Year-round, Huntington Beach, California, is a popular place to play or watch beach volleyball. But this month, you can watch top-level players in action for free. The coastal SoCal city is expecting more than 15,000 spectators to roll through between May 19-21 for the three-day Pro Series Huntington Beach Open.
The Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP) is hosting an exciting 11-stop schedule. The series opened last month in New Orleans, and it closes in October in Laguna Beach, California. Huntington Beach is the second place the series touches down. This year, the schedule includes beach towns like Virginia Beach, Virginia, Hermosa Beach, California, and Manhattan Beach, California.
Competitions will also happen in non-beach cities, such as Denver, Atlanta, and Waupaca, Wisconsin. Professional players compete in three categories, the Pro Series, Gold Series, and the Open Series. Gold Series players are at the highest level and compete for the largest purse.
“We are looking forward to hosting the 2023 Huntington Beach Open,” Kelly Miller, president & CEO of Visit Huntington Beach, told Outdoors Wire. “Since 2000, Huntington Beach has been a staple on the AVP tour schedule, and with good reason. Our wide beaches, pristine volleyball courts, and extensive selection of hotels, shopping, and dining make us a favorite for athletes and spectators alike. We look forward to continuing the beach volleyball tradition, and wish all of the athletes the best of luck in the competition!”
All Huntington Beach AVP events are free to attend. Spectators should arrive early if they want a good spot. People interested in VIP packages can buy tickets here. The AVP Pro Huntington Beach Open stadium accommodates approximately 1,200 people. Officials expect about 5,000 spectators to come through the event each day.
Huntington Beach, aka Surf City, has many beaches along 10 miles of coastline. Throughout the year, organized tournaments and training camps for non-professional players pop up along Huntington Beach’s coastline. It’s a popular place for pro beach volleyball players to train. Huntington Beach will also host the NCAA Women’s Beach Volleyball National Championships in 2025 and 2026.