WALTER E. WASHINGTON CONVENTION CENTER TO HOST

Presidents Day Weekend is more than a holiday in Washington, DC, it’s also a major sports weekend for the thousands of young athletes participating in the 7th annual Capitol Hill Volleyball Classic at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center Feb. 16-18. With 738 teams and 30,000 daily spectators scheduled to attend, the event is estimated to generate more than $13.2 million in economic impact for the city.

This year’s field will feature participants from Asia for the first time as two teams from The Experimental High School in Beijing, China will compete. Overall, more than 10,000 girls between the ages of 10 and 18 will compete in seven age divisions.

“With a mission to maximize the economic productivity of the Convention Center, the remarkable growth of the Capitol Hill Volleyball Classic is the result of a collaboration that has made good business sense for the District,” said Gregory A. O’Dell, president & CEO of Events DC. “Due to the collective efforts of Events DC, Destination DC, the Greater Washington Sports Alliance and the Metro American Volleyball Club, the tournament has become an economic boost during a typically slow holiday weekend.”

For the first time in the tournament’s seven-year history, all five exhibit halls at the Convention Center will be activated. The competition has grown from 18 courts and 128,000 square feet of space in 2007, to 99 courts and 700,000 square feet of space today.

“The Capitol Hill Volleyball Classic has grown by double digits each year since 2007 and as a result has achieved citywide convention status with more than 9,150 total hotel room nights booked in 2013,” said Elliott L. Ferguson, president and CEO of Destination DC. “This event is a huge boost to our hotels, restaurants and attractions during the month of February, which is historically a slower visitation period.”

More than 30,000 people are expected to attend each day of the three-day tournament, including 200 collegiate volleyball coaches from around the world. Coaches, players, and fans alike will be able to visit the tournament marketplace throughout the weekend featuring major manufacturers, sponsors and vendors including Gatorade, Clean & Clear, Rox Volleyball, 1st Place Volleyball and Molten.

[$13.2 Million Economic Impact Expected from Thousands of Players and Attendees]

On Sunday, Feb. 17, attendees will be seeing pink at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center as the Capitol Hill Volleyball Classic partners once again with Dig Pink. This non-profit organization raises funds to build awareness and conduct research for breast cancer through the sport of volleyball. Sunday’s Dig Pink Day will encourage all teams to wear pink. For more information, please visit digpink.org.

The tournament begins at 9 a.m. each day. Daily tickets are $10 and weekend passes are $20. Tickets can be purchased at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. Weekend passes will be sold starting at 4 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 15. Daily tickets are valid on the day of purchase only, and will not be sold in advance.

Additionally, all players and attendees with a rubber bracelet with their group name are eligible for deals and discounts through Destination DC’s “Show Your Badge” program. Nearly 50 participating restaurants, attractions and other businesses will allow attendees to redeem a special, pre-determined offer throughout Presidents Day weekend. For more information, visit washington.org/showyourbadge.

For more information, please visit capitolhillvolleyball.com.



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