Hope is held for Hermosa Open
Although the AVP has suspended its operations (see cover story), the president of the California Beach Volleyball Association believes the 41-year-old Hermosa Beach Open tournament will go on again next year. The CBVA serves as a feeder organization for the AVP.
CBVA President Chris Brown said he believes funding will be found to resurrect the AVP, which has produced the Hermosa Open for the past 26 years. If not, he said, the CBVA will put on the Hermosa Open. He stressed that the CBVA would not seek to replace the AVP, and wants to continue working with the AVP.
City officials in Hermosa Beach received word of the AVP’s suspended operations via email, along with a note thanking officials for all the good years.
“We had our normal AVP experience this year,” City Manager Steve Burrell said. “It’s too bad they can’t continue, they’ve been a big part of our community. Maybe they will have a rebirth.”
The AVP announcement also cancels an event that would have pitted U.S. and Chinese players on the Hermosa sands in September.
Carla Merriman, executive director of the Hermosa Beach Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau, said merchants and restaurateurs downtown and along Pier Avenue would miss the Hermosa Open if no other organization puts it on next year.
“An influx of people coming into town is always good, whether they buy yogurt or board shorts. It gives Hermosa exposure, they see what we have, and even if they don’t buy anything they might come back,” she said.
“We always lament it when an event is called off. We welcome well behaved, upscale visitors. It’s a perfect match for the business community,” Merriman said.
“It’s going to be a blow,” said Greg Newman, co-owner of Sharkeez restaurant.
He said business goes up about 30 percent during the three-day Hermosa Open.
“It’s going to hurt the businesses,” he said.
Kevin McCarthy, general manager of the Beach House hotel that lodges numerous AVP officials and players during the tourney, said the Open “definitely will be missed.”
“I think it’s one of the better events throughout the year in Hermosa,” he said. “Certainly I do hope that, sometime between now and forever, it gets get resolved, and they get adequate sponsors so the event can continue. It’s good for the town, good businesses, good for everybody.” ER