COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (March 5, 2019) – USA Volleyball is proud to announce Dallas, Minneapolis and Reno, Nevada, as host cities for three of its signature national championships being held in 2020.
- 2020 USA Volleyball Open National Championships (Opens): May 22-27 in Minneapolis, Minnesota
- 2020 USA Volleyball Girls’ Junior National Championships (GJNC): June 25-July 4 in Dallas, Texas
- 2020 USA Volleyball Boys’ Junior National Championships (BJNC): June 27-July 4 in Reno, Nevada
Cities for the 2020 USA Volleyball Girls’ 18s Junior National Championships and the 2020 USA Volleyball High Performance Championships will be announced later this year.
GJNC in Dallas
Dallas will host the 2020 USA Volleyball Girls’ Junior National Championships (GJNC) June 25 to July 4 at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Dallas. This marks the fourth time Dallas has hosted the GJNC with previous events held in 1998, 2008 and 2013.
The 41st annual GJNC is expected to draw upwards to 1,320 teams and 13,500 athletes plus their families to Dallas in 2020 spanning age divisions from 11-and-under to 17-and-under in 27 championship brackets.
“We are thrilled to bring our Girls’ Junior National Championships to Dallas in 2020,” USA Volleyball Director of Events Kristy Cox said. “Dallas has a long history of hosting successful USA Volleyball events, including the GJNC in 1998 and 2008. Dallas continually welcomes our participants with open arms, providing a lasting and memorable experience for the players and their families.”
Dallas has served as a tremendous host city partner of many past USA Volleyball events. The USA Volleyball Boys’ Junior National Championships were also staged in Dallas in 1998, 2012 and 2016, and is slated to host the event in 2019. The USA Volleyball Open National Championships have been held in Dallas five times (1960, 1996, 2002, 2011 and 2018). Further, Dallas was host to the USA Volleyball Girls’ 18s Junior National Championships in 2017 and returns in 2019. Dallas has hosted two weekends of the FIVB World League as the U.S. Men’s National Team hosted Italy, France and Korea in 2012 followed by Russia, Australia and Bulgaria earlier this summer.
“Volleyball has become a staple in Dallas and we are honored to host the prestigious 2020 USA Volleyball Girls’ Junior National Championships,” Dallas Sports Commission Executive Director Monica Paul said. “We look forward to welcoming all of our USA Volleyball friends and families back to Dallas in 2020 where Big Wins Happen and our Texas hospitality shines true.”
BJNC in Reno, Nevada
Reno will host the 2020 USA Volleyball Boys’ Junior National Championships June 27 to July 4 at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center. Reno has previously held the BJNC in 2000 and 2013.
The 41st annual BJNC is likely to have nearly 550 teams and 6,000 athletes playing in Reno in 2020. A total of 15 championships will be decided in age groups from 12-and-under to 18-and-under.
“We are excited to have Reno as a host partner for the 2020 USA Volleyball Boys’ Junior National Championships,” Cox said. “Reno recently hosted the 2013 BJNC that generated lots of positive feedback from the participants and their families, and we are looking forward to an even better event in 2020 as boys volleyball continues to grow.”
Reno has also served as host city for the 2010 GJNC, as well as the Opens in 1975 and 1992. The city has also been a destination for international matches as the U.S. Men’s National Team hosted a weekend of the 2013 FIVB World League in Reno along with the 2015 Pan American Cup.
“The Reno Tahoe community is excited for the return of USA Volleyball Boys’ Junior Nationals,” Reno-Sparks Convention & Visitors Authority Director of Sports Development Shelli Fine said. “This destination has been home to regional, national and international volleyball tournaments for decades, and we could not be more proud to welcome USA Volleyball back to northern Nevada.”
Opens in Minneapolis
Minneapolis will host the 2020 USA Volleyball Open National Championships May 22-27 at the Minneapolis Convention Center. In addition, USA Volleyball will hold its Annual Meetings in Minneapolis May 18-21.
The Open, formed in 1928 and run annually except two years due to World War II, will be in its 91st edition when it returns to Minneapolis in 2020. The Open typically draws in excess of 500 teams with 6,000-plus players converging on the host city. Players range in age from 18 to 80-plus with the oldest age division being the Men’s 79-and-Over bracket.
“Minneapolis has been a great destination for USA Volleyball events and our national championships,” Cox said. “The city and venue have been adept at exceeding the needs of our participants, including the diverse Open Nationals that has an age range from 18 to well into their 80s. We are excited to have Minneapolis hosting our Opens Nationals and Annual Meetings in 2020.”
Minneapolis has become a consistent hosting partner of USA Volleyball events, both in domestic and international competitions with nine competitions since 2003 arriving in Minneapolis. Minneapolis has hosted the Opens in 1945, 2003, 2009 and 2017. The USA Volleyball Girls’ Junior National Championships has been held in Minneapolis three times previously in 2007, 2014 and 2017. The 2017 GJNC economic impact was estimated at $50 million. Further, the USA Volleyball Boys’ Junior National Championships have been contested at the Minneapolis Convention Center in 2006 and 2011. Minneapolis also hosted two FIVB World League matches in 2006.
“We greatly appreciate the trust USA Volleyball has placed in us, and we’re extremely pleased to be hosting the championships once again,” Sports Minneapolis Executive Director Melvin Tennant said. “While in Minneapolis, we know that athletes and fans, alike, will enjoy our active and walkable downtown. We also hope they’ll have an opportunity to explore all this city has to offer, in their free time.”