November 26, 2012 by Wes Cronk in Livewire, Opinion
When I first thought about it, $125,000 seemed like an unreasonable amount to expect anyone to invest in a start-up ultimate league.
But, I expect that was the point. The MLU is sure to go through its share of growing pains that, as the AUDL’s struggles have exposed, could easily scare away owners. By setting the buy-in price so high, the MLU is effectively testing the commitment of investors to the long-term success of professional ultimate before ever getting to that point.
Simply put, no one who doesn’t truly believe in the sport’s potential would invest that type of money in it. When the inevitable hiccups associated with starting a new league do arise, the high price tag will also ensure that the management teams don’t decide to jump ship. The security and stability this fosters should ultimately benefit the league’s progress, so long as the organizers can find individuals willing to take the initial leap of faith.
