Aria Discs – A Different Brand of Ultimate Frisbees

Aria Discs is an ultimate frisbee brand that uses a unique blend of materials, “advanced aerodynamics”, and eco-friendly components to make an ultimate disc that rivals the Discraft Ultrastar. This disc is nearly identical in shape to the Ultrastar, but features a softer plastic blend.

Aria was started in 2017 with a Kickstarter Campaign by the Titcomb family that owns the AUDL’s Seattle Cascades franchise.

Like so many of the other ultimate brands including the Innova Pulsar, X-Com Ultimate, and Yikun, Aria has really struggled to gain market share in the US competitive Ultimate world that is dominated by Discraft.

What Makes Aria Discs Different

Aria Discs goal is to be a game-changer within the ultimate frisbee community. The discs have garnered widespread attention and acclaim, not only for their outstanding flight characteristics and reliability but also for their significant impact on the future of the sport. Let’s delve deeper into the key features, specifications, and impact of Aria Discs in the realm of ultimate frisbee.

Aria Discs are engineered with a unique plastic blend that sets them apart from other ultimate frisbee discs. This distinctive material has been specifically designed to withstand temperature changes better than the Discraft Ultrastar, ensuring more consistent performance over a wide range of temperatures.

Wind Performance

For instance, during a tournament held in varying weather conditions, Aria Discs maintained their flight stability better, providing players with a reliable and consistent playing experience.

Cold Temperatures

The Aria Uno discs’ ability to maintain their flex in cold temperatures and retain their shape in hot temperatures showcases their adaptability, supposedly makes this a better choice for ultimate frisbee players playing tournaments in miserable conditions.

More Durable

The last supposed benefit in the design of Aria Discs significantly enhance their resilience, contributing to their overall durability. These caps protect the discs from wear and tear, ensuring that they can withstand the rigors of intense gameplay and maintain their quality for longer periods of time. This durability has been highlighted by positive customer feedback, where users have emphasized the discs’ ability to maintain its shape and flight characteristics even after prolonged use.

Despite the supposed benefits of Aria discs, the discs never really took off and became the viable Discraft competitor Aria hoped them to be. While some curious fanatics purchased Aria Discs to try them out, it’s hard to find a club, college, or community Ultimate league anywhere in the country that actually uses Aria discs for competitive play. This could all change now because it appears that the American Ultimate Disc League (AUDL) will adopt Aria Discs as it’s official disc in 2024.

The New Disc of the AUDL

According to Ultiworld, the AUDL will overtake the production of the Aria disc and make it the official disc of the AUDL.

Can the AUDL’s Acquisition Propel Aria Discs to New Heights of Success?

It appears that the AUDL is not only utilizing Aria discs as their official game disc but may also be acquiring ownership of the brand and production of the discs themselves. This move signifies a shift from the longstanding norm that Discraft Ultrastar is the only acceptable disc in professional games. The adoption of Aria discs by professional players could pave the way for widespread acceptance and encourage mainstream players to explore new options.

In a similar marketing venture, Innova Champion Discs, the leading manufacturer of disc golf discs, introduced their ultimate frisbee model, the Innova Pulsar, as the official disc of the now-defunct Major League Ultimate Association in 2013. Despite the Pulsar’s superior flight characteristics, such as enhanced stability and improved performance in windy conditions, its noticeably different shape compared to the Discraft Ultrastar met with resistance from traditional players. When the Major League Ultimate ceased operations, Innova’s efforts to mainstream the Pulsar also diminished.

The AUDL faces a comparable challenge with the introduction of the Aria disc. The success of this initiative hinges on the league’s profitability and the disc’s acceptance beyond the professional arena. If successful, the Aria disc could become a formidable competitor in the Ultimate Frisbee market. However, if the AUDL struggles to maintain its professional status, the prominence of the Aria disc might also be short-lived.

Motives for Moving Away from Discraft

A key motivation behind the AUDL’s acquisition of this struggling disc manufacturing brand is the potential to boost revenue through direct disc sales. The league intends to emulate the disc golf model by creating signature discs associated with professional players, thereby generating revenue. By becoming the direct supplier and moving away from reliance on Discraft, the AUDL aims to increase its revenue streams significantly.

Only time will tell if the Aria acquisition proves to be successful. There is a chance that the new disc used by the AUDL will be a different variation and perhaps even have a new name. Regardless what happens, we at Infinite Discs, like always, we are just excited about trying another kind of flying disc.