For Immediate Release
Date: May 31, 2006

Mason’s “Largest Sandbox” Prepared For Season-Ending Championship

Trucks hauling in sand this week signals the return of the 2006 AVP Cincinnati Open

CINCINNATI (OH) FORE! Through the Kings Island Golf Center the rumble that can be heard this week at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio, means only two things: tons of new sand is being hauled in by huge 18 wheeler tractor-trailers signaling that the 2006 AVP Cincinnati Open presented by Liftoff is approaching quickly.

The AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour returns over Labor Day weekend Aug. 31-Sept. 3 for the prestigious season-ending finale of the AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Championship Series. 

Materials being transported in this year will add to the existing stockpile of approximately 8,000 tons of sand that was hauled in by 300 plus tractor-trailers for last year’s event that helped transform the Tennis Center into the world’s largest beach without any water!  Most of the sand has been stored about 50 feet away from center court in a “sandbox” the size of a football field.

High-quality “Caribbean” sand as bright as the beaches at Nassau will be used on all eight championship courts this year.

“We had to actually go out and map out a new road that went through the Bruin Executive 18-hole golf course” said Bob Slattery, CEO of Reach Event Marketing.

“The road was cut close to the tees to avoid damaging the fairways and through out-of- bounds areas so as to not interfere with play.”

Tickets

Tickets for this year’s event can be purchased through mustseeavp.com, Tickets.com, and at all Meijer store locations in Cincinnati, Louisville, Lexington, Dayton and Columbus. Prices start at $18 per session for general admission, $28 for a reserved box seat and $75 for VIP tickets. Group block areas are also available.

Sessions

Thursday Aug. 31 – 8 a.m.-6 p.m. (Qualifiers- free to all)

Friday Sept. 1 - Session 1 - 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. (Men and Women all day playing)

Friday Sept. 1 - Session 2- 7:30 p.m. -10 p.m. (Men and Women playing)

Saturday Sept. 2 - Session 3 - 9:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. (Men and Women playing, but Men's Final live on NBC from 4:30 p.m. - 6 p.m.)

Saturday Sept. 2 - Session 4 - 7:30 p.m. -10 p.m. (Women only playing)

Sunday Sept. 3 - Session 5 - 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. (Women only playing with Women's Final on NBC live from 1:30-3pm)

About the AVP

Organized in 1983, the AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour is the most popular and respected beach volleyball organization in the world. Featuring more than 150 of the top American men and women competitors in the sport, the AVP stages events throughout the United States. All tournaments are televised live (or same day) on either Fox Sports Net or NBC Sports. Pro beach volleyball is one of the most exciting and fastest growing sports on the planet. In 2004, AVP athletes successfully represented the USA during the Olympics in Athens, Greece by bringing back a gold and bronze medal - the first-ever won by U.S. women.

For more information and updates on the 2006 AVP Cincinnati Open throughout the summer visit www.mustseeavp.com.

Contacts

For ticket inquiries, sponsorships and additional event information:
Mario Cicchinelli (513)794.4174 mario@reachusa.com

Jennifer Carroll-Frost (513) 794-4172, jcarroll@reachusa.com

Brad McCoy (513)794-4173, bmccoy@reachusa.com

For media inquiries:
Ed Letsinger (513) 794.4177, eletsinger@reachusa.com

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