How is Paul Rabil transforming professional lacrosse. What innovative strategies is the Premier Lacrosse League implementing. Why is the PLL’s business model unique in the sports industry. How does the league’s player-centric approach differ from traditional sports organizations. What impact will the PLL have on the future of lacrosse.
The Rise of Paul Rabil: From Johns Hopkins Star to Lacrosse Innovator
Paul Rabil, a former Johns Hopkins University lacrosse sensation, has emerged as a transformative figure in the sport. During his collegiate career from 2005 to 2008, Rabil showcased his exceptional skills by scoring an impressive 111 goals. His prowess on the field led to a successful professional career, earning him MVP status in the Major Lacrosse League.
At the age of 33, Rabil has taken on a new challenge that extends beyond his playing career. Alongside his brother Mike Rabil, he has co-founded the Premier Lacrosse League (PLL), a venture that aims to revolutionize the sport and propel it into the modern era.
Rabil’s Lacrosse Legacy
- 111 goals scored at Johns Hopkins University (2005-2008)
- MVP career in the Major Lacrosse League
- Co-founder of the Premier Lacrosse League
The Premier Lacrosse League: A New Era for the Sport
The Premier Lacrosse League represents a bold new approach to professional lacrosse. Set to launch in June, the PLL will feature six teams competing in a touring format across 14 weekends and 12 major markets. This innovative structure aims to capitalize on modern sports trends and maximize exposure for the game.
How does the PLL differ from traditional sports leagues? The league’s unique approach includes:
- A touring format instead of city-based teams
- Emphasis on player-centric marketing
- Utilization of digital technology and new media platforms
- Focus on engaging younger demographics
Innovative Funding and Player Compensation in the PLL
One of the most striking 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.
Who are the key investors in the PLL? The league has attracted support from:
- 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,” indicating a strong financial position for its launch and future growth.
Player-Centric Compensation Model
The PLL’s approach to player compensation sets it apart from traditional sports leagues. How does the PLL prioritize its athletes? The league has implemented a three-pronged strategy:
- Increased cash compensation compared to existing professional lacrosse leagues
- Provision of healthcare benefits, a first in professional lacrosse
- Offering stock options, making players equity owners in the league
This innovative model not only provides financial security for players but also aligns their interests with the league’s success, fostering a sense of ownership and commitment.
The PLL’s Unique Team Structure and Fan Engagement Strategy
The Premier Lacrosse League has taken a novel approach to team structure and fan engagement. Instead of representing specific cities or locations, the six teams in the PLL have unique nicknames: Archers, Atlas, Chaos, Chrome, Redwoods, and Whipsnakes.
Why did the PLL choose this non-geographic team structure? This decision serves multiple purposes:
- Prevents fans in non-represented locations from feeling isolated
- Aligns with changing fan behavior, particularly among younger demographics
- Allows for a more flexible and dynamic league structure
Rabil and his team have recognized a shift in how fans, especially Millennials and Gen Z, engage with sports. Data from platforms like Google, Facebook, and Instagram suggest that younger fans are more likely to follow individual players rather than teams. This trend has influenced the PLL’s strategy to focus on player-centric marketing and engagement.
The Power of Player-Centric Fandom
How are modern sports fans different from traditional ones? According to Rabil, “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.”
This insight has shaped the PLL’s approach to fan engagement, leveraging social media and digital platforms to create direct connections between players and fans, regardless of geographic location.
Media Distribution and Broadcast Strategy
The Premier Lacrosse League has secured a comprehensive media deal that will ensure widespread visibility across various platforms. This multi-channel approach aims to maximize the league’s reach and accessibility to fans.
How will PLL games be broadcast? The league’s media distribution includes:
- 3 games broadcast on NBC
- 16 games broadcast on NBCSN
- 19 games carried on NBC digital platforms
This diverse broadcasting strategy allows the PLL to reach traditional television audiences while also catering to the growing number of fans who prefer to stream content online or on mobile devices.
Inaugural Season Schedule
The PLL’s first season is set to begin with a bang, featuring games in some of the most prominent sports venues in the country. The league’s inaugural schedule includes:
- 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: The PLL’s Impressive Roster of Talent
The Premier Lacrosse League has attracted an impressive array of talent, featuring some of the most accomplished players in the sport. This concentration of skill and experience promises to deliver high-quality, competitive lacrosse to fans.
Who are some of the star players joining the PLL? The league’s rosters include:
- Paul Rabil (Johns Hopkins)
- Kyle Harrison (Johns Hopkins)
- Kyle Hartzell (Salisbury)
- Matt Rambo (Maryland)
- Tucker Durkin (Johns Hopkins)
Beyond individual stars, the PLL boasts an impressive collection of accolades among its players:
- 10 Tewaaraton Award winners
- Over 10 pro lacrosse MVPs
- 21 Team USA players
- 17 Team Canada players
Growing the Game: The PLL Academy and Youth Engagement
The Premier Lacrosse League is not only focused on professional competition but also on growing the sport at the grassroots level. To achieve this, the league has established the PLL Academy, an initiative designed to provide instructional sessions for youth players.
How will the PLL Academy impact young lacrosse players? The program offers several benefits:
- Direct contact between aspiring players and top professionals
- High-impact training and instruction
- Inspiration and mentorship from elite athletes
Rabil emphasizes the importance 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.”
This commitment to youth development demonstrates the PLL’s long-term vision for growing the sport and nurturing the next generation of lacrosse talent.
Building Buzz Through Social Media
In preparation for its inaugural season, the PLL has been leveraging social media platforms to generate excitement and engage with fans. The league’s presence on Twitter and Instagram has been particularly active, creating a buzz around the upcoming launch.
How is the PLL using social media to connect with fans? The league’s strategy includes:
- Sharing player profiles and highlights
- Providing behind-the-scenes content
- Encouraging fan interaction and discussion
- Announcing league updates and news
This digital-first approach aligns with the PLL’s overall strategy of engaging younger fans and leveraging modern media platforms to grow the sport’s popularity.
The Future of Lacrosse: Paul Rabil’s Vision for the PLL
As the Premier Lacrosse League prepares for its launch, Paul Rabil’s vision for the future of the sport is coming into focus. By combining innovative business practices, player-centric policies, and a deep understanding of modern sports fandom, Rabil and his team are positioning the PLL to lead lacrosse into a new era.
What are the key elements of Rabil’s vision for the PLL? The league’s approach encompasses:
- Embracing digital technology and new media platforms
- Prioritizing player welfare and engagement
- Creating a flexible, touring league structure
- Focusing on fan engagement and accessibility
- Investing in youth development and grassroots growth
As the sport of lacrosse continues to evolve, the Premier Lacrosse League stands poised to play a pivotal role in shaping its future. With Paul Rabil’s leadership and a forward-thinking approach, the PLL aims to elevate lacrosse to new heights of popularity and success in the 21st century.
The Impact of Innovation on Lacrosse’s Growth
How will the PLL’s innovative approach impact the growth of lacrosse? The league’s strategies have the potential to:
- Attract new fans to the sport
- Increase media coverage and exposure
- Improve the financial stability of professional lacrosse
- Inspire young athletes to pursue the sport
- Drive technological advancements in training and performance
As the Premier Lacrosse League prepares to make its debut, the sports world watches with anticipation. Will Paul Rabil’s vision for a modern, player-centric league revolutionize not only lacrosse but also influence the broader landscape of professional sports? Only time will tell, but the PLL’s innovative approach and strong financial backing suggest that it has the potential to make a significant impact on the future of lacrosse and sports entertainment as a whole.
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.
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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.
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Lacrosse
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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.
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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.
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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.
