Colorado Springs, Colo. (Feb. 2, 2018)—USA Ultimate, the national governing body for the sport of ultimate in the United States, announced today dates and locations for the major events of the 2018 Triple Crown Tour.
The Tour’s regular season kicks off June 2, which marks the first opportunity for club division teams to earn points towards its 2018 ranking. The first major event, the Pro-Elite Challenge, takes place July 7-8 at Broomfield Commons Park in Broomfield, Colo. The tournament serves as the first major test for last year’s national championship qualifiers.
Three weeks later, Select Flight teams will square off at the Select Flight Invite at the Regional Athletic Complex in Salt Lake City, Utah, July 28-29.
Returning to the National Sports Center in Blaine, Minn., the U.S. Open Ultimate Club Championships, Aug. 3-6. The International Club Championships division will be contested Aug. 3-5, and features the semifinalists from the 2017 National Championships, invitation-only international squads and other top North American teams. The Youth Club Championships division will get underway a day later, with teams competing Aug. 4-6.
Columbus, Ohio, hosts the Elite-Select Challenge this year, Aug. 18-19, at the Spindler Field Complex. The tournament includes the lower half of last year’s national championship qualifiers and teams that just missed out on a trip to Sarasota last fall.
The Triple Crown Tour regular season concludes with the Pro Championships, Sept. 1-3, in Middletown, N.Y., where the top half of last season’s national championship qualifiers will compete. The Pro Championships finals will take place in New York City, at a still-to-be-determined stadium site.
Following the conclusion of the regular season, final rankings are calculated and bids are allocated before teams officially begin their road to the National Championships. The Triple Crown Tour Postseason opens with sectional qualifiers (Sept. 8-9) before eight regional championships (Sept. 22-23) determine which 48 teams will punch their tickets to the 2018 USA Ultimate National Championships and the sport’s 50th Anniversary Celebration in San Diego, Calif., Oct. 18-21.
Each major Triple Crown Tour event will feature three competitive divisions – men’s, mixed and women’s. Teams can win the Triple Crown by winning the U.S. Open, Pro Flight Finale and National Championships.
The 2018 TCT guidelines are currently being finalized and will be published as soon as they are available.
2018 Triple Crown Tour – Key Dates & Locations
Regular Season Begins
June 2
Pro-Elite Challenge
July 7-8
Broomfield, CO
Broomfield Commons Park
Altitude Youth Ultimate
Select Flight Invite
July 28-29
Salt Lake City, UT
Regional Athletic Complex
Utah Ultimate Disc Association
U.S. Open Club Championships
Aug. 3-5
Blaine, MN
National Sports Center
Minnesota Ultimate
Elite-Select Challenge
Aug. 18-19
Columbus, OH
Spindler Field Complex
Oshadega Ultimate
Pro Championships
Sept. 1-3
Middletown, NY; New York, NY
Blue Sky Polo Club; Stadium Site TBD
DiscNY
Sectionals
Sept. 8-9
Regionals
Sept. 22-23
National Championships
Oct. 18-21
San Diego, CA
Surf Cup Sports Facility
Diego Ultimate Disc Experience, San Diego Sports Commission