Sponsor Booths a Hit in Austin

Bill Kauffman
Manager, Media Relations and Publications
Phone: 719-228-6800
E-Mail: bill.kauffman@usav.org

AUSTIN, Texas (July 6, 2010) – Business has been good at the 31st Annual USA Volleyball Boys’ Junior National Championships that are being held July 2-9 at the Austin Convention Center in Texas.

While teams are competing for national titles with large crowds following the action from the convention center seats and live Internet broadcasts, USA Volleyball sponsors are enjoying the foot traffic into their booths during the eight-day tournament.

For Mizuno – USA Volleyball’s “Official Athletic Apparel and Footwear Supplier” – the booth has been picked over with many products selling at a rapid pace.

“The USA Volleyball authentic warm-up jacket has been selling fast, even in this Texas heat,” said Mizuno brand building specialist Jamil Mamdani. “We are out of backpacks and are down to one briefcase. For footwear, we are down to the last of our supply.”

According to Mamdani, the men’s Tornado Wave 5 has been the top selling shoe with its Infinity Wave Cushioning system. Knee pads and socks have also been in demand.

“Shoes always are in popular demand here at the (USA Volleyball Boys’ Junior National Championships) as well as the (USA Volleyball) Open National Championships for adults,” Mamdani said. “This is the destination for men’s players to find the shoe they want in the bigger sizes they want.”

Across the Austin Convention Center aisle from Mizuno is EM2, USA Volleyball’s “Official Event Merchandiser and Official Online Store,” is also seeing many items being sold at a rapid pace. They have even had additional supplies ordered during the week to meet the demand.

Among the EM2 top-sellers are the event’s T-shirt in size large and the official main shirt in the short sleeve and black color. Further, the Mizuno Prestige Drylite Event T-shirt is a hot purchase ticket.

“We are just having a good time with all the people coming in and buying stuff,” said EM2’s Maria Espinoza.

Copyrighted by USA Volleybal The USA Volleyball Boys' Junior National Championships arena court, one of 32 playing courts using exclusive Sport Court flooring system. USA Volleyball sponsor Sport Court is all over the Austin Convention Center – literally – with its 32 courts providing the playing surface for the 361 teams. However, its exhibit booth is also getting plenty of traffic.

“We have seen a lot of people from Southern California stop by the booth,” Sport Court distributor Greg Dettman said. “Many have been interested in building a volleyball facility and using Sport Court. Other people are exploring the idea of building a backyard volleyball court using Sport Court. And then you have some people who have concrete courts looking to upgrade to our service.”

While Mizuno and Sport Court are in vastly different product categories, they share many common ideas regarding the exhibiting of their products. Both companies see value in partnering with each other as a means to attract new business. For instance, the Mizuno booth flooring is not the concrete Austin Convention Center surface, but sections of Sport Court for purchases to walk on.

“Sport Court was nice enough to let us use its flooring surface, and it adds to the look of the booth,” Mamdani said. “Plus, it shows off volleyball.”

For Sport Court, it was an attractive way to couple the two products together.

“It is an opportunity to have more people see your product,” Sport Court Marketing Manager Jeff Morton said. “It is good to see others in the sport endorsing your product.”

Dettman added that it is a no-brainer to market Sport Court together with Mizuno.

“Why wouldn’t you want the No. 1 shoe in volleyball not being associated with the No. 1 flooring,” Dettman said. “It is a tremendous endorsement for both companies.”

USA Volleyball hosted a Sponsors Forum on June 30 at the USA Volleyball Girls’ Junior National Championships in Reno, Nev. One of the many ideas behind the meeting was to put sponsors together and discuss new ideas that can help both USA Volleyball and the sponsors while creating an overall marketing synergy for the sport.

To view teams competing in the event, schedules, brackets or results, click here.

USA Volleyball, in partnership with the United States Olympic Committee (USOC), will video stream three days worth of championship matches during the event. The broadcast schedule includes gold medal matches for Open and Club Divisions in 18s (July 5), 16s (July 6) and 15s (July 7) age groups. The streaming video can be accessed at usavolleyball.org/live.

For more information on the USA Volleyball Boys’ Junior National Championships, visit usavolleyball.org/events/2403.

2010 USA Volleyball Boys’ Junior National Championships Schedule
12 Club (July 2-4): Gold – Narajinto Envol (Puerto Rico); Silver – Vaqueros 12-1 (Puerto Rico); Bronze – Torrimar 12-2 (Puerto Rico)
13 Club: Cancelled due to limited team registrations
14 Club: July 5-8
14 Open: July 5-8
15 Club: July 4-7
15 Open: July 4-7
16 Club (July 3-6): Gold – Vaqueros 16-1 (Puerto Rico); Silver – San Gabriel 16 Black (Southern California); Bronze – Gigantes Carolina (Puerto Rico)
16 Open (July 3-6): Gold – West Allis Lighting B16 (Badger); Silver – Ultimate B16 Gold (Great Lakes); Bronze – Balboa Bay 16 Quiksilver (Southern California)
17 Club: July 6-9
17 Open: July 6-9
18 Club (July 2-5): Gold – High Line Volleyball Club 2009-2010 18B (Southern California); Silver – Seaside 18-Mikasa (Southern California); Bronze – Spectrum 18s (Southern California)
18 Open (July 2-5): Gold – Manhattan Beach Surf 18s; Silver – Outrigger 18 (Aloha); Bronze – Orange County Volleyball Club 18-1 (Southern California)

Tags: Mizuno, Sport Court, USA Volleyball Boys' Junior National Championships