US Open of Beach Volleyball - Overview

The US Open of Beach Volleyball was created with the specific purpose of providing an opportunity for adult players to pursue a crowning achievement on a national stage. The sport continues to grow as demonstrated by the level of active participation found at the regional level. We see players actively participating on all four coasts and at unique and special centers throughout the interior of the United States.

Karch Kiraly is spearheading the development of the US Open. He is working with USA Volleyball and the Elevation Group, a sports and entertainment marketing firm managed by former IMG and ClearChannel/Live Nation executives, to professionally and successfully put on the program. However, the success of the program is also heavily dependent upon the support, advice and counsel of key influencers for the sport from around the country. The entrepreneurs and enthusiasts who run regional tours and tournaments have essentially been the backbone of beach volleyball for several decades. Many of them have been producing volleyball programming for their constituents for many, many years. At the press conference announcing the US Open on March 13, 2007, Karch rhetorically asked, “Where would we be without them?” as he called attention to the value these people have quietly provided. Please visit the Qualifier section of this website for a listing of these groups.

The success of the US Open is dependent upon two key ingredients – sponsorship and registration. Corona Extra has stepped up to be the presenting sponsor of the US Open. Beach volleyball is a lifestyle; if you play this game you already know that your participation and love for the game is a part of your life and the way you live it. The people that make Corona Extra think the same way. If you play this game, you also know that there are various skill levels and disciplines of the game. The US Open provides an arena for all of you. Two-person, Four-person, Men, Women, Co-ed, Novice to Expert AND two Masters divisions for both men and women – we have 18 divisions of play. The programming for the 3-day weekend is organized to provide as many opportunities for entry as possible. Please check out the schedule of events to see what we mean. If you have some ideas for improvement, let us know and send a message to – we think you will be surprised by how quickly you hear back from our “Open” minds.

We do not know what the future of this event will bring; however, we are committed to building it into something grand. It is scheduled a little late in the season, September 26-28, because of our respect for the regional tours and tournaments. Most of them conclude their seasons on or around Labor Day, so we wanted to leave a few weeks for people to plan and make travel arrangements. USA Volleyball is committed to the program because this is their mandate. Karch wants everyone to have the same opportunity to realize crowning achievements, just as he did. Corona is already planning for 2009 and beyond. The event will stay in Southern California, establish itself as the Opens in other sports have done, and perhaps one will need a helicopter in order to see the whole tournament at once, aside from beautiful Santa Barbara, in order to accommodate all of the participants.