From our friends at Events DC...
10th Annual Asics Capitol Hill Volleyball Classic Returns to DC with Record 1,000+ Teams, February 13-15
Largest Mid-Atlantic girls volleyball club team tournament is set to drive $19.2M economic impact in Washington, DC and spike visitation to 75,800 players and attendees
In 2016, the Presidents Day long weekend coincides with Valentine’s Day, an ideal time for more than 12,000 young female athletes who love volleyball to compete at the 10th annual Asics Capitol Hill Volleyball Classic. This tournament is pure girl power: more than 1,000 teams will play before 35,000 spectators inside the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.
The event and sports marketplace is expected to generate an economic impact of $19.2 million for Washington, DC, February 13-15, 2016.
“Events DC is honored to celebrate the monumental 10th anniversary of the Asics Capitol Hill Volleyball Classic Tournament at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center alongside our partner, Destination DC,” said Gregory A. O’Dell, president and chief executive officer of Events DC. “Over the past ten years, this annual three-day event has energized Washington, DC during a traditionally slow visitation season and has inspired spending across all corners of the city from retail to restaurants and attractions with steady growth resulting in a more than 650% attendance increase since the inaugural tournament in 2006. We applaud the tournament on their resounding success and this significant milestone. We look forward to their continued growth and visibility on a global platform.”
The tenth annual competition will take over all five Exhibit Halls and the Ballroom at the Convention Center. The 2007 tournament required 18 courts. The 2016 tournament will activate 120 courts hosting 3,600 matches overseen by 212 referees.
“By hosting more than 75,800 players, coaches, scouts, spectators and sponsors over three days, the Asics Capitol Hill Volleyball Classic achieves citywide convention status. The 2016 tournament is on track to book 27,653 total hotel room nights, creating a major impact in the city during the February need period,” said Elliott L. Ferguson, president and CEO of Destination DC, the official tourism and marketing office for the nation’s capital.
“Over the last decade, we’ve grown our team tournament from a small regional gathering into a must-attend national event filling a convention center. In 2016, our players will use 2,000 Molten volleyballs, wear 22,464 knee pads and consume 25,000 Gatorade Recovery Protein Shakes,” said Bonnie Goldberg, executive director for Capitol Hill Volleyball Classic. “The 2016 Capitol Hill Volley Classic is our tenth opportunity to thank the volleyball community who travel to Washington, DC for the love of the game.”
The tournament kick-starts DC’s calendar of family-friendly sporting events. Events including the 2016 Men’s Atlantic Coast Conference Basketball in Washington, DC, the inaugural DC Bike Ride and the 11th annual Events DC Nation’s Triathlon drive city revenue. “Many attendees extend their visit, making time to explore the capital between and after sporting activities, subsequently leaving a measurable impact on District hotels, restaurants and attractions,” said Ferguson.
The 10th anniversary tournament begins at 9 a.m. daily. Weekend passes are $40, $30 if purchased in advance; daily passes are $15. Tickets can be purchased at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center or online. Weekend passes will be sold onsite daily, starting at 5 PM on Friday, February 13.
About Events DC:
Events DC, the official convention and sports authority for the District of Columbia, deliver premier event services and flexible venues across the nation’s capital. Leveraging the power of a world-class destination and creating amazing attendee experiences, Events DC generates economic and community benefits through the attraction and promotion of business, athletic, entertainment and cultural activities. Events DC oversees the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, an anchor of the District’s hospitality and tourism economy that generates over $400 million annually in total economic impact, and the historic Carnegie Library at Mt. Vernon Square. Events DC manages the Stadium-Armory campus, which includes Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium and surrounding Festival Grounds, the non-military functions of the DC Armory and Maloof Skate Park at RFK Stadium. Events DC also built and now serves as landlord for Nationals Park, the first LEED-certified major professional sports stadium in the United States. The most recent addition is Gateway DC, an innovative and versatile space featuring a covered and open-air pavilion in the center of a 1-acre park, conveniently located in the Congress Heights neighborhood of Washington, DC. For more information, please visit www.eventsdc.com.
About Destination DC:
Destination DC, the lead destination marketing organization for the nation’s capital, is a private, non-profit membership organization of more than 850 businesses committed to marketing the area as a premier global convention, tourism and special events destination with a special emphasis on the arts, cultural and historic communities. For more information, please visit www.destinationdc.com.
