Major League Ultimate
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| Sport | Ultimate |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2012 |
| Inaugural season | 2013 |
| No. of teams | 8 |
| Country | United States (7 teams) Canada (1 team) |
| Continent | North America |
| Most recent champion(s) | Boston Whitecaps (2nd title) |
| Most titles | Boston Whitecaps (2) |
| Official website | MLUltimate.com |
Major League Ultimate (MLU) is one of two semi-professional Ultimate leagues in North America, the other being the American Ultimate Disc League. It is composed of 8 member clubs: 7 in the United States and 1 in Canada. It was formed in 2012, and began its inaugural season in April 2013. The season concludes with a championship game, the most recent champion being the Boston Whitecaps in 2015.
About[edit]
The league began in 2012, with the help of the Philadelphia Spinners and their staff, including former GM Jeff Snader. The Spinners left the AUDL.[1] Snader brought together a core group of individuals, referred to as the Founders.
Unlike some ultimate leagues and games, MLU allows double-teaming of an offensive player. Also, like most sports, referees make all of the calls (this is similar to the AUDL).[2]
The MLU plans to expand the league in the hope to be seen as the premier ultimate league in North America. There are plans to add a Midwest Conference to the league sometime in the future.[3]
Highlights of the 2013 championship game were broadcast on Fox Sports 1 as part of an anthology show co-hosted by former NFL player Dhani Jones and Olympic gold medalist Jonny Moseley. Before that, ESPN's SportsCenter Top 10 and SportsNation featured the MLU on a few occasions, bringing national attention to the league.[4]
In 2013, Five Ultimate was the official uniform manufacturer for all eight teams. For the 2014 season, Puma became the official jersey sponsor.[5]
In 2015, Canterbury became the official jersey sponsor. [6]
Active teams[edit]
| Teams | City/Area | Stadium | Founded | Head Coach | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Conference | |||||
| Boston Whitecaps | Medford, MA | Hormel Stadium | 2012 | Sam Rosenthal | |
| New York Rumble | Union City, NJ | Roosevelt Stadium | 2013 | Anthony Nuñez[7] | |
| Philadelphia Spinners | Philadelphia, PA | Franklin Field | 2012 | Billy Maroon | |
| Washington DC Current | Washington, DC | Cardinal Stadium | 2013 | Keven Moldenhauer | |
| Western Conference | |||||
| Portland Stags | Portland, OR | Hillsboro Stadium | 2013 | Danny Quarrell | |
| San Francisco Dogfish | Berkeley, CA | Yellowjacket Stadium | 2013 | Justin Safdie[2] | |
| Seattle Rainmakers | Renton, WA | Renton Memorial Stadium | 2013 | Steve Gussin | |
| Vancouver Nighthawks | Vancouver, BC | Thunderbird Stadium | 2013 | Andrew Lugsdin | |
Founders[edit]
| Name[8] | Title |
|---|---|
| Jeff Snader | President |
| Nic Darling | Vice President |
| Matthew "Skip" Sewell | Creative Director and Brand Manager |
| Billy Maroon | Director of Personnel |
| Ian McClellan | Director of Competition |
| Marc Stachowski | Director of IT |
Championships[edit]
| Season | Date | Champion | Score | Runner-Up | Venue | Location | MVP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | July 13, 2013 | Boston Whitecaps[9] | 20-15 | San Francisco Dogfish | Franklin Field | Philadelphia, Pa | Jeff Graham (Boston) |
| 2014 | July 19, 2014 | DC Current | 23-17 | Vancouver Nighthawks | PPL Park | Chester, PA | Markham Shofner (DC) |
| 2015 | August 8, 2015 | Boston Whitecaps | 31-17 | Seattle Rainmakers | PPL Park | Chester, PA | Jeff Graham (Boston) |
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ Eisenhood, Charlie (4 October 2012). "Philadelphia Spinners Leaving The AUDL, Starting New Pro League". Ultiworld.
- ^ a b Gackle, Paul (16 June 2013). "In debut season, San Francisco's Major League Ultimate Frisbee team flourishing". San Francisco Examiner.
- ^ jessonnf (8 June 2013). "Future of the AUDL and MLU". Semi Pro Ultimate. Wordpress.com.
- ^ Eisenhood, Charlie (8 June 2013). "MLU, Ultimate Get Praise From ESPN Commentators". Ultiworld.
- ^ Eisenhood, Charlie (18 November 2013). "MLU releases new Puma Jersey Designs". Ultiworld.
- ^ Des Marais, Paul (25 March 2015). "MLU Teams Unveil the 2015 Canterbury Uniforms". Ultiworld.
- ^ http://newyork.rumble.mlultimate.com/anthony-nunez-signs-as-head-coach/
- ^ "Founders". Major League Ultimate. 2013.
- ^ "Boston Whitecaps 2013 Highlights". nohuck.