FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Minneapolis hosts 2014 USA Volleyball Girls Junior National Championships

MINNEAPOLIS, June 25, 2014 The 2014 USA Volleyball Girls Junior National Championships (USAV GJNC) kicked off this week at the Minneapolis Convention Center. This event runs through July 3 and is one of the biggest events of the summer in Minneapolis. The tournaments bring in 12,000 athletes and 30,000 spectators who fill hotels, provide steady work for hospitality employees and generate increased tax revenue for the city.

The USA Volleyball Girls Junior National Championships displays the top talent from across the nation, attracting hundreds of college recruiters. The tournament awards 19 champions in age divisions ranging from 11 to 18.

The event will make an economic impact of $60 million in the metropolitan area with $2 million in local taxes generated and 10,000 jobs supported, especially in the hospitality industry. In addition to Minneapolis, 13 other metro cities have pre-booked lodging in over 100 hotels and 48,000 room nights, including Saint Paul, Bloomington, Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Eden Prairie, Edina, Maple Grove, Mendota Heights, Minnetonka, New Brighton, Plymouth, Roseville and Saint Louis Park.

Its exciting to see the city buzzing with activity and every hotel in the city, and many other cities around us, filled, said Melvin Tennant, president and CEO, Meet Minneapolis. The USAV tournament is just the start to a busy summer for Minneapolis. We look forward to welcoming these visitors along with the Shriners International Imperial Session, the Major League Baseball All-Star Game and Meeting Professionals International within the next two months.

Using the five exhibit halls and the ballroom at the Minneapolis Convention Center, 70 volleyball courts will be active for days with future Olympians competing for the title. The public can purchase tickets at the door. Visit http://www.teamusa.org/usa-volleyball/events/indoor/girls/2014-girls-jnc

Minneapolis has previously hosted several USA Volleyball events. Minneapolis hosted the USA Volleyball Girls Junior National Championships in 2007. The USA Volleyball Open National Championships have taken place in Minneapolis in 1945, 2003 and 2009. Other signature USA Volleyball national events played in Minneapolis include the 2006 and 2011 USA Volleyball Boys Junior National Championships.

#askMPLS

When attendees from the USAV GJNC or other visitors attending events in the city have questions about where to go, what to do or just need directions, all they need to do is ask Minneapolis using the Meet Minneapolis hashtag #askMPLS on social media. Staff members are on the ready to respond to questions and assist to ensure a great visitor experience for all who come to Minneapolis.

ABOUT USA VOLLEYBALL

Founded in 1928, USA Volleyball is a Colorado incorporated non-profit organization recognized by the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) and the Federation International de Volleyball (FIVB) as the National Governing Body for the sport of Volleyball in the United States. USAV is responsible for both the Olympic disciplines of indoor volleyball and beach volleyball. USAV has more than 262,000 registered members, 12,000 teams and 5,300 clubs nationwide. With an annual budget in excess of $18 million dollars, USA Volleyball supports the USA mens and womens senior national team programs, youth and junior national teams, national championship events, coaching education and certification programs, grassroots development, and programs for the disabled and Paralympic Teams. USA Volleyball has a rich tradition of success. www.usavolleyball.org

ABOUT MEET MINNEAPOLIS

Meet Minneapolis is a private, not-for-profit, member-based association. It actively promotes and sells the Minneapolis area as a destination for conventions and meetings, works to maximize the visitor experience and markets the city as a desirable tourist destination to maximize the economic benefit of the greater Minneapolis area.

Meet Minneapolis is accredited by the Destination Marketing Accreditation Program (DMAP) of the Destination Marketing Association International.

Online: www.minneapolis.org

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MEDIA CONTACT

Kristen Montag, media & communication manager, 612.767.8038, kristenm@minneapolis.org, Minneapolis_PR on Twitter.