From SoCal to the Southeast: Relocating NCAA's Beach Volleyball Championships | Sports Destination Management

From SoCal to the Southeast: Relocating NCAA's Beach Volleyball Championships

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Jan 31, 2025 | By: Mary Helen Sprecher

All photos courtesy of Gulf Shores | Orange Beach Sports & Events

As the fires in Southern California raged on, officials at NCAA knew they had to make a decision: Where to relocate the wildly popular beach volleyball championships, scheduled for Huntington Beach. The clock was ticking on the spring event and much needed to be done.

The organization’s call to Gulf Shores resulted in a fast mobilization in time to host the May 2-4 event. Here’s the backstory behind the headlines.

How Gulf Shores is Stepping Up to Host NCAA Beach Volleyball in Wake of SoCal FiresAccording to NCAA, the decision to move the championship was a mutual one between the NCAA and the Orange County Sports Commission, which collaborated with host school Long Beach State to make Huntington Beach's championship host bid. And with resources in the area being devoted to housing displaced individuals, as well as first responders, moving the championship just made sense.

“In light of the ongoing recovery efforts approximately 50 miles up north in Los Angeles County, our focus is currently on ensuring hotel rooms and other resources remain focused on supporting those in need,” Orange County Sports Commission Executive Director Anthony Brenneman said.

Gulf Shores has hosted the event since the inaugural tournament in 2016 and has become a mecca for beach volleyball events, making it a natural choice. And when the call came in, Gulf Shores was ready.

“We were first contacted about the possibility of Alabama's Beaches Sports & Events hosting the event in late January,” notes Michelle Russ, STS, TMP, vice president of sales, sports and events at Alabama's Beaches Sports & Events. “Fortunately, we did not have a conflicting event on the beach at the same time.”

It took approximately two weeks to put all the moving parts into place. Stepping into the shoes of Huntington Beach was easier for Gulf Shores than it might have been for other coastal destinations.

“Historical knowledge of the event is certainly on our side to execute an NCAA-caliber event at a comparable level to 2024,” says Russ. “

How Gulf Shores is Stepping Up to Host NCAA Beach Volleyball in Wake of SoCal FiresThe event, she adds, has continued to grow through its years at the site. In 2024, the total revenue was $325,416 (a 20.29 percent increase over 2023), and the 2024 attendance across all three days was 12,769 (an 8.9 percent increase over 2023).

Worth noting: The event started out as a championship run by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA). It was added to the NCAA’s list of Emerging Sports for Women and rocketed through the program in record time. Now, it is a nationally televised event with a strong following.

As an NCAA championship, the event was named a winner in the inaugural edition of  SDM’s awards program, Champions of Economic impact in Sports Tourism, where it posted 1,108 room nights and a $1.2 million economic impact. It has grown explosively since that time.

Gulf Shores even has another beach event on its calendar; Russ notes the AVCA 2025 Small College Beach Volleyball Championship will be held there from April 17-19.

In the meantime, she adds, “All the prep [for NCAA] needs to take place, including infrastructure/site planning, travel party accommodations, ancillary event planning, marketing deployment and ticketing.”

How Gulf Shores is Stepping Up to Host NCAA Beach Volleyball in Wake of SoCal FiresWhat has also helped: A positive mindset on the part of the Alabama's Beaches Sports & Events staff.

“Rather than the shift being a challenge, it's an opportunity for a bonus year with this championship we have dedicated tremendous time and resources to for nearly 10 years,” adds Russ. “We are blessed to have a supportive community along Alabama's Beaches and host institution with the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) to pull it off successfully.”

In fact, she notes, “Our first step to determine if we could host was to call our partners to ensure their support. UAB, the City of Gulf Shores and the Hangout Hospitality Group and countless others were all on board to make this championship relocation happen.”

The hosting population in Gulf Shores is all in on the event, and ready to provide a seamless transition for NCAA, its student athletes and officials.

How Gulf Shores is Stepping Up to Host NCAA Beach Volleyball in Wake of SoCal Fires"We are fortunate to have an alternative site in Gulf Shores that beach volleyball student-athletes, coaches and fans are familiar with," said Ashley Armstrong, NCAA Women's Beach Volleyball Committee chair and deputy athletics director at Loyola Marymount University. "Relocating the championship is in the best interest for all involved."

"When we were approached about this opportunity, we felt confident that we could provide a similar championship experience as in past years," said Beth Gendler, president and CEO of Alabama's Beaches Sports & Events. "Our community is excited to have the NCAA Beach Volleyball Championship return to Gulf Shores."

Last month, it was announced that the National Collegiate Beach Volleyball Championship would be held in Gulf Shores from 2027 to 2031. Capital improvements for these years include the addition of spectator stadium seating and additional hospitality space, with continued support and upgrades to the television compound. Alabama Beaches Sports & Events also has committed to enhancing marketing resources and elevating the student-athlete experience.

How Gulf Shores is Stepping Up to Host NCAA Beach Volleyball in Wake of SoCal FiresHuntington Beach is scheduled to host the 2026 championship.

"Orange County is proud to host the future championship at Huntington Beach, with its world-famous backdrop, which will provide an unparalleled experience for the athletes, coaches and fans," Brenneman said. "We look forward to showing the NCAA beach volleyball community a positive championship experience."

In the meantime, says Russ, all the Southeast can do is hope and pray for its West Coast colleagues as they struggle through the devastation caused by the fires. 

“Our hearts are with our Pacific Coast counterparts during this unbelievably trying time for the region. We have had to overcome natural disasters, so we certainly empathize and wish them the best.”

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