Manhattan Open Scales Back for 50th Anniversary

After AVP announced Friday that it withdrew its sponsorship for the Manhattan Beach Open, the city turned to J. Parker Saikley to run this year's tournament.

On Aug. 13, Manhattan Beach recreation services manager Idris Al-Oboudi told Patch the city might tap Saikley to run a pared-down version of the annual tournament. He is partnering with the California Beach Volleyball Association on the event.

Saikley said that the stripped-down mode of the tournament reverts the sport back to its roots.

"The tournament will be a classic format," Saikley said. "This is the Wimbledon of beach volleyball, and this year it's not about the prize money. This year, it's about the tournament enduring and the chance for winners to still get their name on the pier."

Courts will be more traditional, with the return of long court boundaries, side-out scoring and scores capped at 15, not 21, points. In previous years, AVP had adopted rally scoring and smaller courts to speed up game times for television-friendly play.

The event will feature less fanfare, Saikley said, without grandstands or stadium seating. Fans may get the chance to sit side-by-side with the players.

"The commercial aspect is removed, and it's all about the volleyball," Saikley said.

The tournament will be funded by charging main draw teams a $112 fee and $78 for qualifying teams, Saikley said.

Manhattan Beach has organized the Open for the last half-century. In 1988, AVP joined the city to help manage the games, until it canceled the rest of its summer season due to cited financial troubles.

The Manhattan Open, the only professional volleyball tournament that allows qualifying amateurs to place into the game, will begin Friday, Aug. 20 with single-elimination qualifying matches. Men's and women's teams that qualify for Saturday's main draw will be paired with the top 45 ranked AVP athletes.

Championship matches will take place Sunday.

Registration closes at noon on Thursday, Aug. 19 on the CBVA website.