United Shore Professional Baseball League

What United Shore Professional Baseball League does

The United Shore Professional Baseball League (USPBL) is an independent professional baseball league founded in 2016 by Rochester, Michigan-based General Sports and Entertainment and headquartered at UWM Field in Utica, Michigan. It operates four teams — the Birmingham Bloomfield Beavers, Eastside Diamond Hoppers, Utica Unicorns, and Westside Woolly Mammoths — playing a regular season from May through September, and positions itself as a developmental finishing school for players aspiring to sign with Major League Baseball organizations (9 players were signed by MLB clubs during its inaugural 2016 season). The league is complemented by an annual College Senior Showcase and detailed Player Development Reports, reinforcing its talent-pipeline identity.

USPBL's revenue model combines five streams: ticketing (individual, group, and season plans sold via TicketReturn.com), corporate sponsorships and naming rights (anchored by Mortgage Matchup as the presenting partner and UWM as the stadium naming sponsor, plus supporting partners Stanley Steemer, Detroit Zoo, Hungry Howie's, Castile Dental Group, and Drivergent Transportation), on-site concessions, private event and venue rentals (AAA Clubhouse, Pavilion, Locker Room, full-field), and merchandise. Ancillary products include suites and Diamond Tables, the Family Fun Pack bundle ($68 for four), the Fall Music Classic, themed promotional nights, and youth programs (Kids Club 2.0, Reading Program, baseball camps, scout nights). The underlying technology stack is lightweight: a ticketing platform, a virtual stadium tour from Proactive 3D Concepts, basic statistics and standings tracking, and standard social/email marketing channels, with no proprietary AI, API, or platform layer beyond a transactional merchandise storefront.

The league serves three customer segments: families and general baseball fans in Southeast Michigan seeking affordable entertainment; corporate and group-event clients booking the stadium for meetings, weddings, and team-building; and independent/college baseball players pursuing MLB exposure. Its go-to-market is direct-to-consumer and event-driven, leveraging themed nights, giveaways, and fireworks to drive gate receipts, while sponsorship sales and venue rentals provide higher-margin diversification.

Name

United Shore Professional Baseball League

Legal name

General Sports Baseball LLC

Website

https://uspbl.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The United Shore Professional Baseball League operates a four-team independent professional baseball league at UWM Field in Utica, Michigan, serving Southeast Michigan families, corporate event clients, and aspiring MLB players through ticket sales, sponsorships, concessions, and venue rentals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Baseball Entertainment

NAICS

Sports Teams and Clubs (711211)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Baseball & Softball Leagues (MPAKAAAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Professional & Major League Stadiums (MPAKAEAA)

Keywords

• Independent professional baseball
• Minor league baseball
• Sports entertainment
• Stadium venue rentals
• Baseball player development

Headquarters

HQ city

Utica

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue from individual game tickets, season ticket plans, group outings, and special event tickets sold through TicketReturn.com platform
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Naming rights (Mortgage Matchup), promotional sponsors (Stanley Steemer, Detroit Zoo, Castile Dental Group, Hungry Howie's, Drivergent Transportation), and partnership packages for corporate partners
3. Food and Beverage Concessions: On-site concessions including Hungry Howie's pizzas and general food/beverage sales at UWM Field
4. Private Event Rentals: Venue rentals including AAA Clubhouse, Pavilion, Locker Room, and full field rentals for corporate events, holiday parties, weddings, and community events
5. Merchandise Sales: Team merchandise including jerseys, championship shirts, and branded merchandise through the USPBL Shop

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The United Shore Professional Baseball League is an independent professional baseball league operating four teams (Birmingham Bloomfield Beavers, Eastside Diamond Hoppers, Utica Unicorns, Westside Woolly Mammoths) at UWM Field in Utica, Michigan, functioning as a developmental finishing school for players aspiring to reach Major League Baseball. The league generates revenue through ticket sales (individual, group, season), premium suites and Diamond Tables, private event venue rentals, corporate sponsorships, food and beverage concessions, and team merchandise.

Product overview

The United Shore Professional Baseball League (USPBL) is a single-entity independent professional baseball league operating as a developmental finishing school for players seeking to reach Major League Baseball. The league's core offering is its four-team baseball competition (Birmingham Bloomfield Beavers, Eastside Diamond Hoppers, Utica Unicorns, and Westside Woolly Mammoths) played at UWM Field in Utica, Michigan. The league complements its sporting product with ancillary offerings including game tickets (individual, group, and season plans), premium venue experiences (suites and Diamond Tables), private event venue rentals, promotional themed-events, and fan engagement programs like Kids Club 2.0 and the HomeTeam Network. The league also hosts the annual College Senior Showcase for player development and the Fall Music Classic as a separate entertainment property.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• USPBL Baseball League (Four-Team Competition) An independent professional baseball league operating four teams (Birmingham Bloomfield Beavers, Eastside Diamond Hoppers, Utica Unicorns, Westside Woolly Mammoths) at UWM Field, serving as a developmental finishing school for players seeking to reach Major League Baseball.
• UWM Field Stadium Venue The primary stadium venue located in Utica, MI where all USPBL games are played; the facility also hosts private events, corporate functions, and community activities.
• Individual Game Tickets Single-game admission tickets for USPBL baseball games at UWM Field, sold through the TicketReturn.com platform, with some themed nights offering promotional discounts.
• Season Ticket Plans Full-season ticket packages offering reserved seating and benefits for dedicated fans on an annual subscription basis.
• Group Outings and Tickets Group ticket packages designed for corporate events, family gatherings, and organizational outings at USPBL games.
• Suites and Diamond Tables Premium hospitality spaces including luxury suites and Diamond Tables for private groups, corporate events, and VIP experiences at UWM Field.
• Family Fun Pack Bundled ticket and food package including four Grandstand Tickets and four Hungry Howie's Pizzas, priced starting at $68 for a family of four.
• Private Event Venue Rentals Venue rental services at UWM Field including the AAA Clubhouse (25-250 people with bar, TVs, sound system), Pavilion, Locker Room, and full field rental for corporate events, holiday parties, weddings, and team-building.
• Corporate Sponsorship Packages Sponsorship and partnership packages including league-level naming rights (USPBL powered by Mortgage Matchup), stadium naming rights (UWM Field), and event-level sponsorships (e.g., Stanley Steemer Postgame Fireworks, Hungry Howie's pizza, Castile Dental Group 4th of July).
• USPBL Merchandise Shop Online storefront selling team jerseys, championship shirts, and branded USPBL merchandise for the four teams and the league.
• Player Development Reports Statistical tracking and analysis of player performance throughout the season, supporting the league's MLB development pipeline mission.
• College Senior Showcase Annual showcase event where college seniors demonstrate their baseball skills for MLB scouts and team representatives as part of USPBL's player development pathway.

Quantifiable outcome

• 9 players signed by MLB organizations in inaugural 2016 season
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Mortgage MatchupflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerNaming rights partner powering the league. The USPBL is officially branded as 'USPBL powered by Mortgage Matchup', indicating a primary sponsorship relationship.
• Stanley SteemercoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPostgame fireworks sponsor presenting spectacular fireworks shows after select games throughout the season.
• Detroit ZoominorGTM or Marketing PartnerTheme night partner for Detroit Zoo Night featuring animal-themed entertainment and special appearances at the ballpark.
• Hungry Howie's PizzaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPizza sponsor included in Family Fun Pack promotions, providing food offerings for fan packages.
• Drivergent TransportationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSound stage sponsor for live music events featuring DJ Matt at select games throughout the season.
• Castile Dental GroupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting sponsor for 4th of July Celebration event at UWM Field.
• United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM)flagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerNaming rights sponsor for UWM Field, the league's primary stadium venue (formerly Jimmy John's Field).
• General Sports and EntertainmentflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerRochester, MI-based parent company and league founder. Founded the USPBL and provides overall league management, operations, and strategic direction.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Detroit Tigers: MLB franchise based in Detroit. The dominant professional baseball brand in USPBL's home market, competing for fan attention, sponsorship dollars, and corporate entertainment spend.
• Sugar Land Space Cowboys: Triple-A minor league affiliate in the Houston area. Comparable as a professional baseball entertainment product with similar diversified revenue model (tickets, suites, events), though with MLB affiliation and substantially larger scale.
• West Michigan Whitecaps: High-A minor league affiliate of the Detroit Tigers based in Comstock Park, MI. Competes with USPBL for baseball entertainment dollars in the broader Michigan market but with MLB affiliation and larger fan base.

Direct peers

• Pioneer League: MLB Partner League covering the Mountain West and Midwest. Comparable to USPBL via its independent professional baseball structure with MLB affiliation pathway and similar market sizes.
• Northwoods League: Premier collegiate summer baseball league operating across the upper Midwest. Comparable to USPBL through summer baseball operations, themed game nights, and family-focused entertainment strategy in the Midwest region.
• Kalamazoo Growlers: Member of the Northwoods League, a collegiate summer wooden-bat league. Comparable to USPBL as a Michigan-based summer baseball operation with similar family-entertainment focus and themed promotions.
• Frontier League: Partner league of Major League Baseball's independent league system serving primarily smaller U.S. cities. Comparable to USPBL through independent-league operations, developmental pipeline, and community-based game presentation.
• American Association of Professional Baseball: Independent professional baseball league with teams across the Midwest and Canada. Closely comparable to USPBL in league structure, geographic concentration in the Midwest, and developmental finishing school positioning.
• Atlantic League of Professional Baseball: Established independent professional baseball league operating across multiple U.S. markets. Most comparable peer to USPBL given shared independent-league model, player development focus, and reliance on ticket and sponsorship revenue.

Emerging players

• Savannah Bananas: Independent exhibition baseball team that has built a national entertainment brand through theatrical game presentation. Comparable to USPBL in independent baseball operations and themed entertainment, but at a substantially larger scale and different distribution model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://uspbl.com
• Xx.com/uspbl
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/united-shore-professional-baseball-league
• Pinterestpinterest.com/pin/create/link/?url=https://uspbl.com

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about United Shore Professional Baseball League