WFDF and USA ULTIMATE announce broadcast partnership with ESPN for 2013 U.S. Open Championships

In Official Communication, Press Release * Official Communication by WFDF

Agreement is part of USA Ultimate’s comprehensive package that features coverage of USAU’s College Championships and National Championships.

The World Flying Disc Federation (WFDF), the international governing body for all flying disc sports, and USA Ultimate (USAU), the national governing body for the sport of Ultimate in the United States, announced today a broadcast partnership with ESPN to produce and air the 2013 U.S. Open Ultimate Championships, which is being co-hosted by WFDF and USAU. The agreement is part of USAU’s comprehensive package that also includes coverage of USA Ultimate College Championships and National Championships. ESPN will produce and distribute live coverage of the US Open on ESPN3, ESPN’s live online sports network accessible throughout the USA and in 10 Latin American countries, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Malaysia.  All of this professionally produced programming will be available on the USAU website 30 days following the live broadcasts, making them free and accessible worldwide.

“We are pleased to announce that ESPN will serve as the broadcast partner for the U.S. Open and are thrilled to be co-hosting this event with our largest member Association, USA Ultimate,” stated Robert “Nob” Rauch, WFDF President.  The U.S. Open should feature some of the best international Ultimate competition and it is exciting to know that the millions of players and fans around the globe will be able to view it over a variety of platforms.”

“This is an exciting development for our sport,” explained USA Ultimate Chief Executive Officer Tom Crawford. “The networks of ESPN represent the premier sports broadcasting platform in the world, and aligning ourselves with the most powerful brand in sports puts ultimate in an unprecedented place. We are thrilled to have ESPN as a broadcast partner for the foreseeable future.”

Co-organized by WFDF and USA Ultimate, the 2013 U.S. Open Championships will take place in Raleigh, NC 4-7 July 2013 and will be one of the world’s showcase international ultimate tournaments.  The four-day event features 24 of the best teams from North America and across the globe and also serves as the largest annual convention for the Ultimate industry.