A new 4v4 volleyball showcase is coming to Shawnee, promising a high-caliber kick-off to the sport’s presence in the region. The George Brett 4v4 Volleyball Showdown, hosted by the Shawnee Mission Beach Volleyball club, is set for Saturday, September 13, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. It will bring together 24 professional athletes across six teams, with a prize pool of $250,000 and a potential crowd of up to 4,000 spectators.
The event highlights top-tier talent, including Olympic-level players such as Taylor Crabb, Phil Dalhausser, Nick Lucena, Andy Benesh, and Carli Lloyd. The teams will be evenly split among three men’s squads and three women’s squads. Organizers describe the tournament as introducing a new professional event to the market, with a format that emphasizes fast-paced, action-packed matches that can feel like a “slug fest” of power and precision.
Shawnee Mission Beach Volleyball club owner Lance Windholz built the venue by shipping in sand and setting up a true beach experience in the heartland, aiming to showcase what the Midwest can offer in beach volleyball. Windholz notes that attendees will see the sport at a high level and that the Shawnee courts are among the best in the region.
The tournament’s origin connected Windholz with Steve Obradovich, an Association of Volleyball Hall of Fame athlete and the creator of the Newport Beach Volleyball Tournament. Obradovich’s enthusiasm helped bring the idea to life, and the venture gained further momentum when Windholz presented it to Beth Ansell, executive director of Visit Shawnee Kansas, who welcomed the prospect of new tourism through Olympic athletes and pro players visiting the area.
To help newcomers enjoy the experience, organizers have planned attractions beyond the matches. In addition to fast-paced games, there will be kids zones, athlete meet-and-greets, and Pros Vs. Joes demonstrations, where fans can test their own skills against the pros or watch the pros showcase their abilities at varying tempos.
Looking ahead, the event is positioned as a potential annual tradition, contingent on turnout. Shawnee and the Kansas City area already host a range of sports events, and organizers hope this showcase will become a staple in the region’s “Valley of Champions.” Windholz believes the energy of the area—comparable to Arrowhead’s reputation for loud crowds and Allen Fieldhouse’s historic atmosphere—could make Sept. 13 a memorable first edition that encourages a return visit from the athletes.
Ticket information notes that admission is priced at $43.25 and that tickets are available for all ages. The organizers emphasize that the day is designed to appeal to both longtime volleyball fans and newcomers curious about the sport’s pace and excitement.
Additional notes for readers: The event represents a notable collaboration between local organizers, hall-of-fame figures, and tourism partners to showcase elite volleyball in a venue that has been engineered to feel like a beach resort moment in the heartland. If the show meets expectations, Shawnee could become a recurring destination for professional beach volleyball, expanding opportunities for fans to engage with the sport and for athletes to extend their reach beyond traditional circuits.