From our friends at Events DC...
Over 800 Teams, College Scouts and 30,000 Daily Attendees Expected Throughout Weekend
Presidents’ Day Weekend is more than a holiday in Washington, DC; it’s also a major sports weekend for the thousands of young athletes participating in the 8th annual Capitol Hill Volleyball Classic at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center Feb. 15-17. With 824 teams and 30,000 daily spectators scheduled to attend, the event is estimated to generate more than $9.4 million in economic impact for the city. Overall, more than 10,000 girls between the ages of 10 and 18 will compete in seven age divisions.
“We’ve hosted this tournament from the beginning when the girls’ volleyball coach walked in with an idea for an event, and now it’s grown into a full building show,” said Gregory A. O’Dell, president & CEO of Events DC. “This tournament has become not only an economic boost during a typically slow holiday weekend, but also an annual recruiting stop for top college coaches from around the country. We applaud the Metro American Volleyball Club for their efforts in growing this event into one of the top tournaments in the nation.”
This year the competition space at the Convention Center is expanded to include all five Exhibit Halls and the Ballroom. The competition has grown from 18 courts the first year to 111 courts and 750,000 square feet of space today.
“The Capitol Hill Volleyball Classic has grown by close to 100 teams each year since 2007 and as a result has achieved citywide convention status with more than 9,150 total hotel room nights booked in 2013,” said Elliott L. Ferguson, president and CEO of Destination DC. “Because this popular tournament features young athletes and DC is an attractive family destination, this event sees many families making an extended stay of their visit and exploring the city during and after the tournament, and this is a great thing for our hotels, restaurants and attractions.”
In addition to the 30,000 people expected to attend each day of the three-day tournament, the event also hosts 200 collegiate volleyball coaches from around the world. Coaches, players, and fans alike will be able to visit the tournament marketplace throughout the weekend featuring major manufacturers, sponsors and vendors including ASICS, Gatorade, Clean & Clear and numerous others.
“The remarkable growth of the Capitol Hill Volleyball Classic is the result of a collaboration that makes good business sense for the District, and provides great entertainment value for a dedicated fanbase,” added O’Dell. “This is consistent with our goal of generating economic and community benefits for the city.”
On Sunday, Feb. 16, attendees will be seeing pink at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center as the Capitol Hill Volleyball Classic partners once again with Washington, DC-based Dig Pink. This non-profit organization is celebrating 10 years of raising funds to build awareness and conduct research for breast cancer through the sport of volleyball. Dig Pink’s first event 10 years ago was Capitol Hill Classic. Sunday’s Dig Pink Day will encourage all teams to wear pink. For more information, please visit digpink.org.
The tournament begins at 9 a.m. each day. Daily tickets are $10 and weekend passes are $25. Tickets can be purchased at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center or online. Weekend passes will be sold starting at 5 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 14. Daily tickets are valid on the day of purchase only, and will not be sold in advance.
Additionally, all players and attendees with a rubber bracelet with their group name are eligible for deals and discounts through Destination DC’s “Show Your Badge” program. Nearly 50 participating restaurants, attractions and other businesses will allow attendees to redeem a special, pre-determined offer throughout Presidents’ Day weekend. For more information, visit washington.org/showyourbadge.
Media is welcome to attend the three-day event which showcases some of the best youth volleyball players in the nation’s capital and beyond.
For more information, please visit capitolhillvolleyball.com.
About Events DC:
Events DC, the official convention and sports authority for the District of Columbia, delivers 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 the historic Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium and surrounding Festival Grounds, and the non-military functions of the DC Armory. Events DC also built and now serves as landlord for Nationals Park, the first LEED-certified major professional sports stadium in the United States. For more information, please visit www.eventsdc.com.
