Before I begin, it is critical that I give credit to a resource I leaned on VERY heavily while putting this blog together. BVB Info, aka the Beach Volleyball Database, is the most complete, exhaustive history of the sport that exists anywhere in the world. I would STRONGLY recommend you to head over there and give it a look, if you haven’t already. Almost all of the data I compiled below was pulled from BVB Info. Alright, let’s go!

In 2022 and 2023, the AVP announced those season’s schedules on February 4th. If the AVP follows that pattern, we should know in less than a week what this season’s schedule will look like. It is likely that the “Heritage Series” (replaces and reportedly will expand the previously titled Gold Series) will be rolled out first, followed by more information about the league later this year. 

Since 2021, the “Gold Series” has consisted of 3 premiere events in Atlanta, Chicago, and Manhattan Beach, with a $300,000 prize purse for all three events the last two years. It is anticipated that the new Heritage Series will have at least two events in Southern California, likely the MBO and Huntington Beach. Chicago remains a staple, Atlanta is tapped to be replaced by Miami, and the remainder of the Heritage Series events (if any) are unknown.

Probably the best argument I’ve heard from anyone supporting the changes the AVP have announced comes from the SandCast pod, who relayed an anecdote from Riley (presumably McKibbon). According to Travis, the quote was, “If you do what you’ve always done you’re gonna get what you’ve always got.”

So what has the AVP “always done?” The AVP, founded in 1983 as a player’s union, started hosting its own events in 1984. The following year, in 1985, the AVP hosted 17 mens events (1 women’s event) and had a total prize purse of $275,000. The tour grew steadily both in total prize purse and number of events for the next few years until 1988 when they signed a huge deal with Miller Lite allocating $4.5 million in total prize money over the next three years. 

What followed next was the first heyday of the AVP. From 1988-1997, average total prize purse was around $3 million dollars, with 10+ events per year broadcast on NBC Sports to the world. Sinjin Smith and Randy Stoklos dominated. Karch leaves indoor for the sand in ’89 and teams up with Kent Steffes in 1990. The fans came out to the beach in droves, the sponsor dollars were rolling in, and everything seemed perfect.

In 1998, the bottom drops out. Years of mismanagement took its toll on the league, and sponsors began to drop off. Prize money dropped, and the league declared bankruptcy. Meanwhile, the leagues new operators transitioned the league from a player’s association to a for-profit league and Major League Volleyball purchased the AVP out of bankruptcy in 1999.

On May 31, 2001, the AVP is sold again, this time to Leonard Armato (best known at the time as NBA star Shaquille O’Neal’s agent) and his company Management Plus. This transaction becomes a transition point in the history of the league, and ultimately signals the start of the 2nd heyday of the AVP (2001-2008). Armato makes some waves, moving to the more television friendly rally scoring, smaller court, relaxed hand setting rules, and cooperation with the domestic Olympic qualification tour, the FIVB.

A note here, if you haven’t read Kings of Summer, you should. Travis Mewhirter and Kent Steffes wrote about the 1996 Olympics and the friction between the AVP and FIVB (Karch and Sinjin) that led to many of Armato’s changes noted above. It’s an excellent read and I highly recommend it.

From 2001-2008, the AVP saw its total prize purse inflate from $1.25M to $4.45M, and the total number of events more than double to 18 in 2008. Starting in 2002, men’s and women’s prize purses and number of events were equalized, and it remains that way today. Sinjin plays his last AVP event at Manhattan Beach Open (MBO) in 2001. Karch plays his last event in 2007 at AVP Seaside. Misty and Kerri seemingly win every tournament.

Then, in 2008, the housing market collapse hits beach volleyball, as it does just about every other industry. The number of events on the tour drops to 16 in 2008, then to 7 in 2009 before the league files for bankruptcy a second time in 2010 after playing just one tournament for a total prize purse of $20,000. The league is purchased out of bankruptcy in 2010 by DFA PVA II Partners, LLC, then sold again in 2012 to Donald Sun.

From 2013 to 2018, the tour was pretty flat. 7 or 8 events per year, average prize purse right at $1.075M. Then, in 2019, it looked like the league might be ready to take another step forward. Total prize purse jumped almost 40% to $1.8M. Then the world shut down. The 2019 Covid epidemic shut the door on any hopes of a 3rd AVP Heyday. 3 events in 2020 played in an empty stadium for a total prize purse of $600k. 

On July 13, 2021, the AVP was sold once again, this time to Casino group Bally’s Inc. This was followed by only 3 events in 2021 (Atlanta, Chicago, MBO) for a total purse of $650k. Most recently in 2022 and 2023, the AVP has organized a pre-pandemic number of events but not approached the total prize purse from 2019.

So here we are, a few days away from what we expect will be the announcement of the 2024 AVP season. In an Olympic year, with the whispers of a fall AVP league, how many events can we expect on this new “Heritage Series?” What should the average prize purse be for those tournaments? Would the AVP’s new management be wise, or foolhardy, to abandon a 40 year old, broken model of individual tournaments in favor of this new league format?

Personally, I like that they’re trying something new. I’m with Riley, and Travis, and Tri. “If you do what you’ve always done you’re gonna get what you’ve always got.” However, I also think the big money tournaments should always be a part of domestic beach volleyball culture. They should be, can be, big time standalone events, like the Masters, or Wimbledon. 

For this year, an Olympic-shortened year, I’m in favor of four tournaments in 2024, Manhattan Beach, Huntington, Miami, and Chicago. I’m in favor of a $250k prize purse per tournament for a total of $1M to be won in the Heritage Series. Then let’s see how this league plays out. Hopefully that 3rd AVP heyday is right around the corner. Talk to you next time.

Chris DeTurk- January 30, 2024