New York Empire won the American Ultimate Disc League 2019 championship today over Dallas Roughnecks. The Empire went (12-0) in the regular season, won the East Division Championship, their semifinal at AUDL Championship Weekend 8 and the championship game to post an undefeated season at (15-0).
The final 3 games of the American Ultimate Disc League 2019 season will take place this weekend at the AUDL Championship Weekend. AUDL's 8th season began in early April.
The final four teams out of 21 AUDL teams advanced to the AUDL Championship Weekend. New York Empire (12-0; 1-0) returns for the 2nd consecutive trip, Dallas Roughnecks (8-4; 1-0) return for their 4th time in a row, Indianapolis AlleyCats (8-4; 1-0) return for the first time since 2012, and San Diego Growlers (10-2; 1-0) advance for the first time in franchise history.
Three division champions advance to AUDL Championship Weekend along with perennial South Division champion Dallas Roughnecks, who won over the top seed in the South Division Championship game - the only upset by seeding in the AUDL playoffs.
The Championship Weekend returns to California. This time, though, it's not at the 18,000-seat Avaya Stadium (like in 2015); the championship games will be played at the football stadium of Foothill Community College, with ~5500 capacity -- the home field of the San Jose Spiders.
The AUDL Madison Radicals (12-2, 1-0), Los Angeles Aviators (11-3, 1-0), New York Empire (8-6, 2-0), Dallas Roughnecks (13-1, 1-0) have advanced to the AUDL 2018 Championship Weekend (August 11-12) in Madison.
Madison advances to their (AUDL record) 6th straight appearance, while Dallas makes their 3rd consecutive appearance. New York Empire also has 3 appearances, returning to 2018 Weekend after competing there during their first 2 seasons (2013, 2014). LA Aviators advanced to their first ever AUDL Championship with last week's win in the West Division Championship.
AUDL Championship Weekend Appearances [2013-2018]
NOTE: AUDL 2012 Championship game (Philadelphia Spinners vs Indy AlleyCats) not recorded because "AUDL Championship Weekend" started in AUDL 2013 season.
First there was Jessi Jones (Raleigh Flyers; May 17, 2015), then Jesse Shofner (Nashville NightWatch) played the AUDL 2017 season. In 2018, five different AUDL teams (out of 23 total teams) currently have rostered at least one woman player. The following are the Class of 2018 "Jessies" - women ultimate players rostered on American Ultimate Disc League teams for this year's season.
New additions for the 2018 season include:
Nate Bosscher
Thomas Echols
Glenn Poole
Sef van Kan
Kyle Weigand*
Anson Reppermund
Robyn Wiseman
Tarik Akyuz
Elliot Mawby
Colin Grandon
Number 32, Lauren "LD" Doyle signs on with the Empire for the 2018 Season. LD has strong throws as a handler and utilizes her keen eye to navigate the disc downfield. #NYEmpire18
+ Lexi Zalk San Francisco FlameThrowers
Jackelyne "Kobe" Nguyen
Signing spotlights are now live on our website and the first feature is Nightlock / Pie Queens athlete Jackelyne Nguyen! Welcome to the roster, Kobe! https://t.co/SmxEYkwuPkpic.twitter.com/fUSWxj68H2
According to Beau's self-published article on Skyd, he will be on the roster of the New York Empire for the 2018 season of American Ultimate Disc League. In his own words, Beau says: "I have no contract and no written agreement with the New York Empire." Previously, Beau has played for the San Jose Spiders (2014-15), Dallas Roughnecks (2016), and San Francisco FlameThrowers (2017).
New York finished 4th in the East Division with a (6-8) record in 2017, and missed the postseason for the first time in their 5 seasons.
In February 2018, Beau told Evan Lepler: "I have no idea. At this point, I honestly have no idea where I'm gonna play."
In January 2018, Beau wrote: "I will put a priority on playing in the league most willing to make pro ultimate a reality for everyone.
In 2018, I will play for free in the AUDL city most willing to help AUDLx [a mixed-gender league]. If that does not happen, I will play for the city most willing to give female athletes the resources, spotlight and media coverage they deserve."
The New York Empire's shield is already a well regarded logo for an American Ultimate Disc League team. The final design by [Dustin] Wallace Design House features the iconic New York city skyline with the Empire State Building in the center.
Prior to the Empire's first AUDL season in 2013, there were five other marvelous logo designs including:
The color scheme is similar in all of the options. Eventually, the one logo with a definitive looking disc was chosen to represent the NYC AUDL team which has served them - unchanged - for five seasons.
The American Ultimate Disc League released two new promotions starring New York Empire player Jeff Babbit and a marionette puppet in Babbitt's likeness - let's call him Babbitto. (I made that name up. Please send royalties via Bitcoin.)
The first AUDL promo ironically appeared when there was less AUDL ultimate played; not only because it's the AUDL postseason, but actually no games were scheduled on the weekend of August 18-20 -- the first non-AUDL weekend since April 1.
In December 2016, Ultiworld published '2017 AUDL Championship Weekend To Be Held In Montreal, Quebec' and mentioned: "However, this will also be the first time since the inaugural 2012 season that the league will hold the Championship Weekend in a city where the home team will not be favored to make the playoffs."
Ultiworld's flippant statement was probably relying on the history of AUDL East where Toronto Rush are perennial champs, the New York Empire are recurrent playoff contenders, and the D.C. Breeze most recently made the playoffs. The AUDL 2017 season was still 4 months away and rosters had not yet been finalized. Montreal's first and only appearance in the postseason was in the AUDL 2015 season. Toutefois!
DC's most recent 1-point victory is the Breeze's 4th consecutive 1-point regular season win over New York. And, it's the 5th out the last 6 regular season games that have been decided by 1 point between DC and New York.
Games with slim margin of victory are not uncommon between these two AUDL teams. In AUDL seasons 2014-2017, there have been six 1-point games between the Breeze and Empire; DC has won 5 of those 1-point games.
History of 1-Point Games: DC Breeze vs New York Empire
The 2016 calendar year was a busy 12 months! Here are some memorable moments: [in no particular order]
++++++ Greatest Trick Play Not Designed as a Trick Play: Philadelphia Spinners
First weekend of the 2016 MLU season (April 11) and the highlight of the year occurred. Lots of people took notice, too! The stat book would simply report Nick Hirannet to Himalaya Mehta for the goal, but soooo much more happened.
Runner up: Joel Schlachet (Team USA @ 2016 Worlds)
++++++ Ultimate Highlights to Watch Again & Again:
Jenny Wei (All-Star Ultimate Tour)
++++++ Jersey of the Year: Atlanta Hustle (AUDL) alternate jersey
For the 2016 season, the Hustle wore a purple top and a white top until its last regular season game. An alternate jersey - blood orange on top and black on the bottom with HUSTLE across the chest - was made and kept as a secret until a big game - a 1-point Atlanta victory in their season finale versus Jacksonville.
ATL's "ALT jersey (right)
++++++ Best Experiment: @being_ulti twitter
A simple mission with a lots of personality which started in June 2016. It's a twitter account that gets taken over by a different person every week as a way to showcase those that play ultimate.
++++++
Neatest Innovation for the Ulti Community: 1) The Mixed Division Spirit Awards
The idea was inspired by Seattle Mixtape to recognize players from the mixed division who exhibited personal responsibility, integrity, and selfless contribution to Ultimate, combined with a high standard of playing ability - just like the annual awards given by USAU in the men's and women's divisions. Winners: Allysha Dixon (Philadelphia AMP) and David Protter (Love Tractor)
Coolest Infographics: openbracket(ultimate)
This uniform design company has been crafting WUGC tourney outcomes in an appealing manner.
Mixed Division: Assists + Goals Spirit of the Game scores & more
Best ultimate games: Seattle Riot vs San Francisco Fury October 2016: An(other) "instant classic" between two storied club ultimate teams during the semi-final at 2016 USA Ultimate Nationals: Riot versus Fury.
May 2016: Team Canada vs Team USA tune-up at Torneo Eterna Primavera from Colombia finals. The game was streamed via Facebook by Beau Kittredge.
June 2016: The New York Empire-DC Breeze games during the American Ultimate Disc League regular season were all amazing. This double OT thriller from the summer stands out.
++++++ Weirdest Victory: Washington D.C. Current & Boston Whitecaps (MLU)
D.C. Current went on the road to play a night game at Boston. The Current did not play their June 11th game against Boston Whitecaps; they never even made it to Boston. Yet both teams still managed to earn a win.
Per the MLU: "The game will not be re-scheduled, and both teams will award a win instead, moving the Whitecaps to 7-2 and the D.C. Current to 3-5 on the season."
++++++
Most Athletic Feat: Khalif El-Salaam
Running from sideline to sideline (40 yards)...on his knees. My knees have threatened to go on strike if I ever pull a stunt like this.
Best in-print forms of Ultimate Ultimate Outsider novel by Alexander Rummelhart
"Skyd" (magazine) by Skyd Magazine Fast Count! children's book by Hechter/Neugeboren
++++++ Best Films on Ultimate: All-Star Tour Documentary All-Star Ultimate Tour: The Documentary by Alex Axworthy covers the inaugural 2015 tour and its effect on the players and the tour's impact in the ultimate community.
++++++ Persons to be given a round of applause that crescendos into a standing ovation.
Qxhna Titcomb
As the founder and creator of the successful All-Star Ultimate Tour, Qxhna is a charismatic leader. She's someone whose passion, energy and intelligence are poured into every project she is involved with. The ulti community is better because of her work on and off the ultimate field.
Isaac Saul
Isaac is a reporter and journalist who covers politics (an important job I would never want). Isaac played on Pittsburgh Thunderbirds (AUDL) and New York PoNY in the 2016 seasons. He's known for his o-line knack on the ultimate field while showing deft skills in his career. His A Plus posts are a refreshing take on the world, while his Twitter account is a public arena where he regularly defends facts, his opinions, his profession, his background, and - when necessary - the sport of ultimate.
The D.C. Breeze won 27-26 (11-10 half) in dramatic fashion over the New York Empire last night.
With 5:20 left in the 3rd quarter, the Breeze had what felt like an insurmountable 5-goal lead. With less than 2 minutes left, D.C. had a 2-goal lead in the 4th quarter. With a 1-goal lead and 20 seconds in the game, Markham Shofner hucked a deep shot to the endzone which fell incomplete. New York seized the opportunity. With 10 seconds remaining, New York fbegan their their last offensive drive and completed a 40-yard hammer from Ryan Drost to Jeff Babbitt for the equalizer - tied at 24s.
Again, the Empire returned with a last second score to tie in overtime.
It was a wild finish. In the 2nd (sudden death) overtime, New York - who received the pull - scored what was thought to be the final score of the game. The home crowd fell silent. The Empire coach and players stormed the field for a brief second until everyone realized the a pick was called which negated the score and push them back 10 yards.
Keegan bites the disc after his game-ending goal is called back [screengrab via AUDL/ESPN3]
A few throws later, New York threw away their chance to score and win the game. Breeze took advantage of the Empire's turnover in 2OT with a Kolick hanging lefty backhand toward the endzone which Matt Kerrigan caught after a boxing out the defender. Kolick admitted later in a post-game interview with Bryan Jones that his game-winning toss was a "garbage" throw.
It wasn't a pretty win, but it was a still a 27-26 win over New York Empire, giving DC its 8th win of the 2016 AUDL season. Jeff Wodatch led the Breeze team with caught 5 goals, while Alan Kolick threw a team-high 5 assists. Matthew "Rowan" McDonnell had 5 defensive blocks.
It was a hot humid day in the nation's capital which led to a few players taking an injury due to cramping. Two Breeze players, Tom Doi and Nicky Spiva, played limited due to injuries sustained during the game.
The Breeze were without Coaches Ghesquiere (head) and Itoh (assistant), plus some regular players due to travel for the upcoming World Ultimate and Guts Championships in London.
The DC Breeze are now (3-0) versus the Empire in the 2016 AUDL regular season
All 3 of those DC wins have been 1-goal victories versus NY
Tonight's win is the first DC Breeze win when their game is broadcast by ESPN3 / AUDL Game of the Week
After Week 11, DC is (2-1) in 2OT games; both wins are against New York
A main source of American Ultimate Disc League players are from each team's local club teams. Here's the breakdown for each team in the AUDL Final Four:
PRIMARY Club Team Feeder on each AUDL Final Four Team Roster
63% (17 of 27) Toronto Rush roster = Toronto GOAT men's team
36% (10 of 28) Madison Radicals roster = Madison Club men's team
32% (9 of 28) San Jose Spider roster = San Francisco Revolver men's team
25% (7 of 28) New York Empire roster = 7 Express mixed team
NOTES: Based on published 2014 online rosters. Does not represent attending players at 2014 Finals Weekend. REALTD: Minnesota Wind Chill's 2014 roster
The Wall Street Journal published this article featuring the AUDL's NY Empire and MLU's NY Rumble. Back in 2012, Izzy and Chris Mazur played on the same AUDL team – the Connecticut Constitution.
Pro Frisbee Puts New Spin on N.Y. Sports Scene[WSJ, 06.27.14]
...
"No one's making a living off Frisbee yet," Mr. Isaiah Bryant said, over coffee recently near the Midtown office where the 29-year-old Columbia University graduate works a day job as an ad salesman.
What may come as a surprise to many sports fans is that people are even trying. Interest has grown across the country in ultimate Frisbee, the laid-back sport long popular in college intramural leagues, which involves two teams trying to advance the disc down a field to a goal zone. For two seasons, New York has had not one, but two, teams playing in rival pro leagues.
Like most pro athletes, Mssrs. Bryant and Mazur said they train and study game video most days of the week. They just have to do it around their day jobs, since players, as a rule, earn such paltry paychecks. Players, most in their 20s, have to pony up for most of their gym memberships.
To the average observer, their professional matches could easily be mistaken for pickup games among particularly athletic young men, albeit in slightly spiffier game attire. On a recent Saturday, the Empire faced off against the Montreal Royal, in front of a crowd of less than 300—including many family and friends. Mr. Bryant was active on the sidelines, advising his teammates and giving them plenty of back slaps and high-fives.
But even the most devoted Frisbee fans question the viability of these teams. Average game attendance hovers well under 1,000 people, with ticket prices around $10. And New York City has no shortage of sports teams to follow.
Both leagues are funded by private backers—league operating expenses range from $400,000 to $1.5 million—who hope the sport will be the next big thing...
The good news is both DC-based pro Ultimate teams have home games on Saturday, June 14! The bad news is, unlike in May when fans could attend both games, fans must choose which pro Ultimate to attend. The unfortunate scheduling conflict has both Saturday games starting around the same time (Current at 6pm; Breeze at 7pm). Both DC teams play against their respective league's opponent from New York City.
At 6pm, the MLU game: D.C. Current (7-1) play New York Rumble (2-6) at Catholic U. Tix.
One hour later (at 7pm) and ~6 miles away, the AUDL game: D.C. Breeze (6-2) play New York Empire (7-1) in College Park. Tix.
Last month's doubleheader versus Philadelphia was swept by DC. Will DC sweep again?
The New York Empire's well-designed logo will be fashioned on their excellently designed away jerseys for the 2014 AUDL season. The iconic imagery of New York of John Lennon's NYC t-shirt and Yankee pinstripes are beautifully balanced on this white Ultimate jersey.
Three cities have 2 professional Ultimate teams - Philly, NYC & DC. As each team attempts to carve out their market in the same locale, here's how their records (so far) compare by 1) combined as a city & 2) in relation to each team from overlapping cities.
[End of Regular Season, 2013]
*New York Empire went (1-1) in the AUDL playoffs
** Philadelphia Phoenix went (0-1) in the AUDL playoffs
*** DC Current went (0-1) in the MLU playoffs
Disc within logo?: Yes. // Ultimate element in team name?: No.
Background: New York is nicknamed 'The Empire State' for its national and global significance. The origin of the nickname is unknown, yet some sources credit George Washington who referred to New York state in December 1784 as "...at present the seat of the Empire." The Empire State Building (ESB) was built in 1931 and was the tallest building in the world from 1931 to 1972. Interestingly, when Red Delicious & McIntosh apples spawned in 1966, it created the first Empire apple variety. And, of course, Empire State of Mind is a very popular song (2009) collaboration between Jay-Z & Alicia Keys.
First impression(s): This commercial -- 588-2300...EMPIRE!
Eli's Eval: (Full DISClosure, I live in Brooklyn.) Ahhhh balance. The first of these logos to seem both contemporary and somewhat timeless. The fluorescent green takes away from that a bit, but the shield, the balance composition, the skyline, all add up to create a legitimately good logo. The disc is on a bias, but it moves the eye into the type, which is arced up into the skyline. The center of the skyline is the antenna at the top of the Empire State Building, piercing the top of the shield. Ahhhh balance.
There is no unnecessary skeuomorphism, no beveled embossed type or heavy dropshadows. The framing is done using positive and negative space and the occasional outline.
As a standalone logo it is extremely well-designed. There needs to be some breaking out of the elements in the design depending on the application. (e.g. The shape of the shield, the word "EmpirE", etc.)
:Eli's Grades:
Grade: A-
On Logo: A
On Typography: B+
