USA Ultimate Announces Dates, Locations for 2017-19 National Championships

Nationals Returns to Sarasota this Fall; San Diego Set to Host Ultimate’s 50th Anniversary Celebration as Part of Two-Year Agreement.

Colorado Springs, Colo. (Feb. 1, 2017)—USA Ultimate confirmed today dates and locations for the next three National Championships, awarding the 2017 event to Sarasota, Fla., and the 2018 and 2019 editions to San Diego.

The 2017 National Championships will be held Oct. 19-22 at the Premier Sports Campus at Lakewood Ranch and co-hosted by the Sarasota County Sports Commission and Tampa Bay Ultimate.

"Knowing the popularity and history of Sarasota with our club division athletes and teams, USA Ultimate is excited to be returning this fall," commented USA Ultimate Chief Executive Officer Tom Crawford. "We’re looking forward to co-hosting the event at an entirely new, world-class venue with an excellent infrastructure and working alongside a new partner in Tampa Bay Ultimate. We’re also honored to again have the support of longtime friends at the Sarasota County Sports Commission, who worked tirelessly to bring back the National Championships."

"We are thrilled that USA Ultimate has chosen to bring the National Championships back to Sarasota," said Rob Wells, Director of Sports, Sarasota County Sports Commission. "We look forward to once again welcoming all the players and fans."

One year later, in conjunction with the sport’s 50th anniversary, the National Championships will head to San Diego as part of a two-year agreement. Both the 2018 and 2019 editions will take place at the Surf Cup Sports Facility in the beach community of Del Mar.

Next year’s tournament will serve as an anchor for ultimate’s semicentennial celebration.

"We are delighted to be hosting the biggest celebration in the history of our sport in honor of its 50th anniversary. That we will be in a premier destination like San Diego just makes it that much more exciting and compelling." said Phil "Guido" Adams, chair of the 50th anniversary celebration task force and president of the Ultimate Foundation. "We just held a phenomenal reunion of the Boston ultimate community where we celebrated the deep, long-lasting friendships fostered by our sport and its Spirit of the Game ethos. This promises to be even bigger and better. Of course, it's all about how many of us make an effort to join in the fun. This will happen only once in our lifetime, so please mark your calendars. Remember – the older we get, the better we were! I hope to see you there."

The San Diego Sports Commission and Diego Ultimate Disc Experience will co-host the events, which are scheduled for Oct. 18-21, 2018, and Oct. 24-27, 2019.

"The San Diego Sports Alliance is thrilled to be the host of the 2018 and 2019 USA Ultimate National Championships," commented Joe Rubendall, Sports Sales Manager, San Diego Sports Alliance. "We would also like to acknowledge Surf Cup Sports and the San Diego Ultimate Disc Experience, who have been instrumental in making this event possible. The National Championships have been on our radar for several years now because of the benefits and partnerships it creates for all parties involved. From San Diego’s near-perfect weather, quality accommodations and countless attractions, restaurants and beaches, to the world-class Surf Cup Sports Complex, we hope to offer USA Ultimate teams and families an unforgettable sports destination experience both on and off the field."

This fall marks the return of the National Championships to Sarasota after a four-year hiatus. The event was held in Sarasota for 13 consecutive years (2000-2012) before moving to Frisco, Texas (2013-15). Last year, it was held in Rockford, Ill., and was the most attended National Championships ever.

San Diego previously hosted the event in 1988, 1992 and 1999.

The USA Ultimate National Championships represent the pinnacle of elite ultimate in North America and crowns champions in three divisions: men’s, mixed and women’s. Last year, Boston swept all three titles: Boston Ironside (men), Boston Slow White (mixed) and Boston Brute Squad (women) enter the 2017 season as defending champions.

The National Championships also serve as the third and final leg of USA Ultimate’s Triple Crown Tour, following the U.S. Open and Pro Flight Finale.

The complete schedule of all major Triple Crown Tour events will be announced on Thursday, Feb. 2.

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