Organizers are celebrating after a week-long international volleyball tournament brought thousands of fans to Moncton and put the sport in the spotlight in the Hub City.
Norval McConnell, co-chair of the local organizing committee for the NORCECA Men’s Continental Volleyball Championship Tournament, says the community response exceeded expectations, particularly during a downtown beach volleyball-style showcase held on Main Street.
“We had thousands of fans for the games,” McConnell said.
The event was held September 11 to 19 in downtown Moncton.
The outdoor court, set up near the Avenir Centre, featured four university women’s teams on Friday before 16 club teams took to the sand on Saturday. Food trucks, music and family-friendly activities helped transform the downtown core into a volleyball festival.
Organizers also set up four mini courts on the Ian Fowler Oval, where young players and their families could try the sport for themselves.
“You saw all kinds of youngsters, little ones, their parents, even some grandparents playing little volleyball games there,” McConnell said.
The outdoor event capped off six days of international competition in Moncton, where teams battled for qualification to the Volleyball World Cup. Canada secured its spot in the tournament, adding another highlight for local fans.
The week also included an exhibition game between the men’s teams from UNB and Dalhousie University, along with an Olympic qualification tournament featuring four national teams.
More than 3000 spectators attended games at the Avenir Centre
McConnell added that one of the biggest successes was the enthusiasm shown by young volleyball players throughout the event.
“Volleyball is already one of the fastest-growing sports in the province, but the tournament will provide another boost.”
He told our newsroom that young volleyball athletes played a key role behind the scenes, with dozens volunteering to help run matches, retrieve balls and assist teams.
“We had probably 80 or 90 kids volunteer at the events,” said McConnell. “Getting their pictures taken with the players, getting autograph balls from the players, those kinds of things. That raises their level of interest in the game.”
He added that hosting an event of this scale requires years of preparation and a significant volunteer effort.
McConnell explained that organizers initially submitted the bid to gain experience for future opportunities and were surprised when Moncton was selected.
One comment from Canada’s team captain stood out to McConnell.
After the tournament, Eric Loeppky admitted he hadn’t expected Moncton or New Brunswick to be a volleyball hotspot.
“But New Brunswick and Moncton are volleyball areas,” Loeppky concluded.
About 175 volunteers helped make the tournament possible.
“The success has already attracted attention from Volleyball Canada, which has expressed interest in bringing future events to Moncton,” McConnell said. “Discussions about additional tournaments are expected.”
The event also gave Moncton national television exposure, and McConnell said that helped showcase both the city and the province to viewers across the country.
