RELEASE: World's Largest Volleyball Tournament, hosted by the AAU, set to bring $760.8 million in Economic Impact to Orlando
06/10/2024
Orange County Convention Center to welcome more than 117,000 participants from June 13 - July 7
ORLANDO, Fla. (June 10, 2024) – The Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) is set to host the world’s largest volleyball tournament from June 13 – July 7 at the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC). More than 117,000 athletes and coaches, representing all 50 states, Canada, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands, will converge for the 51st AAU Girls’ and Boys’ Junior National Volleyball Championships.
“The AAU Junior National Volleyball Championships are the premier event for AAU’s largest sport,” said Jo Mirza, AAU President. “Thanks to the incredible relationships we’ve built with our community partners, including the Orange County Convention Center, Greater Orlando Sports Commission, and Visit Orlando, this has become one of the best amateur events in the world.”
The 25-day event is expected to bring approximately $760.8 million in economic impact to Central Florida based on 300,000 estimated attendees, according to OCCC. There will be 5,865 teams (1,263 boys and 4,605 girls), including more than 1,100 Central Florida teams, participating in 67 divisions. It’s set to be the largest sporting event ever held at the OCCC —breaking last year’s record.
“It continues to be an honor to host the AAU Junior National Volleyball Championships at the Orange County Convention Center,” said OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester. “This premier event has significantly shaped the evolving landscape of youth sporting events at our facility. Witnessing its remarkable growth over the years has been truly inspiring and we deeply value the thriving relationship we have cultivated with AAU.”
The girls’ tournament, with divisions from 10U through 18U, will be up first from June 13-28. The boys’ tournament, with divisions from 12U to 18U, will take the courts from June 30 – July 7.
This preeminent AAU event has been recognized as an eight-time winner of Sports Destination Management’s Champions of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism Award as well as 2024’s Most Anticipated Sporting Event to Watch by SportsEvents Magazine’s Readers’ Choice Awards. The AAU Junior National Volleyball Championships still holds the Guinness World Record for the largest volleyball event in the world, which was first set in 2012.
Beyond the court, the AAU is again partnering with the Side-Out Foundation as part of the AAU Cares initiative to raise money for breast cancer research through “Dig Pink” campaigns. All volleyball participants are encouraged to wear pink for AAU’s Dig Pink Days on June 14, 18, 22, 26, July 1 and 5.
Visit aauvolleyball.org for more information on the event schedule. You can also follow the event on AAU Volleyball’s social media pages: Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.
###
MEDIA CONTACT:
Kelsey Burr, AAU Public Relations Manager
kelsey@aausports.org
407-225-5692
ABOUT THE AAU:
The Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) is one of the largest, non-profit, volunteer sports organizations in the country. As a multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports programs. Founded in 1888 to establish standards and uniformity in sports, the AAU philosophy of “Sports For All, Forever” is now shared by nearly 800,000 members and 150,000 volunteers across 45 sports programs and 55 U.S. districts. Volleyball is the largest sport in the AAU with over 260,000 members. For more information, visit www.aausports.org.
“The AAU Junior National Volleyball Championships are the premier event for AAU’s largest sport,” said Jo Mirza, AAU President. “Thanks to the incredible relationships we’ve built with our community partners, including the Orange County Convention Center, Greater Orlando Sports Commission, and Visit Orlando, this has become one of the best amateur events in the world.”
The 25-day event is expected to bring approximately $760.8 million in economic impact to Central Florida based on 300,000 estimated attendees, according to OCCC. There will be 5,865 teams (1,263 boys and 4,605 girls), including more than 1,100 Central Florida teams, participating in 67 divisions. It’s set to be the largest sporting event ever held at the OCCC —breaking last year’s record.
“It continues to be an honor to host the AAU Junior National Volleyball Championships at the Orange County Convention Center,” said OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester. “This premier event has significantly shaped the evolving landscape of youth sporting events at our facility. Witnessing its remarkable growth over the years has been truly inspiring and we deeply value the thriving relationship we have cultivated with AAU.”
The girls’ tournament, with divisions from 10U through 18U, will be up first from June 13-28. The boys’ tournament, with divisions from 12U to 18U, will take the courts from June 30 – July 7.
This preeminent AAU event has been recognized as an eight-time winner of Sports Destination Management’s Champions of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism Award as well as 2024’s Most Anticipated Sporting Event to Watch by SportsEvents Magazine’s Readers’ Choice Awards. The AAU Junior National Volleyball Championships still holds the Guinness World Record for the largest volleyball event in the world, which was first set in 2012.
Beyond the court, the AAU is again partnering with the Side-Out Foundation as part of the AAU Cares initiative to raise money for breast cancer research through “Dig Pink” campaigns. All volleyball participants are encouraged to wear pink for AAU’s Dig Pink Days on June 14, 18, 22, 26, July 1 and 5.
Visit aauvolleyball.org for more information on the event schedule. You can also follow the event on AAU Volleyball’s social media pages: Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.
###
MEDIA CONTACT:
Kelsey Burr, AAU Public Relations Manager
kelsey@aausports.org
407-225-5692
ABOUT THE AAU:
The Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) is one of the largest, non-profit, volunteer sports organizations in the country. As a multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports programs. Founded in 1888 to establish standards and uniformity in sports, the AAU philosophy of “Sports For All, Forever” is now shared by nearly 800,000 members and 150,000 volunteers across 45 sports programs and 55 U.S. districts. Volleyball is the largest sport in the AAU with over 260,000 members. For more information, visit www.aausports.org.
Email
Print
