Des Moines to Host First Major League Quadball Championship
Top 12 North American teams will travel to Des Moines for the first quadball championship in Iowa
JANUARY 25, 2023
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jack McGovern
Tel. 610-290-2466
Email: press@mlquadball.com
Des Moines, Iowa. (Jan. 25, 2023) — Major League Quadball (MLQ) has announced that the 2023 MLQ Championship will be hosted in Des Moines, Iowa on Aug. 26-28 in partnership with Catch Des Moines and the MidAmerican Energy Company RecPlex.
“Hosting Major League Quadball is a first for us as we’ve never hosted a quadball competition in the area, and we are looking forward to hosting a new and exciting event in Greater Des Moines,” said Catch Des Moines President and CEO Greg Edwards. “Teams from across the U.S. and Canada are going to experience a great facility at MidAmerican Energy Company RecPlex and we can’t wait to show off what all we have to offer.”
The marquee season-ending event will feature the 12 best quadball teams from across the U.S. and Canada at the MidAmerican Energy Company RecPlex in Des Moines. Pre-sale tickets are now available at MLQChampionship.com.
Founded in 2015, MLQ is the equivalent of the NFL or the MLB for quadball. The league is home to 16 franchises across North America that compete in three geographic divisions during the regular season for qualification spots at the MLQ Championship. The regular season runs from June to August.
Originally adapted from the Harry Potter series, quadball is a mixed-gender, full-contact sport invented in 2005 by students at Middlebury College in Vermont. It is now played by 600 teams in 40 countries. The rules incorporate a mix of elements from basketball, rugby and dodgeball.
The MLQ Championship is the league’s signature event and features three competitions in one weekend: the Benepe Cup, the Next Gen Showcase and Take Back the Pitch.
The Benepe Cup, named for real-life quadball founder and former US Quadball CEO Alex Benepe, is the conclusion for the summer-long, official MLQ season. The Next Gen Showcase, which takes place Sunday, is a competition featuring the practice squad athletes from across the league. Monday’s Take Back the Pitch is a one-of-a-kind event. This showcase challenges the current understanding of gender in quadball and opens opportunities for gender diverse athletes to play quidditch out from under the scrutiny of misogyny, transmisogyny and misdirected misogyny.
All games will be played simultaneously on two fields over a three-day tournament and will be livestreamed to fans around the world.
About Major League Quadball
Quadball is a competitive, full-contact, co-ed sport played by athletes around the world. Major League Quadball has set out to create a high-intensity environment for the best athletes in North America to hone their skills and compete for one of our sport's highest honors: the Benepe Cup. Want to know more about Major League Quadball? Visit mlquadball.com or contact us at press@mlquadball.com.
About Catch Des Moines
The Greater Des Moines Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Des Moines Area Sports Commission, collectively known as Catch Des Moines, markets the region as a visitor destination, increasing economic growth and enhancing the visitor experience. Catch Des Moines is an accredited Destinations International organization. Their focus is to drive economic success and enhance the quality of life in the Greater Des Moines municipalities we represent. Visit catchdesmoines.com to learn more.
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