‘Game show’ atmosphere takes over Pan Am beach volleyballPerfectly manicured sand, a DJ blasting a rhythm of earth-shaking bass, feeding a raucous crowd where swimsuits and bikinis act as proper business attire.It may sound like a review to a destination resort, but this party is going on just off the shores of Lake Ontario — at the Chevrolet Beach Volleyball Centre in Toronto, widely considered the place to be during these 2015 Pan Am Games.
The action on the courts may be enough entertainment for most, but timeouts during matches are sometimes livelier than the play itself at times.
The London Olympics did something similar with its beach volleyball venue, turning it into a raucous gathering place with loud speakers and an emcee. The 2016 Rio Olympics are planning to take it one step further by putting some of the matches at the famed Copacabana beach at midnight.
Apart from the in-game festivities during matches, the actual structure of the venue serves as a cauldron of noise that promotes a uniquely intimate experience.
The Chevrolet Beach Volleyball Centre is a four-sided pavilion, seating roughly 5,000 supporters; a blueprint ideal for both the spectator and especially the athletes themselves.
The venue’s in-house emcee, Najjah Calibur, has taken note of the rising popularity the Chevrolet Beach Volleyball Centre has generated due in part to its relaxed vibe and high-energy production.
“The way they have that fusion of the party with real competition, real integrity, it makes for a great show,” Calibur stated while preparing for his next in-crowd stunt.
“It’s almost a game show within a serious competition,” he added.
Calibur attributes the success of Toronto’s newly adopted home for beach volleyball to the men behind the music, DJ Rae Tretiak, (Halifax, Nova Scotia) and DJ Cale Granton, Toronto native and Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment’s resident musical maestro, work well together in keeping the energy high at all times.
Granton is no stranger to big moments and acts, having worked alongside top Canadian acts including Drake, and Classified to name a few.
“They’re picking the right songs,” said Calibur. “Because obviously you want the tempo of the event to be at a certain level, to keep the energy going.”
The cozy, yet electrifying setting has captivated many during these Pan Am Games, including Canada’s own beach volleyball tandem of Richmond Hill’s Josh Binstock and Samuel Schachter.
“This [venue] is definitely high pressure and exciting, said Binstock, following their opening preliminary match win over Nicaragua, “but it’s something that we relish and embrace.”
With preliminary matches ongoing inside the courts, you have now been warned that the odd spray of a water cannon may catch you when you least expect it, but the event team maintains that fans soaking up the atmosphere instead, are of the highest importance during these games.
