Premier Lacrosse League Preparing Shift to City-Based Franchises – Sportico.com
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The tour-based PLL, which launched in 2019, will soon be assigning a geographic affiliation—a city, state or region—to each of its eight franchises.
Illustration by Lorenzo Gordon, Photo by Getty Images
The Premier Lacrosse League is beginning its shift to geographically affiliated teams, according to multiple people familiar with the plans, a major step in the five-year-old league’s evolution.
At a board meeting in Los Angeles last month, PLL executives discussed assigning each of the league’s eight franchises a specific affiliation—a city, state or region—said the people, who were granted anonymity because the details are private. The plan, dubbed “Project Next,” would take effect after the 2023 season, with geographic affiliations likely assigned before the end of the year.
The PLL’s current tour-based model won’t cease immediately, the people said; the eight home markets will likely become stops on the PLL’s annual schedule next year.
That said, individual teams will be able to begin growing a local following via youth camps, local sponsorships and other ticketed events. Longer term, it could pave the way for a more standard home-and-away schedule.
A representative for the PLL declined to comment.
Founded in 2018 by lacrosse star Paul Rabil and his brother, Mike Rabil, the PLL launched with six teams, and later expanded to eight. Along the way, it lured a number of high-profile investors, secured distribution via ESPN, and purchased Major League Lacrosse (MLL), the incumbent outdoor circuit.
Specifics of the “Project Next” transition are yet to be determined, the people said. The PLL has the next few months to decide which cities/regions are best for its first home markets. That will likely include an analysis of lacrosse’s popularity, the PLL’s local fanbase, merchandise and ticket sales, and available venues.
The league will also review its individual team names and brands, which could result in changes.
For example, the PLL owns all the IP from the MLL as part of its 2020 acquisition. One MLL team, the Boston Cannons, became the PLL’s eighth franchise following that deal, and the brand, stripped of its city affiliation, has remained strong. The Cannons have more followers on Twitter (28,000) and Instagram (73,000) than any other PLL team.
Should Boston be chosen as a city, the Cannons would likely be that city’s team. The PLL could also choose to revive other MLL brands as part of its push into specific geographic areas.
Once the geographic affiliations are assigned, PLL teams will begin experimenting with local revenue opportunities, which could be boosted by changes to the league’s structure and schedule. As an example, board members last month discussed the possibility of the “home” team playing a double-header when the tour stops in its market next year, according to one of the people.
This is a different approach to new cities than the one taken by other single-entity leagues like the NWSL or MLS, which run location-agnostic expansion processes; however this process may better suit the PLL given its sport, its structure, and its stage of development.
While those leagues have their core cities, including New York and Los Angeles, already locked up, the PLL is starting from scratch geographically. (Future expansion beyond the first eight could follow a different process.)
Also, the PLL is not looking to bring in new investors, or expansion fees, the way other leagues are. The league’s franchises already exists, as do the investors. The PLL cap table includes many of the names that you might expect to line up for franchise ownership, such as Joe Tsai, David Blitzer, Bob Kraft and Arctos Sports Partners.
Many of those investors also have board seats. The league’s nine-person board is comprised of Paul and Mike Rabil, CAA Sports co-head Mike Levine, Tsai, Arctos managing partner Doc O’Connor, The Chernin Group partner Mike Kearns, Raine partner Colin Neville, Barstool Sports CEO Erika Ayers and Hildene Capital Management founder Brett Jefferson.
The PLL owns all of its teams right now. It’s unclear if the long-term vision includes teams eventually transitioning to individual ownership groups (a move that would bring PLL in line with other single-entity leagues like MLS), or a continuation of the current model.
Other possibilities could include an IPO (a la WWE), or a future sale.
More discussions about “Project Next” will likely be held during the PLL’s next board meetings in July.
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Follow the #ProBuckeyes – Ohio State Buckeyes
Follow the #ProBuckeyes – Ohio State Buckeyes
This summer, seven former Buckeyes will be suiting up for professional lacrosse teams.
Follow their journies here.
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Major League Lacrosse
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Jack Jasinski • Denver Outlaws
Jack Jasinski and the Denver Outlaws reached the MLL Championship Game, falling to Boston, 13-10. Jasinski was Denver’s fourth-leading scorer, finishing with nine points (6G, 3A).
Bio and Stats
July 18-25
2020 MLL Schedule
Project next link
Jack Jasinski: Pioneer on the Rise
From amateur motocross to baseball, and eventually lacrosse, the path for Jack Jasinski to the MLL was not the smoothest. Yet, the Denver Outlaws midfielder never lost sight.
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Premier Lacrosse League
Dominique Alexander • Archers
A captain for the 2013 Buckeyes, Dominique Alexander is in his second year with the Archers LC.
Last year, he was the inaugural recipient of the league’s George Boiardi SSDM Hard Hat Award.
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Tyler Pfister • Archers
Pfister spent five years with the Buckeyes (2013-17) and as a senior captain in 2017, helped Ohio State reach the National Championship Game. He is in his second year with Archers LC.
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Jesse King • Chrome
Jesse King is in his first season with Crome LC. He’s played four years of professional box lacrosse following his Ohio State career that ended with him as the program’s fourth all-time leading scorer (208 points).
Bio and Stats
Jake Withers • Waterdogs
The 2018 NLL Rookie of the Year, Jake Withers is playing his first season in the PLL as a member of the expansion Waterdogs. He’s Ohio State’s all-time leader with 351 groundballs.
Bio and Stats
Kevin Buchanan • Chaos
One of the most decorated professional lacrosse players in Ohio State history, Kevin Buchanan is in his second year with Chaos LC.
He was a member of the 2014 U.S. Men’s National Team and also won an MLL title in 2011.
Bio and Stats
July 25-Aug. 9
PLL Schedule
Project next link
The Years that Morphed Jake Withers into a Potential Leader for the Waterdogs
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Blast Lacrosse game – PlayStation | Playstation
Blast lacrosse is an indoor lacrosse game. It is officially licensed and based in the National Lacrosse League and features all nine teams of its 14th season, including the mascots. He is also licensed by the Professional Lacrosse Players Association. The in-game advertisement for Shamrock lacrosse. The lid features an Ottawa Rebel player wearing #88.
Blast Lacrosse is designed to offer gamers all the action and teamwork of hardened lacrosse with Acclaim’s signature arcade-style spin. Arguably the first lacrosse video game designed for any home system, Blast Lacrosse features indoor-style five-on-five play featuring powerful collisions, fast stick checks and fast, powerful shots.
Named has additional legitimacy through an official license from the National Lacrosse League and features real teams and players. The game supports comprehensive team and player stats and special “On Fire”, “Turbo” modes for further variety and excitement in strategy and games.
Manufacturer Description:
The world’s first video game lacrosse is blowing its way onto the PlayStation game console with a 5-on-5 non-stop arcade game that tests you right in the boards!
It’s better to play a pretty pushy sport if you’re going to dare to call Hockey players all wusses. But if you’ve mastered the Crosse and got your fair share of peat in your crop, you deserve it. For the first time in history, video games are turning into one of the fastest and most physical sports from ice to game, which delivers every check as these helmets are yet to be experienced. The lacrosse blast comes in full force with gameplay straight out of NBA Jam and NFL Blitz – lightning fast gameplay, brutal strikes, no rules worth mentioning, lit turbo powers, killer special moves, and pumping graphic flares.
Providing the perfect combination of hard hitting and fast-paced action, Explosion Lacrosse captures the Uncaged fury of professional indoor lacrosse. The game features all 9 National Lacrosse League teams, as well as NBL players, uniforms, and mascots. Also find exciting game modes, complete NBLI rosters, intuitive control schemes and color commentary from sports talk radio host Scott Farrell. Get ready for a fast sport on two legs!
* Officially licensed by the National Lacrosse League.
* All 9 NBL teams featuring official player rosters, uniforms and full season games.
* Feel the intensity of professional indoor lacrosse with tabletop checks, stick checks and an intense Turbo Check!
controls * Quick Pick-Up-and-Play features like Turbo and On-Fire let you hit harder, run faster, jump higher and perform incredible special moves.
* 8 pivotal smashing game modes including: Sudden Death, Survivor, Last Man Standing and Tournament! attributes *
player include: Speed, Shot & Pass Strength, Throw Accuracy, Strength & Weight.
* Above the top color commentary of national sports talk radio host Scott Farrell. (Note: Scott Farrell is a wacky radio host who currently works for Sirius Satellite Radio on Howard Stern 100 or 101)
* Full game stats give you a story about the tape for goals, assists, shots on goal, except for percentage, body checks and time of ownership.
Features:
- The third person in the run.
- 3D graphics
- Cartoon graphics
- lacrosse theme.
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