Manhattan Beach extends Six-Man registration
The 50th annual Charlie Saikley Six-Man Volleyball Tournament attracted an estimated 60-to-65,000 people, according to the Manhattan Beach Police Department. Photo by Alene Tchekmedyian
On Tuesday, the Manhattan Beach City Council extended the team registration for the Charlie Saikley Six Man Volleyball Tournament until June 15 with the hopes of attracting more players and teams to sign up.
Seventy-seven teams had registered as of Tuesday’s meeting, according to Recreation Services Manager Mark Leyman. Registration fees have generated about $69,000 to cover the $160,000 in operational costs to put on the event. Tournament organizers are confident that with the extension, at least 10 more teams will sign up.
Last year, 121 teams signed up, compared to 134 the year before. Prior to that, more than 200 teams usually signed up each year, Leyman said.
The budgeted operational costs are based on last year’s final costs, which included police and fire department staff, private security and public works staffing.
In November, the council agreed to hold the event mid-week – July 31 and August 1 – and now anticipates a decrease in crowds. If the crowd isn’t as rowdy as it’s been in past years, staffing levels can be reduced during the event to save costs, city officials said.
Since there’s no data to prove crowds will decrease, however, police are preparing and planning to provide the same amount of security as was provided last year. “It’s always better for public safety to fully support rather than understaff. Understaffing is really a concern for me,” said Manhattan Beach Police Chief Eve Irvine. “Shame on me if I say we’re not staffing based on something we don’t have knowledge of.”
At the meeting, Scott Hubbell pledged $50,000 in scholarships on behalf of his company, BeachSport.org. The contribution would bring the shortfall in operational costs down to about $40,000. “This is your event,” Hubbell told the council. “My job is to help you fund it.”
The Council agreed that, in the worst case scenario, the $40,000 is a cost it would be willing to absorb to continue the tournament tradition. “It is going to happen,” Mayor Nick Tell said, about the tournament.
To register for the tournament, visit www.citymb.info.