians Holly McPeak and Barbra Fontana along with Elaine
Youngs and Lisa Arce.
The 2001 AVP Tour will kick off its eight-tournament season June 8-10 at
Hermosa Beach, Calif and will include stops in Huntington Beach, Calif. (June
15-17), Muskegon, Mich. (July 13-15), Belmar, N.J. (July 20-22), Virginia
Beach, VA. (July 27-29), Santa Barbara, Calif. (Aug 17-19), Manhattan Beach,
Calif. (Aug 24-26) and will conclude in Las Vegas (Sept 7-9) with the King
and Queen of the Beach tournament. All tournaments will be televised on a
delayed basis on Fox Sports Net.
Total prize money for the 2001 season is nearly $1 million with individual
tournament purses for both men and women ranging from $62,500 to $150,000.
Sponsors for the 2001 AVP Tour include Michelob Light, Paul Mitchell Systems,
Speedo, Sunkist and Wilson, who will provide the official ball.
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