Registration is OPEN!  We have the capabilities to accept 78 teams.  Please register early to reserve your spot.  Teams will be confirmed in POST MARK DATE ORDER.  We look forward to having you join us for the 27th Mardi Gras Classic.

 

DIVISIONS:  The Mardi Gras Classic is currently offering all divisions; AA, A, BB, & B.  While we have teams registered in all divisions, the AA division has not sent in any payments as of yet.  Courts are filled on a first paid basis.  We have a total of 13 courts available.  The numbers that we have listed for each division is based on what we have filled for past tournaments.  We will gladly alter the cap of a division based on the number of teams paid for that division.  Here are the current allocations of court space:  B (24 Team Cap on 4 courts @ Tulane Student Recreation Center), BB (30 Teams on 5 courts @ The Hilton Athletic Club), A (18 Teams on 3 courts @ University of New Orleans Human Performance Center, & AA (6 Teams on 1 court @ The Hilton Athletic Club).   All divisions are capped @ 6 teams per court at the facility that they will be playing in.

Match Maker:  Please check the NAGVA site if you are looking for a player or a team.

Register your team online with NAGVA here!  Register 

Registration is OPEN!  This year, we are looking to change the pool play schedule a little bit.  We are looking to use a schedule similar to the first day of Pool Play @ Championships.  We thought this concept might be enjoyed in our city.  This would allow half of the teams to party a little longer on Friday night knowing that they would play in the afternoon session on Saturday.  It would also give those teams that played the morning session on Saturday to lick their wounds and help medicate (drink) them away before playing on Sunday.  In order to do this, we need to have each pool filled to an even number.  The AA division will not have this opportunity since there will be only one court available to the division unless we have more teams register and we can fill two courts.

Registration Fees: 

Before November 1st, $400.00, on November 1st, the rate changes to $450.00.

Before December 1st, $450.00, on December 1st the rate changes to $500.00.

After December 1st, $500.00

Fees are for teams of up to 7 players.  For teams with more than 7 players, you will need to pay the extra player fee of $50.00 per player.

As we get close to our cutoff for accepting teams, we will be placing teams on our paid wait list.  This way we can assure that the team that sent their payment in first gets the spot that they deserve.  We are sorry for any inconvenience that this policy may cause.

Cancellation Policy:  If your teams cancels after payment has been sent in, a $50.00 cancellation fee will be assessed and the remaining amount refunded to the team captain.

Returned Check Fee:  For those players choosing to send a personal check, if your check is returned, a $32.00 return check fee will be assessed to your team.  This is the exact cost our bank charges us.  To prevent this possibility, please send either a cashiers check or money order for your teams entry fee.  THANK YOU!

Payments should be made out to Volleyball New Orleans in the form of either a Cashiers Check or Money Order.  If personal checks are received, teams will be placed on a waiting list until the check clears.

MONEY ORDERS AND CASHIER'S CHECKS MAY BE MAILED TO:

Volleyball New Orleans

c/o Jerry Traigle

1231 Royal Street

New Orleans, LA 70116

Please do not send payments certified.  This will delay your teams entry into the tournament.  Payments can be sent normal mail, UPS, or FEDEX to this address.  Teams are accepted by the date payments are sent, not the date they arrive.  Please remember this when sending in your team's payment.  We are working to create an on-line payment option for you.

 

Rosters:  Please update your team roster through NAGVA.  Teams that have difficulty updating their roster need to contact the NAGVA registrar.  To do so, please visit the NAGVA website by clicking HERE.   Captains must register their team with NAGVA in order to be listed for the tournament.  Teams that do not update their roster prior to registration will have to have their players visit the NAGVA table before being allowed to sign in.  This is necessary to make sure players have no restrictions placed on them.  To alleviate this, please make sure to enter all of your players on your roster.

Courtyard by Marriott located at 300 Julia Street, New Orleans, LA 70130. Room rate of $79 per night for rooms with 2 queen beds.  Please call the Courtyard to reserve your room.   504-598-9898.  Be sure to tell them you are part of Mardi Gras Volleyball.  Rates are good until December 31st!!  Parking is an additional charge. To book your room, please call the hotel directly or you may reserve your room through the toll free number @ 888-364-1200.  To get our negotiated room rates, let them know you are booking for the "Mardi Gras Classic Volleyball" tournament.  Click HERE to reserve a room at this hotel.

If your not a member of Marriott Rewards, please join to earn valuable points towards free stays and discounted rates at Marriott Hotels throughout the world.

Springhill Suites located at 301 St. Joseph Street, New Orleans, LA 70130.  Room Rate of $89 per night which includes breakfast for rooms with 2 queen beds.  The group code is Mardi Gras Volleyball.  Please call the hotel @ 504-522-3100 to reserve your room.  Rates are good until December 31st!!  Parking is an additional charge.  To book your room, please call the hotel directly or you may reserve your room through the toll free number @ 888-364-1200.  To get our negotiated room rates, let them know you are booking for the "Mardi Gras Classic Volleyball" tournament.  Click HERE to reserve a room at this hotel.

Residence Inn New Orleans Convention Center, 345 St. Joseph Street, New Orleans, LA 70130, 504-522-1300.  Room rate is $139.00 per night for a 2 bedroom suite.  Each suite is equipped with a full kitchen, living room, 2 bedrooms, and 2 bathrooms.  This is the ideal location for teams wanting to stay together.  We added this hotel for that exact reason.  We have a limited number of these rooms reserved.  If you would like this hotel and the rooms are no longer available, please let us know.  We will see if we can add more rooms.  This property is one block away from the Springhill and the Courtyard.  Please call the hotel @ 504-522-1300 to reserve your room.  Rates are good until December 31st!!  Parking is an additional charge.  To book your room, please call the hotel directly or you may reserve your room through the toll free number @ 888-364-1200.  To get our negotiated room rates, let them know you are booking for the "Mardi Gras Classic Volleyball" tournament.  To reserve a room at this location, click HERE.

Marriott New Orleans Canal Place, 555 Canal Street, New Orleans, LA 70130.  Phone # 504-581-1000  Room rate of $109 per night per room.  This property is right next to the French Quarter.  Those those that wanted to be closer, we chose this one for you.  Be sure to tell them you are part of the Mardi Gras Classic Volleyball.  Rates are good until December 31st!!  Parking is an additional charge.  To book your room, please call the hotel directly or you may reserve your room through the toll free number @ 888-364-1200.  To get our negotiated room rates, let them know you are booking for the "Mardi Gras Classic Volleyball" tournament.  To reserve your room, click HERE.

Also, take a moment to register for Marriott Rewards ® member program to receive points for your stay!

You may make you reservation with any of the above hotels by calling Marriott directly @ 1-800-MARRIOTT (1-800-627-7468) and mention to them that you are with the MARDI GRAS CLASSIC VOLLEYBALL.

Registration @ Napoleon's Itch/Bourbon Parlor (at the Bourbon Orleans): Registration will be Friday, January 15th in the Bourbon Parlor from 7 to 10:30 PM.  Enter through Napoleon's Itch at the corner of St. Ann & Bourbon Street. Napoleon's Itch is located @ 734 Bourbon Street, New Orleans, LA.  For those unable to make it to registration on Friday night, a registration table will be set up at the gym.  All players are required to register before stepping onto the court.  Click on Napoleon's Itch for more information on the bar and events in New Orleans.   

Reffing and Score Keeping Clinics

A new option has been opened for those needing to be re-certified.  NAGVA has allowed tournaments to offer clinics at cost.  If you would like to attend a personal clinic to be re-certified, please let us know.  We must know no later than December 15th if anyone would like to attend a clinic.  The cost is $20 per person to attend either the score keeping or reffing clinic.  If not, teams that need to have their status updated are required to e-mail the VP of Officials for NAGVA to request access to the on-line testing materials.  Please let him know which test you would like to take.  After passing the test, a practical/ observation is still required.  You are responsible for printing the form and bringing it to the tournament for your evaluation.  Notify the gym manager that you need to be certified, and they will get your form to the correct individual.  Please make sure that you fill out YOUR NAME, YOUR TEAM NAME, YOUR COURT ASSIGNMENT, & THE TIME YOU OFFICIATE/ SCOREKEEP.  This form will then be sent to the VP of Officials for you.  For those taking the exam, you MUST take the exam at least 7 days prior to the tournament.

B:  Tulane University's Reily Student Recreation Center.  We will have 4 courts at this facility.  On Sunday, we may have an additional court in the morning to aid in getting tournament play done earlier.  Click HERE for directions to the facility.  For a map to the facility, please click HERE.  For parking information please click on PARKING.  A parking garage is located next to the facility.  Parking in the garage should be free of charge on the weekend.  The facility has wooden courts with windows.  Please be prepared for the possibility of glare from the courts.  Also, no outside food or coolers will be allowed in the gym.  The facility has a food area inside which makes smoothies and has other items available.  Only water bottles that are sealed will be allowed on the courts.  There are several establishments near by for food.  We hope to have a list in the program for your convenience.  NOTE:  IN ORDER TO HAVE THE AA DIVISION, WE MUST HAVE 3 PAID TEAMS BEFORE DECEMBER 1ST.  OTHERWISE, THE DIVISION WILL BE CANCELED AND THE COURT GIVEN TO THE B DIVISION.

BB & AA:  New Orleans Riverside Hilton Athletic Club  We will have 6 courts at this facility.  The courts are sport courts.  No outside food or coolers will be allowed.  All teams will need to be up in the observation deck when not playing on the court.  The Health Club is located on the 6th floor of the parking garage located off of Convention Center Blvd.  An all day parking rate of approximately $6.00 will be charged for those choosing to use the garage.  Parking needs to be validated at the Health Club front desk.

A:  University of New Orleans Human Performance Center  The link is to the University's home page.  The facility is located next to Ben Franklin High School @ 2101 Leon C Simon Drive, New Orleans, LA 70122.  To see the location on a map, click HERE.  We will have 3 courts at this facility.  They are hard wood courts.  There are a few restaurants in the general area.  Outside Food & Beverage is Prohibited.  NOTE:  IN ORDER TO HAVE THE AA DIVISION, WE MUST HAVE 4 PAID TEAMS BEFORE NOVEMBER 15th.  OTHERWISE, THE DIVISION WILL BE CANCELED AND THE COURT GIVEN TO THE A DIVISION.

Pool Assignments &  Schedules TBA

Seeding Announcements will take place at The Parade Disco/ Bourbon Pub.  Announcements will be made around 8 PM in the upstairs bar.

In addition to the Seeding announcements, Volleyball New Orleans will also be giving away the "Ray McCrary Golden Whistle" award to the best new official.  Ray was a good friend of ours.  He passed away several years ago and we wish to honor his name by presenting this award.

On Sunday, we will also be giving away our "Founders Trophy."  This tradition was started in 2008 @ our 25th anniversary tournament.  This award is presented to the team that exemplifies Sportsmanship and a sense of community on and off the court. 

An after party will be held at Latrobe's on Royal, 403 Royal Street, in the French Quarter.  The Banquet will feature a New Orleans inspired buffet and Open Bar!  Player's attend for free, Guest can purchase tickets at Registration or the tournament desk for $30.  No tickets will be sold at the door, so PLEASE plan accordingly.