Professional lacrosse league (PLL) is a new men’s field lacrosse league that launched in 2019. The PLL has quickly become one of the premier professional lacrosse leagues in North America. With star players, exciting competition, and games broadcast on national television, the PLL has brought increased visibility and interest to the fast-paced sport of lacrosse.
The Origins of the PLL
The Professional Lacrosse League was founded by lacrosse star Paul Rabil and his brother Mike Rabil in 2018. For years, Paul Rabil dreamed of creating a professional lacrosse league that would bring the best players in the world together, increase exposure for the sport, and provide a top-tier pro league experience for both players and fans. After securing major investors like The Chernin Group and The Raine Group, the Rabils were able to turn their vision into a reality with the launch of the PLL in 2019.
The PLL was created to fill a void in professional lacrosse left by the collapse of the previous league, Major League Lacrosse (MLL). In its early years from 2001-2003, MLL showed promise and initially attracted top talent. However, over time the league developed issues like poor attendance, low revenue, and inadequate media exposure that prevented substantial growth. As MLL continued to struggle, it opened an opportunity for the Rabils to reimagine what a successful pro lacrosse league could look like.
How the PLL is Structured
The PLL features six pro lacrosse teams with rosters of up to 35 players each. But unlike most sports leagues, the teams are not based in specific cities. Instead, each PLL team is owned by the league itself. The teams have geographic names like the Atlas, Redwoods, and Waterdogs, but they do not have a home arena. This touring model means the teams travel to different cities each weekend during the season to play in different stadium venues.
The inaugural 2019 PLL season had games primarily on the east coast, with stops in cities like New York, Baltimore, Washington DC, and Boston. In 2020, the PLL planned to expand further across North America with events in Chicago, Atlanta, Los Angeles, and Vancouver before the season was cancelled due to COVID-19.
This unique structure provides players with more stability and ensures they do not have to relocate or find new housing every season based on trades or transactions. It also gives the league flexibility in scheduling games in major media markets to maximize exposure and provide playing opportunities in areas with strong youth and high school lacrosse participation.
The PLL Season Structure
The PLL runs during the summer months, with its season going from June to September. This aligns the pro lacrosse season with the heart of when most NCAA and scholastic lacrosse is played, helping avoid competing with other major sports leagues like the NBA and NHL who play through the spring. It also positions the PLL to attract the best talent, as many pro players also have college coaching responsibilities during the spring season.
The 2020 PLL season was planned to have 16 regular season tour-based weekends followed by a two-week postseason. Each regular season weekend features three games between two PLL teams. The postseason includes eight teams competing in a single-elimination playoff bracket to crown the yearly PLL champion.
Over the course of the season, each PLL team plays the other teams twice. Teams earn standings points on the season for match results, which determines playoff seeding. The team with the best regular season record earns the top seed and home field advantage should they reach the PLL championship game.
Where Do the PLL Teams Play?
Since the PLL teams themselves are not tied to a specific metropolitan area, the league has flexibility in where it holds events each season. The venues used by the PLL range from smaller university stadiums up to large-scale NFL arenas capable of accommodating 25,000+ fans.
Some of the most common PLL host venues include:
- Red Bull Arena – Harrison, NJ
- Homewood Field – Baltimore, MD
- Audi Field – Washington, D.C.
- Gillette Stadium – Foxborough, MA
- SeatGeek Stadium – Bridgeview, IL
- Dick’s Sporting Goods Park – Commerce City, CO
- LaValle Stadium – Salt Lake City, UT
- Dignity Health Sports Park – Carson, CA
The league has also explored some unique lacrosse settings like hosting games at auto racing venues such as Atlanta Motor Speedway. This provides opportunities to bring lacrosse to new communities and fans who may not otherwise be exposed to the sport.
Notable PLL Events
In its brief history, the Professional Lacrosse League has already seen some memorable games and noteworthy moments that have helped raise the profile of pro lacrosse:
- First PLL game (2019) – The inaugural PLL game was played on June 1, 2019 between the Chrome and Atlas at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA. Chrome won over 8,000 fans in attendance.
- Championship Series (2019) – In the first PLL postseason, Whipsnakes LC defeated Chaos LC 10-9 in a closely contested final at Talen Energy Stadium in Chester, PA.
- All-Star Game (2019) – The first PLL All-Star Game took place July 20, 2019 at Homewood Field in Baltimore, MD. Team Baptiste defeated Team Towe by a score of 10-9 in a highlight-filled exhibition.
- Expansion of women’s pro lacrosse (2020) – The PLL announced the launch of a new women’s pro lacrosse league set to begin play in spring 2023.
- Ryan Brown’s 7-goal game (2019) – Atlas LC attacker Ryan Brown exploded for a record 7 goals in one game during a 18-17 overtime thriller against Redwoods LC.
Moments like these have shown that the on-field product and fan experience delivered by the Professional Lacrosse League can compete with any top-tier pro sports organization.
Media Coverage of the PLL
One of the PLL’s key advantages over previous attempts at professional field lacrosse is having games broadcast on mainstream television. In 2019, NBC Sports aired 17 PLL games across their NBC and NBCSN channels, including the championship on NBCSN.
NBC also provided live streaming options for fans through their NBC Sports Gold service. Between television and online streaming, this gave lacrosse fans unprecedented access to professional content.
In addition to NBC, the PLL has partnered with other digital media outlets to produce behind-the-scenes content for YouTube and social media. This expands the reach and presence of the league into new forms of media and helps foster connections with younger audiences.
The league has received positive reviews not just among lacrosse circles but within the mainstream sports world. ESPN, Sports Illustrated, USA Today and other major outlets have covered the PLL extensively since it’s launch.
College and Youth Lacrosse Connections
A huge part of the PLL’s success has been integrating itself into the larger lacrosse landscape. Commissioner Paul Rabil is often referred to as the face of modern lacrosse, having taken the sport mainstream first as a college star at Johns Hopkins University then through his 14-year pro career.
The PLL has built on this collegiate connection by having games at venues like Homewood Field in Baltimore, MD and LaValle Stadium in Salt Lake City, UT, the homes of major NCAA lacrosse programs. Seeing pro games played at sites where future college stars compete helps build enthusiasm at the youth levels.
In addition, many PLL players also work as coaches for NCAA teams. This provides a direct link between the best college and pro players in the country. PLL athletes regularly hold clinics for youth and high school lacrosse players as well, further cementing these bonds within the sport’s community.
The Future of the Professional Lacrosse League
Based on its impressive early success, the outlook for the PLL appears very bright. With stability among investors and key media partnerships in place, the structure is there for sustained growth of pro lacrosse.
The PLL hopes to continue expanding into new major markets to spread the game. Adding more touring stops on the west coast and internationally in lacrosse hotbeds like Canada will likely be targeted. There is also the possibility of adding more teams down the road to grow the league.
The launch of a professional women’s lacrosse league under the PLL umbrella will further elevate the sport in coming years. With influence over the top levels of both men’s and women’s pro lacrosse, the PLL will help shape the future of the game for generations to come.
If the league stays committed to showcasing world-class talent in an exciting and accessible way for fans, expect the Professional Lacrosse League to cement itself as a fixture in the pro sports world.
Conclusion
In just a few short years, the Professional Lacrosse League has already made dramatic strides in elevating the sport of lacrosse. The touring model provides stability for players while showcasing pro lacrosse in new locations each week. Media partnerships with NBC, YouTube and other outlets have given fans so many more opportunities to watch and follow the pro game. Expect the PLL to continue finding innovative ways to advance professional lacrosse and build the foundations for long-term success.