Major League Lacrosse Championship Weekend Will Be Played at Villanova Stadium
Published on April 29, 2004 under Major League Lacrosse (MLL) News Release
PHILADELPHIA, PA and Boston, MA (April 29, 2004) â Major League Lacrosse (MLL), the premiere professional outdoor lacrosse league, today announced it has selected Villanova Stadium outside Philadelphia as the site where the league's elite teams will gather for Major League Lacrosse New Balance Championship Weekend on August 19 and 22, according to David Gross, MLL Chief Operating Officer. A pair of semi-final games will be played on Thursday, August 19 at 5 p.m. and 8 p.m., with the winners advancing to the Championship Game on Sunday, August 22 at 1 p.m. The Championship Game will be broadcast live on ESPN2.
"Last year's Championship Weekend at Villanova was a tremendous success," said Gross. "We had a league record turnout for the Championship Game, and that was before a Major League Lacrosse team even played in Philadelphia. With the arrival of the Barrage this season and the resulting excitement about the MLL, we expect to exceed last year's record attendance."
"I'm absolutely thrilled to be returning to Villanova Stadium for this year's New Balance Championship Weekend," said MLL Founder Jake Steinfeld, CEO of Body By Jake Global L.L.C. "The reception by the fans was tremendous and the atmosphere was great. It was like a huge summer party celebrating lacrosse. I can't wait to repeat last year's Championship Gameâbut with an even bigger crowd this time."
The 2003 Major League Lacrosse New Balance Championship Weekend proved to be a resounding exclamation point on an incredible season. Meeting in the Championship Game for the third straight year, the Long Island Lizards defeated the defending champion Baltimore Bayhawks, 15-14 in overtime, the first time the MLL title game went into sudden death. A league-record 6,593 fans enjoyed the 2003 Championship Game at Villanova Stadium.
"Villanova University is thrilled to once again have Villanova Stadium serve as the site for Championship Weekend," said Villanova Athletic Director Vince Nicastro. "Last year's event was a great success and we are excited to have the opportunity to continue our partnership with Major League Lacrosse. The League showcases the top talent in the sport of lacrosse and we encourage everyone to attend this year and support this high quality league."
Fans can save by purchasing a ticket package for Major League Lacrosse New Balance Championship Weekend. The package, which includes tickets for both of Thursday's Semi-Final games as well as the Sunday Championship Game, is $30. Groups of 20 or more booked in advance will also enjoy a discount of 20% off the cost of individual tickets. Tickets and group packages may be purchased by calling (866) MLL-TIXX.
The regular season division winners in MLL's American and National divisions earn births at the New Balance Championship Weekend. Two Wild Card spots are awarded to the two teams with the next best regular season records, regardless of division. The division winner with the better record plays the Wild Card team with the lesser record in one Semi-Final game, with the remaining division winner and Wild Card team facing off in the other Semi-Final. This season, the Bayhawks, New Jersey Pride and Rochester Rattlers make up the National Division, while the American Division consists of the Lizards, Boston Cannons and Philadelphia Barrage.
Major League Lacrosse, a six-team professional outdoor lacrosse league, was founded in 1999 by fitness entrepreneur Jake Steinfeld, CEO of Body by Jake Enterprises, and partners Dave Morrow, a former champion lacrosse player and now CEO of Warrior Lacrosse, a leading global provider of innovative and high performance lacrosse equipment; and Timothy B. Robertson, former CEO of The Family Channel and the current chairman of Bay Shore Enterprises, L.L.C., an investment holding company with activities in international media and Internet technology ventures. The MLL commenced play in June of 2001 and enters this season with teams in Baltimore, Boston, Long Island, (Montclair) New Jersey, Philadelphia and Rochester. The 2004 MLL season begins on Saturday, May 22 and concludes with the New Balance Championship Game on Sunday, August 22. League information can be found at www.majorleaguelacrosse.com.
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