How is Paul Rabil transforming professional lacrosse. What innovative approaches is the Premier Lacrosse League implementing. Why is the PLL’s player-centric model gaining attention in the sports world. How does the league’s digital strategy cater to modern fans. What impact could the PLL have on lacrosse’s future growth.
The Rise of Paul Rabil: From Johns Hopkins Star to Lacrosse Innovator
Paul Rabil’s journey from collegiate lacrosse sensation to professional league founder is a testament to his vision for the sport’s future. As a midfielder at Johns Hopkins University from 2005 to 2008, Rabil’s prowess on the field was undeniable, scoring an impressive 111 goals during his tenure. This exceptional performance laid the groundwork for his subsequent MVP career in the Major Lacrosse League.
At the age of 33, Rabil has embarked on his most ambitious venture yet: co-founding the Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) with his brother Mike Rabil. This new league represents a bold step forward for the sport, blending traditional elements with innovative approaches designed to appeal to a modern audience.
Rabil’s Collegiate Legacy
- Played for Johns Hopkins University from 2005-2008
- Scored 111 goals as a midfielder
- Transitioned to a successful professional career
- Recognized as an MVP in the Major Lacrosse League
The Premier Lacrosse League: A New Era for the Sport
The Premier Lacrosse League, set to launch in June, represents a significant departure from traditional sports league models. Rabil and his team have designed the PLL with a forward-thinking approach that aims to capitalize on the evolving sports landscape and fan preferences.
How does the PLL differ from traditional sports leagues? The league will feature six teams competing in a touring format, spanning 14 weekends across 12 major markets. This unique structure allows the PLL to bring top-tier lacrosse action to diverse locations while fostering a sense of national community among fans.
Key Features of the PLL
- Six teams competing in a touring format
- 14 weekends of play
- 12 major markets hosting games
- Focus on digital technology and modern fan engagement
Innovative Funding and Player Compensation Models
One of the most distinctive aspects of the Premier Lacrosse League is its approach to funding and player compensation. Unlike many startup sports leagues, the PLL has secured backing from prominent venture capital firms, ensuring a solid financial foundation for its ambitious plans.
Who are the key investors in the PLL? The league has attracted support from influential names in the venture capital world, including:
- The Raine Group
- Creative Artists Agency
- The Chernin Group
- Blum Capital
While the exact amount of funding remains undisclosed, Rabil has stated that the league is “well funded,” suggesting a strong financial base for its operations.
Player-Centric Compensation Structure
Perhaps the most revolutionary aspect of the PLL is its approach to player compensation. How does the PLL prioritize its athletes? The league has implemented a three-pronged strategy:
- Increased cash compensation compared to industry averages
- Access to health care for players, a first in professional lacrosse
- Stock options in the league, making players equity owners
This player-centric model represents a significant shift in professional sports, potentially setting a new standard for athlete treatment and engagement.
Redefining Team Identity in Professional Sports
The Premier Lacrosse League takes an unconventional approach to team identity, eschewing traditional geographic affiliations. Instead of representing specific cities or regions, the six PLL teams are known by unique nicknames: Archers, Atlas, Chaos, Chrome, Redwoods, and Whipsnakes.
Why has the PLL chosen this non-geographic model? This decision serves multiple purposes:
- Encourages fans from all locations to engage with the league
- Aligns with changing fan behavior, particularly among younger demographics
- Facilitates the league’s touring format
Rabil notes that this strategy reflects a broader shift in how fans, especially Millennials and Gen Z, engage with sports. Data from platforms like Google, Facebook, and Instagram suggests that younger fans are increasingly likely to follow individual players rather than teams tied to specific locations.
Leveraging Media Partnerships for Maximum Exposure
To ensure widespread visibility and accessibility, the Premier Lacrosse League has secured a comprehensive media deal that spans traditional broadcast, cable, and digital platforms. This multi-faceted approach aims to reach lacrosse fans across various viewing preferences and habits.
How will PLL games be broadcast? The league’s media strategy includes:
- Three games broadcast on NBC
- Sixteen games on NBCSN
- Nineteen games carried on NBC digital platforms
This diverse distribution strategy allows the PLL to maximize its reach, catering to both traditional television viewers and those who prefer streaming options.
Inaugural Season Schedule Highlights
The PLL’s first season is set to begin with a bang, featuring games in several major markets:
- June 1-2: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Mass.
- June 8-9: Red Bull Arena, New York
- June 15-16: SeatGeek Stadium, Chicago
- June 22-23: Homewood Field, Johns Hopkins University (co-hosted with Women’s Professional Lacrosse League)
Star Power: Attracting Top Talent to the PLL
The Premier Lacrosse League has successfully recruited an impressive roster of players, drawing from the elite ranks of collegiate and professional lacrosse. This concentration of talent underscores the league’s commitment to showcasing the highest level of play.
Who are some of the standout players joining the PLL? Fans can look forward to seeing familiar names such as:
- Paul Rabil (Johns Hopkins)
- Kyle Harrison (Johns Hopkins)
- Kyle Hartzell (Salisbury)
- Matt Rambo (Maryland)
- Tucker Durkin (Johns Hopkins)
The league’s talent pool is further bolstered by an impressive array of accolades:
- 10 Tewaaraton Award winners
- Over 10 pro lacrosse MVPs
- 21 Team USA players
- 17 Team Canada players
Nurturing the Next Generation: The PLL Academy
Beyond professional competition, the Premier Lacrosse League is committed to growing the sport at the grassroots level. The PLL Academy represents a key initiative in this effort, providing young players with unprecedented access to the world’s top lacrosse talent.
How does the PLL Academy work? The program leverages the league’s touring format to offer instructional sessions for youth players in each market visited. This approach creates unique opportunities for aspiring lacrosse players to learn from and interact with their heroes.
Rabil emphasizes the potential impact of this program, stating, “On any given weekend, when we have 120 of the best players in the world and in a major market city leading into that weekend and out of it, we’ll be able to offer … contact between future lacrosse players and the top players in the world.”
Benefits of the PLL Academy
- Direct instruction from elite players
- Exposure to professional-level techniques and strategies
- Inspiration for young athletes
- Strengthening the lacrosse community across generations
The enthusiasm for the PLL Academy extends to the league’s players as well, with Rabil noting, “It’s a high-impact program and a lot of our players want to participate in it.”
Digital Engagement: Building Buzz in the Modern Sports Landscape
Recognizing the importance of digital platforms in today’s sports ecosystem, the Premier Lacrosse League has prioritized social media engagement from its inception. This strategy aims to build anticipation for the inaugural season and foster a strong online community around the league.
How is the PLL leveraging social media? The league has been particularly active on Twitter and Instagram, platforms known for their real-time engagement and visual storytelling capabilities. This approach allows the PLL to:
- Share behind-the-scenes content
- Highlight player personalities
- Provide real-time updates and announcements
- Engage directly with fans and answer questions
- Create viral moments to increase visibility
By embracing these digital channels, the PLL is positioning itself to capture the attention of younger, tech-savvy fans who increasingly consume sports content through social media rather than traditional broadcast outlets.
The Power of Player-Driven Content
One of the unique aspects of the PLL’s digital strategy is its emphasis on player-driven content. How does this approach benefit the league? By encouraging players to share their own stories and experiences, the PLL can:
- Humanize the sport and its athletes
- Create more authentic connections with fans
- Tap into players’ existing social media followings
- Provide diverse and engaging content across multiple channels
This player-centric content strategy aligns with Rabil’s observation that modern fans are increasingly drawn to individual athletes rather than teams or organizations. By amplifying player voices, the PLL can foster stronger emotional connections with its audience.
The Future of Lacrosse: PLL’s Potential Impact on the Sport
As the Premier Lacrosse League prepares for its inaugural season, many in the sports world are watching closely to see how this innovative approach might reshape the landscape of professional lacrosse. The PLL’s blend of traditional elements with forward-thinking strategies has the potential to catalyze significant growth and evolution within the sport.
What are some potential long-term impacts of the PLL on lacrosse? While it’s too early to predict with certainty, several possibilities emerge:
- Increased visibility for lacrosse on a national scale
- Growing interest in the sport among younger demographics
- Improved financial opportunities for professional players
- Acceleration of lacrosse’s evolution as a spectator sport
- Potential influence on other professional sports leagues
Paul Rabil’s vision for the Premier Lacrosse League represents a bold attempt to bridge lacrosse’s rich history with the demands and opportunities of the modern sports landscape. By prioritizing player welfare, embracing digital engagement, and rethinking traditional league structures, the PLL is poised to make a significant impact on the world of lacrosse and potentially beyond.
As the league prepares for its June launch, all eyes will be on Rabil and his team to see if their innovative approach can successfully elevate lacrosse to new heights of popularity and commercial success. Regardless of the outcome, the PLL’s ambitious model is sure to provide valuable lessons for the future of professional sports in an increasingly digital and globalized world.
Johns Hopkins Lacrosse Legend Paul Rabil Aims To Grow Game Through Forward-Thinking PLL
Lacrosse’s history may predate the arrival of Europeans in North America but its future will be influenced by the momentum of the 21st century, according to the sport’s most prominent superstar.
Paul Rabil, the spectacular Johns Hopkins University midfielder who scored 111 goals from 2005-2008 and went on to an MVP career in the Major Lacrosse League, is taking on a new role within the sport — league founder.
Rabil, 33, and his older brother Mike Rabil are set to launch the Premier Lacrosse League in June with a business approach befitting a Silicon Valley startup and a strategy that will try to take advantage of digital technology and even the changing tastes of young fans.
Rabil said the new league, which will feature six teams playing in a touring format throughout 14 weekends in 12 major markets, will try to “optimize the modern sports environment where there is new stadiums, new distribution with [both] the major broadcast networks and new tech platforms … as well as the modern athletes who have become celebrities.
”
Among the differences between the PLL and many other new league startups is how it’s being funded.
The new lacrosse league is being backed by cash from some of the most impressive names in venture capital, including The Raine Group, Creative Artists Agency, The Chernin Group and Blum Capital.
While declining to disclose exactly how much money was raised, Rabil said the new league is “well funded.”
But perhaps the biggest difference between the PLL and other nascent sports enterprises is how its players are compensated. Players are employed by the league rather than individual teams.
“When we built the PLL, we did it with the athletes first and we did it in three ways,” Rabil said. “First, we increased their [compensation] — from a cash standpoint — than what was, on average, being distributed to the players. We gave them access to health care for the first time in pro lacrosse. And we gave them stock options in the business so our players are actually equity owners in the league.
”
Still another difference is that while the league will feature six teams, none will represent a specific city or location. They simply have nicknames: Archers, Atlas, Chaos, Chrome, Redwoods and Whipsnakes.
One reason for that decision was so fans in locations not represented by a team wouldn’t feel isolated and left out. But the non-geographic specific strategy is also part of a broader recognition that younger fans identify with and engage with spectator sports differently than fans who grew up with the traditions of the 20th century that were rooted in hometown loyalties.
“What we’re seeing more than ever — and there’s data to support it through Google and Facebook and Instagram — that especially with Millennials and Gen Z, they are choosing their favorite player over their team [by a wide margin],” Rabil said.
“A fan on the East Coast can be a Golden State Warrior supporter because they like Steph Curry, and they can watch Steph Curry play live on their mobile device or even on their television any time they want and they can engage with Steph Curry on social media where he’s speaking directly to them.
”
The new league will be boosted by a media deal that will see games broadcast on network, cable and over-the-top (internet) channels.
NBC will broadcast three games. Sixteen games will be broadcast on NBCSN. And an additional 19 games will be carried on NBC digital platforms.
Play will begin June 1-2 with games at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., followed by stops in New York (June 8-9, Red Bull Arena) and Chicago (June 15-16, SeatGeek Stadium). The PLL and Women’s Profesional Lacrosse League will co-host games at Johns Hopkins’ Homewood Field June 22-23.
Local lacrosse fans will recognize many of the players who have already been announced to fill the PLL’s rosters. Along with Rabil, a few of the familiar names are Kyle Harrison (Johns Hopkins), Kyle Hartzell (Salisbury), Matt Rambo (Maryland) and Tucker Durkin (Johns Hopkins).
In all, the league boasts 10 Tewaaraton Award winners, more than 10 pro lacrosse MVPs, 21 Team USA players and 17 Team Canada players.
In addition to offering world-class play on the field, the league plans to conduct instructional sessions for youth players through a PLL Academy.
“On any given weekend, when we have 120 of the best players in the world and in a major market city leading into that weekend and out of it, we’ll be able to offer … contact between future lacrosse players and the top players in the world,” Rabil said.
“It’s a high-impact program and a lot of our players want to participate in it,” he added.
Already the PLL has been creating buzz for its inaugural season on Twitter and Instagram knowing that’s where it’ll best reach the young fans it hopes to attract.
“We’re already demonstrating,” Rabil said, “that we have the ability to tell the story of our league, our teams, our coaches and our players.”
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Johns Hopkins Athletics
Issue 252: March 2019
Paul Rabil Archives – PressBox
Best Of 2021
PressBox
Best of 2021, Kyle Harrison, Paul Rabil, PLL
2021 marks PressBox’s fifth annual Best Of edition celebrating the top people, performances and moments of the year.
Read more
College Sports Lacrosse Spotlight Top Stories
Todd Karpovich
Charley Toomey, Dave Pietramala, Jennifer S. Baker, Johns Hopkins Lacrosse, Loyola Lacrosse, Paul Rabil
Dave Pietramala is admittedly not a reflective person, but since his 20-year tenure as the head coach of the Johns Hopkins men’s lacrosse team ended, he has taken some time to look back on his stellar run with the program.
Read more
Lacrosse
PressBox
Paul Rabil, PLL
The Premier Lacrosse League visited Homewood Field June 22-23, and one of the games drew a sellout crowd.
“It was amazing. … We set out every week to exceed all of our metrics and assumptions,” PLL co-founder Paul Rabil said.
Read more
Lacrosse
PressBox
Paul Rabil, PLL
As the Premier Lacrosse League prepares to visit Johns Hopkins’ Homewood Field June 22-23, founder Paul Rabil is committed to short- and long-term growth for the league. “Building a pro sports league is a 10-year venture,” Rabil said.
Read more
Lacrosse More Sports Sports Business Report Top Stories
Bill Ordine
Johns Hopkins Lacrosse, Paul Rabil, PLL
Former Johns Hopkins lacrosse star Paul Rabil — who co-founded the Premier Lacrosse League with his brother, Mike — is aiming to grow the game and league through a business approach befitting a Silicon Valley startup.
