Beach volleyball fans were able to enjoy the 50th anniversary of the Manhattan Open event in Manhattan Beach, CA on August 21–22, 2010 despite the last minute cancellation by the Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP).
Long time sponsors and financial supporters announced a few weeks prior to the Manhattan Open that they were cutting the 2010 AVP Beach Volleyball season short due to financial distress. Without the AVP financial support of the event, high profile professional beach volleyball players did not participate in the 2010 Manhattan Open event.
The Manhattan Beach Open final results included a repeat winner with a new partner due to many AVP players protesting the tournament.
Manhattan Open Displays Old School Beach Volleyball Competition
When the AVP announced they were unable to support the 50th anniversary of the Manhattan Open due to the AVP's financial hardship, local associations stepped in to save the event. The Manhattan Beach Parks and Recreation Department, along with the California Beach Volleyball Association, worked with local organizers and sponsors to hold the longstanding Manhattan Open beach volleyball competition.
The absence of the AVP and national sponsors gave local beach volleyball fans an opportunity to attend the Manhattan Beach Open for free – even for court-side seating. The competition also relaxed some AVP regulations by returning to a sideout scoring system and a larger court size.
Many Manhattan Open fans felt the event was reminiscent of “old school” beach volleyball events prior to the commercialization of beach volleyball that began with the creation of the Association of Volleyball Professionals in 1983. Without the grandstand seating, beach fencing, television coverage and national sponsors, the Manhattan Beach Open was nostalgic of the old days of a big beach party event. The event was a welcome return to the culture of beach volleyball.
Top AVP Beach Volleyball Professionals Absent from Manhattan Open
Many AVP players like Todd Rogers, Phil Dalhausser, Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh opted not to play at the 2010 Manhattan Beach Open without the AVP support.
When the AVP recently ran out of money and canceled the 2010 pro beach volleyball tour, some professional players have now begun to focus energy entirely on paying oversees competitions such as the FIVB circuit. Other top AVP beach volleyball players also decided to protest the Manhattan Beach event in opposition of reverting to old rules of the tournament with the larger court size, sideout scoring and one game to 15 points.
Sean Rosenthal was the most notable AVP player to compete in the Manhattan Open, partnering up with Aaron Wachtfogel. Rosenthal’s usual partner, Jake Gibb, was among AVP players boycotting the event.
Rosenthal/Wachtfogel and Hunkus/Lowe Win 2010 Manhattan Open Titles
The duo of Sean Rosenthal and Aaron Wachtfogel won the men’s title at the 2010 Manhattan Open beach volleyball competition. Playing in their first tournament together, Rosenthal and Wachtfogel easily beat Dana Comacho and Billy Strickland in the final with an impressive score of 15-4. Rosenthal won the Manhattan Open title last year on the AVP tour with his usual partner Jake Gibb.
The women’s Manhattan Open competition title was won by Tealle Hunkus and Heather Lowe, who beat Kathryn Babcock and Erin Gray 15-11 in the final match for women.
Each winning duo split a prize of $4,000 in this year’s Manhattan Open event. The prize money was a dramatic drop from the typical $20,000 first place prize money won under the AVP pro beach tour. However, each winner will be commemorated at the Manhattan Beach pier trophy with past winners of the 50 year Manhattan Beach Open event.
Sources: AVP.com, Universal Sports
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Diane Seltzer - Diane is a branding, pr and social media marketer with experience ranging from advertising to corporate marketing and consulting.
