MLL Announces 2006 Schedule
Published on December 19, 2005 under Major League Lacrosse (MLL) News Release
Boston, MA (December 19, 2005) - Major League Lacrosse (MLL), the premier professional outdoor lacrosse league, today announced the schedule for its sixth season of high scoring, hard hitting, fast paced lacrosse. Each of the MLL's ten teams will play a schedule of twelve games in 2006, beginning on Saturday, May 20 with a full docket of five games. The league's Western Conference debuts in 2006 with expansion franchises in Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles and San Francisco. San Francisco hosts Los Angeles in Week 1, while Chicago is at Denver that same day, marking each team's historic inaugural game. The MLL's "Original Six" teams, Baltimore, Boston, Long Island, New Jersey, Philadelphia and Rochester, comprise the league's Eastern Conference.
"The 2006 season will be one of our league's most important and most anticipated," said MLL Commissioner David Gross. "With the debut of our Western Conference the MLL will now be a truly national league. Fans coast to coast can expect another season of the best lacrosse action in the world. In addition to twelve great weeks of regular season play, the MLL's All-Star Game on July 6 in Boston will be a must see for lacrosse fans across the country as the MLL All-Stars battle against the U.S. National Team. With our league nearly doubled in size, dozens of new players, a great All-Star format and more, 2006 will be our best season yet."
In addition to the debut of the four expansion teams, the highlight of Week 1 will be a rematch of the 2005 New Balance Championship Game. Long Island hosts Baltimore on Saturday May 20. The Bayhawks beat the Lizards to earn their team's second MLL Championship. Long Island has also won two titles. The 2006 season features mostly Saturday games along with four Thursday contests, five Friday games and one game on Sunday.
The MLL has a bye weekend on July 14-16 to accommodate players participating in the 2006 International Lacrosse Federation World Championship. For those players selected to play on the US Team, the MLL made several accommodations to ensure they can keep their commitment both to US Lacrosse and the MLL. During that time period of the International Lacrosse Federation World Championships, all US Team members will participate solely in US Team practices, games, etc. In an effort to continue to provide MLL fans with the best lacrosse in the world, the league has agreed that each team will play just once during that time period, meaning US Team members will only be absent from their MLL teams for one regular season game.
The 2006 MLL All-Star Game takes place on July 6, 2006 at Boston University's Nickerson Field. The game pits the MLL All-Stars against the U.S. National Team. The game will be a final tune-up for the U.S. Team before they play in the 2006 International Lacrosse Federation World Championship.
The game will be played under MLL rules including the 60-second shot clock and two-point shot. The Bud Light Skills Competition takes place at halftime. Tickets are on sale NOW and are available by phone at 866-MLL-TIXX and online at www.majorleaguelacrosse.com. Tickets are affordably priced at $25 and $20 with group discounts available.
Game times for the 2006 MLL season will be released at a later date. Training camp opens for MLL teams on Saturday April 29.
2006 Major League Lacrosse Schedule
WEEK DAY DATE VISITOR HOME
1 Saturday 5/20/06 Rochester Philadelphia
1 Saturday 5/20/06 Baltimore Long Island
1 Saturday 5/20/06 Los Angeles San Francisco
1 Saturday 5/20/06 Chicago Denver
1 Saturday 5/20/06 Boston New Jersey
2 Friday 5/26/06 Boston Long Island
2 Saturday 5/27/06 Los Angeles Philadelphia
2 Saturday 5/27/06 Chicago Baltimore
2 Saturday 5/27/06 Denver San Francisco
2 Saturday 5/27/06 Rochester New Jersey
3 Friday 6/2/06 New Jersey Philadelphia
3 Saturday 6/3/06 Rochester Los Angeles
3 Saturday 6/3/06 Long Island Boston
3 Saturday 6/3/06 San Francisco Chicago
3 Saturday 6/3/06 Baltimore Denver
4 Saturday 6/10/06 Philadelphia Chicago
4 Saturday 6/10/06 San Francisco Denver
4 Saturday 6/10/06 Long Island Rochester
4 Saturday 6/10/06 Boston Los Angeles
4 Sunday 6/11/06 Baltimore New Jersey
5 Friday 6/16/06 Rochester Baltimore
5 Saturday 6/17/06 San Francisco Boston
5 Saturday 6/17/06 Philadelphia Long Island
5 Saturday 6/17/06 Denver New Jersey
5 Saturday 6/17/06 Chicago Los Angeles
6 Friday 6/23/06 Long Island Baltimore
6 Friday 6/23/06 New Jersey Rochester
6 Saturday 6/24/06 Los Angeles Chicago
6 Saturday 6/24/06 Philadelphia Boston
6 Saturday 6/24/06 San Francisco Denver
7 Thursday 6/29/06 Boston Philadelphia
7 Saturday 7/1/06 Long Island Chicago
7 Saturday 7/1/06 Los Angeles Denver
7 Saturday 7/1/06 New Jersey San Francisco
7 Saturday 7/1/06 Baltimore Rochester
Thursday 7/6/06 2006 MLL All-Star Game - Boston, MA
8 Saturday 7/8/06 Philadelphia New Jersey
8 Saturday 7/8/06 Rochester Long Island
8 Saturday 7/8/06 Boston Baltimore
8 Saturday 7/8/06 Chicago San Francisco
8 Saturday 7/8/06 Denver Los Angeles
BYE WEEK
9 Thursday 7/20/06 Long Island Philadelphia
9 Saturday 7/22/06 Rochester Boston
9 Saturday 7/22/06 New Jersey Baltimore
9 Saturday 7/22/06 Chicago Denver
9 Saturday 7/22/06 San Francisco Los Angeles
10 Thursday 7/27/06 Baltimore Philadelphia
10 Saturday 7/29/06 New Jersey Boston
10 Saturday 7/29/06 Los Angeles Chicago
10 Saturday 7/29/06 Denver Long Island
10 Saturday 7/29/06 San Francisco Rochester
11 Saturday 8/5/06 Philadelphia Rochester
11 Saturday 8/5/06 Denver Chicago
11 Saturday 8/5/06 Baltimore Boston
11 Saturday 8/5/06 Los Angeles San Francisco
11 Saturday 8/5/06 Long Island New Jersey
12 Saturday 8/12/06 New Jersey Long Island
12 Saturday 8/12/06 Philadelphia Baltimore
12 Saturday 8/12/06 Chicago San Francisco
12 Saturday 8/12/06 Boston Rochester
12 Saturday 8/12/06 Denver Los Angeles
About Major League Lacrosse:
Major League Lacrosse, a ten-team professional outdoor lacrosse league, was founded in 1999 by fitness entrepreneur Jake Steinfeld, CEO of Body by Jake Global L.L.C., and founding 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. The MLL is comprised of two conferences. The Eastern Conference contains the original six teams, Baltimore, Boston, Long Island, (Montclair) New Jersey, Philadelphia and Rochester. The Western Conference debuts in the 2006 season with MLL expansion franchises Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles and San Francisco. Additional league information can be found at www.majorleaguelacrosse.com.
Major League Lacrosse Stories from December 19, 2005
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
