Colorado Springs, Colo. (May 25, 2023)—USA Ultimate, the national governing body for the sport of ultimate in the United States and member of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee, announced today an expanded agreement with ESPN to televise and stream the sport’s premier event properties in 2023.
The deal, which extends the relationship between USA Ultimate and ESPN to an 11th year, is highlighted by both an increased amount of television coverage and a shift of digital programming to ESPN+.
The agreement includes live coverage of 24 games from USA Ultimate’s four flagship events – the College Championships, U.S. Open, Pro Championships and National Championships.
Beginning with the College Championships this weekend in Mason, Ohio, ESPN will stream all four men’s and women’s division semifinals on ESPN+ and air both championship games on ESPNU.
In early August, ESPN’s coverage of the U.S. Open will include three semifinals and all three championship games (men’s, mixed, women’s) on ESPN+, with re-airings on ESPN2 and ESPNU.
In the fall, ESPN+ will stream three semifinals and three championship games from both the Pro Championships and National Championships.
“We are thrilled and grateful to continue our longstanding association with ESPN,” commented Andy Lee, USA Ultimate Managing Director of Marketing, Communications and Brand. “After more than a decade of world-class coverage, it’s exciting to see our relationship evolve and advance as the landscape of sports media continues to change. From more accessible digital content on ESPN+ to added television programming, this agreement is a huge win for ultimate fans and provides enormous value for our sponsors and advertisers while showcasing our top teams and athletes on an unparalleled stage.”
The 2023 College Championships take place Memorial Day weekend at Heritage Oak Park and King’s High School in Mason, Ohio, May 26-29. Featuring 40 teams, the tournament marks the culmination of the college ultimate season after more than 800 teams across North America compete to qualify through a series of postseason conference and regional events. ESPN+ will stream all four semifinal matchups on Sunday, May 28. The men’s title game will air on ESPNU at 1:30 p.m. ET on Monday, May 29, followed by the women’s championship at 4 p.m.
Scheduled for August 4-6 in Denver, Colo., the 2023 U.S. Open is the only major international event in the U.S. and showcases both American teams and clubs from around the globe. Hosted at Aurora Sports Park, the tournament features 36 teams across the men’s, mixed and women’s divisions. ESPN+ will stream three semifinals and all three championship games on Saturday, August 5 and Sunday, August 6, followed by re-airings on ESPN2 and ESPNU.
The USA Ultimate Pro Championships is the club division’s regular season finale and one of the most competitive tournaments on U.S. soil. Scheduled for September 2-4 at Uihlein Soccer Park in Milwaukee, Wis., the Pro Championships will feature 36 teams across three divisions. ESPN+ will stream three semifinals and three championship games.
Regarded as one of – if not the most – prestigious events in ultimate, the USA Ultimate National Championships will take place October 19-22. Forty-eight teams from a pool of more than 600, qualify each year to compete for a national title in men’s, mixed and women’s divisions. Like the Pro Championships, ESPN+ will stream three semifinals and three championship games on ESPN+.
About ESPN+
ESPN+ is the industry-leading sports streaming service that offers fans in the U.S. thousands of live sports events, original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks and exclusive editorial content from dozens of ESPN writers and reporters. Launched in April 2018, ESPN+ has grown to more than 25.3 million subscribers. Fans sign up to ESPN+ for just $9.99 a month (or $99.99 per year) at ESPN.com, ESPNplus.com or on the ESPN App (mobile and connected devices).
