Ken Kaas, the founder of the 33rd annual Pottstown Rumble, was 21 years old the first time he played indoor volleyball. After he went to watch his first 2-on-2 tournament, he was hooked and got inspired to create a tournament for the Pottstown region.
The rest is history.
At least 6,000 players are expected to come from the U.S. and Canada to compete and connect with friends at the three-day tournament held at Memorial Park in Pottstown beginning on June 20.
“We have lots of regulars and big groups coming from New York City and Boston who’ve been coming for years,“ Kaas said. “Many of them met there.”
Thousands of spectators
A couple of thousand spectators usually come to watch the action that includes AVP professional players. $7,000 in prize money will be awarded to pro players.
A $10 spectator ticket can be purchased in advance online or at the entrance on the day of the event.
Aside from Memorial Park, which serves as the main field, there are two satellite fields for competition — one in Pottsgrove and the other in North Coventry. In total, there are 225 grass volleyball courts that will be in use.
At the event, you’ll find lots of food trucks and a beer tent with craft beers.
Completed pedestrian bridge
New this year is a completed pedestrian bridge that has been in the works for a few years, so Kaas is pleased that no shuttles will be necessary to transport people this year.
The bridge connects the atmosphere,“ he said. “We had a boat and a shuttle, and now that the bridge is in, we don’t need to have that.”
Kaas, a union heavy equipment operator by profession, shared his motivation behind continuing the annual event for over three decades.
“It’s a lot of work, but there are many who come to me and say, ’this is my Christmas’,” he said. “I do it because it means so much to so many.”
The Pottstown Rumble will be held June 20-22, 2025, at Pottstown Memorial Park, 75 W. King St., Pottstown. For more information, to get a spectator ticket, or to register to play, visit www.pottstownrumble.com.
