Some of the world’s best beach volleyball players are coming to Blackie’s Beach near the Newport Beach Pier this weekend for the fourth annual Hoag Newport Beach 4-Man Volleyball Invitational.
Organizers say the free, two-day event on Oct. 17 and 18 typically draws a few thousand spectators each day.
The tournament will feature Olympic athletes and professional beach volleyball stars, including Phil Dalhausser, Taylor and Trevor Crabb, Kristen Cruz and former NBA player turned beach volleyball pro Chase Budinger.
The tournament features a $200,000 prize purse split evenly between the men’s and women’s divisions, with each winning four-person team receiving $33,000.
Kevin Martin, a partner at Newport Beach-based Eagle Four Partners, and former professional volleyball player Steve Obradovich co-founded the tournament.
Martin said organizers are exploring additional international tournaments in Newport Beach to market the city as a volleyball destination ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
“Our goal is to promote Newport Beach as the home of volleyball for the Olympics,” Martin told the Business Journal.
