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Major League Ultimate

{{Short description|Defunct ultimate frisbee league}}

{{Infobox sports league

| title = Major League Ultimate

| logo = Major League Ultimate Logo.png

| pixels = 200px

| sport = Ultimate

| founded = 2012

| inaugural = 2013

| folded = 2016

| teams = 8

| country = United States (7 teams)
Canada (1 team)

| continent =

| champion =

| most_champs = Boston Whitecaps (2)

| website = [https://web.archive.org/web/20130402175954/http://mlultimate.com/ MLUltimate.com]

}}

Major League Ultimate (MLU) was a North American semi-professional ultimate league from 2013 to 2016. It was composed of eight member teams, seven in the United States and one in Canada. It was formed in 2012, and began its inaugural season in April 2013.

History

The Philadelphia Spinners left the American Ultimate Disc League at the end of the 2012 season after disagreements on how it was run.{{cite web|url=http://ultiworld.com/2012/10/04/philadelphia-spinners-leaving-the-audl-may-be-starting-new-pro-league/|title=Philadelphia Spinners Leaving The AUDL, Starting New Pro League|date=4 October 2012|last=Eisenhood|first=Charlie|work=Ultiworld}} With the help of their staff, including former GM Jeff Snader, and a core group of individuals now referred to as the Founders, the MLU was created in 2012. On December 21, 2016, the league announced that its investors had pulled funding and that league operations would be suspended indefinitely.{{cite web|url=https://ultiworld.com/2016/12/21/breaking-major-league-ultimate-suspends-operations/|title=BREAKING: Major League Ultimate Suspends Operations|date=21 December 2016|last=Eisenhood|first=Charlie|work=Ultiworld}}

Rules

The MLU used most of the standard rules of Ultimate, with multiple adaptations. Most of the adaptations were like those of the American Ultimate Disc League. Games were played on slightly expanded fields, and double-teaming of an offensive player was allowed. Also unusual for Ultimate, although common in other sports and the AUDL, the MLU used referees to make the calls.{{cite news|url=http://www.sfexaminer.com/sanfrancisco/in-debut-season-san-franciscos-major-league-ultimate-frisbee-team-flourishing/Content?oid=2461931|title=In debut season, San Francisco's Major League Ultimate Frisbee team flourishing|newspaper=San Francisco Examiner|date=16 June 2013|last=Gackle|first=Paul}} With time, more changes to the rules were applied by the MLU.{{cite web |url=http://mlultimate.com/head-of-rule-committee-ian-mcclellan-explains-2015-rule-book-changes/ |title=Head of Rule Committee Ian McClellan Explains 2015 Rule Book Changes – Major League Ultimate |website=mlultimate.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170207192226/http://mlultimate.com/head-of-rule-committee-ian-mcclellan-explains-2015-rule-book-changes/ |archive-date=2017-02-07}}

While most Ultimate games use the Ultrastar disc, the MLU used a slightly different disc, the Innova Pulsar, whose design made it stay in the air longer, leading to more hucks, deep games, and skys.{{cite web |url=http://mlultimate.com/innova-signs-as-disc-partner/ |title=Innova Pulsar Named the Official Disc of the MLU {{!}} Major League Ultimate |website=mlultimate.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130306150220/http://mlultimate.com/innova-signs-as-disc-partner/ |archive-date=2013-03-06}} {{Cite web|url=http://ultiworld.com/2013/02/28/mlu-signs-exclusive-deal-with-innova-as-official-disc-providers/|title=MLU Signs Exclusive Deal with Innova as Official Disc Providers|date=28 February 2013}}

Although not an on-field rule, an early rule of the league was that all players would be compensated equally, at $25 a game. This eventually led some, like Beau Kittredge, to leave the league.{{cite web |last1=Eisenhood |first1=Charlie |title=Beau Kittredge Signs With AUDL's San Jose Spiders For 2014 |url=https://ultiworld.com/2013/11/25/beau-kittredge-signs-audls-san-jose-spiders-2014/ |website=Ultiworld |date=25 November 2013 |accessdate=29 May 2019}}

Competition format

The eight teams in the MLU were split into two conferences (East and West). During the regular season, each team played 10 matches (sometimes including cross-divisional matches). The top two teams from each division advanced to a conference final. The winners from these matches then advanced to compete in the MLU Championship match.

Media coverage

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. ESPN's SportsCenter Top 10 and SportsNation have also featured highlight clips from the MLU, bringing national attention to the league.{{cite web|url=http://ultiworld.com/2013/06/28/mlu-ultimate-get-praise-from-espn-commentators/|title=MLU, Ultimate Get Praise From ESPN Commentators|last=Eisenhood|first=Charlie|work=Ultiworld|date=8 June 2013}}

In 2016, all games were livestreamed on YouTube and through the MLU website.{{cite web |url=http://mlultimate.com/mlu-to-emphasize-live-streaming-coverage-in-2016/ |title=MLU to Emphasize Live Coverage in 2016 – Major League Ultimate |website=mlultimate.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160507032114/http://mlultimate.com/mlu-to-emphasize-live-streaming-coverage-in-2016/ |archive-date=2016-05-07}}

Sponsorship

In 2013, Five Ultimate was the official uniform manufacturer for all eight teams.

For the 2014 season, Puma became the official jersey sponsor.{{cite web|url=http://ultiworld.com/2013/11/18/mlu-releases-new-puma-jersey-designs|last=Eisenhood|first=Charlie|date=18 November 2013|work=Ultiworld|title=MLU releases new Puma Jersey Designs}}

For 2015 and 2016, Canterbury was the official jersey sponsor.{{cite web|url=http://mlultimate.com/mlu-teams-unveil-the-2015-canterbury-uniforms/|last=Des Marais|first=Paul|date=25 March 2015|work=Ultiworld|title=MLU Teams Unveil the 2015 Canterbury Uniforms}}

Teams

class="wikitable"
Teams

!City/Area

!Stadium

!Founded

!Head Coach(es)

style=background:#E77471 colspan=6 | Eastern Conference
Boston Whitecaps

| Medford, MA

| Hormel Stadium

| 2012

| Sam Rosenthal {{cite web |url=http://boston.whitecaps.mlultimate.com/staff/ |title=Staff – Boston Whitecaps |publisher=MLUltimate.com |accessdate=July 22, 2016}}

DC Current

| Washington, DC

| Cardinal Stadium

| 2013

| Keven Moldenhauer and Will Smolinski {{cite web |url=http://washingtondc.current.mlultimate.com/staff/ |title=Staff – Washington D.C. Current |publisher=MLUltimate.com |accessdate=July 22, 2016}}

New York Rumble

| Orange, NJ

| Bell Stadium

| 2013

| Anthony Nuñez and Eileen Murray {{cite web |url=http://newyork.rumble.mlultimate.com/rumble-announce-nunez-and-murray-as-co-head-coaches-for-2016/ |title=Rumble Announce Nuñez and Murray as Co-Head Coaches for 2016 |author=Tom Levy |publisher=MLUltimate.com |date=January 20, 2016 |accessdate=July 22, 2016}}

Philadelphia Spinners

| Fort Washington, PA

| Carey Stadium

| 2012

| Darryl Stanley {{cite web |url=http://philadelphia.spinners.mlultimate.com/staff/ |title=Staff – Philadelphia Spinners |publisher=MLUltimate.com |accessdate=July 22, 2016}}

style=background:#6698FF colspan=6 | Western Conference
Portland Stags

| Milwaukie, OR

| Milwaukie High School

| 2013

| Danny Quarrell {{cite web |url=http://portland.stags.mlultimate.com/staff/ |title=Staff – Portland Stags |publisher=MLUltimate.com |accessdate=July 22, 2016}}

San Francisco Dogfish

| Berkeley, CA

| Yellowjacket Stadium

| 2013

| Jason Seidler {{cite web |url=http://sanfrancisco.dogfish.mlultimate.com/staff/ |title=Staff – San Francisco Dogfish |publisher=MLUltimate.com |accessdate=July 22, 2016}}

Seattle Rainmakers

| Renton, WA

| Renton Memorial Stadium

| 2013

| Kate Kingery and Fiona McKibben {{cite web |url=http://seattle.rainmakers.mlultimate.com/fiona-mckibben-and-kate-kingery-named-co-head-coaches-of-seattle-rainmakers/ |title=Fiona McKibben and Kate Kingery named Co-Head Coaches of Seattle Rainmakers |author=Tom Levy |publisher=MLUltimate.com |date=February 20, 2016 |accessdate=July 22, 2016}}

Vancouver Nighthawks

| Vancouver, BC

| Thunderbird Stadium

| 2013

| Patrick Gatien {{cite web |url=http://vancouver.nighthawks.mlultimate.com/staff/ |title=Staff – Vancouver Nighthawks |publisher=MLUltimate.com |accessdate=July 22, 2016}}

Championships

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

!Season

!Date

!Champion

!Score

!Runner-Up

!Venue

!Location

!{{tooltip|MVP|Most Valuable Player}}

!{{tooltip|Ref|Source}}

2013

|July 13, 2013

|Boston Whitecaps

|20–15

|San Francisco Dogfish

|Franklin Field

|Philadelphia, PA

|Jeff Graham
(Boston Whitecaps)

|{{cite AV media |date=July 13, 2013 |title=Major League Ultimate 2013 Championship Game |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rq4jj8a630w |access-date=May 8, 2016 |publisher=Major League Ultimate}}

|2014

|July 19, 2014

|DC Current

|23–17

|Vancouver Nighthawks

|PPL Park

|Chester, PA

|Markham Shofner
(DC Current)

|{{cite AV media |date=July 19, 2014 |title=2014 Major League Ultimate Championship - DC Current vs. Vancouver Nighthawks |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8VWLIhn_g0 |access-date=May 8, 2016 |publisher=Major League Ultimate}}

|2015

|August 8, 2015

|Boston Whitecaps

|31–17

|Seattle Rainmakers

|PPL Park

|Chester, PA

|Jeff Graham
(Boston Whitecaps)

|{{cite AV media |date=August 8, 2015 |title=MLU Championship 2015 - Seattle Rainmakers vs Boston Whitecaps |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKPQzqhpsus |access-date=May 8, 2016 |publisher=Major League Ultimate}}

|2016

|July 16, 2016

|Philadelphia Spinners

|14–11

|Portland Stags

|Franklin Field

|Philadelphia, PA

|Charlie McCutcheon
(Philadelphia Spinners)

|{{cite AV media |date=May 29, 2016 |title=Villanova Stadium to Host 2016 MLU Championship |url=http://mlultimate.com/villanova-stadium-to-host-2016-mlu-championship/ |access-date=May 30, 2016 |publisher=Major League Ultimate}}

;

See also

References

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Major League Ultimate seasons}}

{{MLU teams}}

Category:Ultimate (sport) competitions

Category:Professional sports leagues in the United States

Category:2012 establishments in the United States

Category:Sports leagues established in 2012

Category:Sports leagues disestablished in 2016

Category:Defunct professional sports leagues in the United States