The new year is officially underway and Sports Milwaukee is already in midseason form. From packed volleyball courts to team growth behind the scenes, here are three things you need to know right now.

Milwaukee’s serving this season. Every season’s busy, but winter kicks off each fresh, new year with the kind of boom that only comes from volleyball players, passing, blocking, and hitting their way across the court. This year, the convention center will host over 9 volleyball tournaments across 9 weekends, drawing more than 80,000 total attendees throughout the season. It all kicks off with the 2026 Juniors Volleyball Club Winter Classic later this weekend, on January 17-18, and carries through early spring. Learn about how Milwaukee sets volleyball up for success.

The fun doesn’t stop there! As we announced last month, AVCA First Serve is coming toMilwaukee this August, bringing some of the top women’s college volleyball programs toFiserv Forum, including the hometown Wisconsin Badgers, Kentucky Wildcats, Pittsburgh Panthers, Wisconsin Badgers, Texas Longhorns, Louisville Cardinals, SMU Mustangs and reigning National Champion Texas A&M Aggies for three days of high-intensity matches tokick off the 2026 season. Taking place August 21-23, you can punch your ticket to the action with tickets going on sale on January 30. Find more information and book your stay in Milwaukee today.

The Sports Milwaukee team is thrilled to announce that Devric Hitchcock has been promoted to Sports Retention Specialist. Since joining Sports Milwaukee from the Milwaukee Bucks in 2024, Devric has quickly grown into an integral member of the team, stepping up to challenges, thinking creatively and acting as a strong team player across not just my team, but all of Visit Milwaukee’s departments. 

In his new, expanded role, Devric’s main focus will be on client retention, repeat-event acquisition, and long-term relationship management with rights holders and event organizers. Devric is committed to ensuring that you are more than just Sports Milwaukee’s clients; you’re our teammates, and we want to make your event shine together.