MLL expanding again

[cjwilhelmi]

I was just watching the MLL on ESPN 2 and I think Quint said that they were expanding two more teams again in 2008. Possible cities that he mentioned were St. Louis, Dallas and Columbus, OH.

[JW]

I think St. Louis would be a great place for a team. Dallas better not get slighted again. They would be a great place for a team. It is the 5th largest media market, it would do well.

[KnoxVegas]

I think St. Louis would be a great place for a team. Dallas better not get slighted again. They would be a great place for a team. It is the 5th largest media market, it would do well.

Easy with the media market theory. Need I remind you that Los Angeles is the second largest market and they have zero NFL teams. Dallas might be a better look than St. Louis initially due to the number of people that can be drawn from.

MLL, please heed the expansion lessons of the WNBA and MLS. Be careful, please.

[DanGenck]

St. Louis sure didn't seem to care about the MDIA tournament, so my vote would be to nix them as a city.

[PigPen]

St.. Louis just doesn't have the deep lax community yet-Columbus crapped the bed when the held the final a couple of years back and three people showed up. As much as it pains me to say this-being from Houston. But Dallas should get a team-they are lax crazy there-watch out-they will be THE HOTBED of lax in the next five years-there are some really good coaches landing in the Metroplex from really good established programs (and most of them are youth coaches)-I think a NLL team would fly there as well. MLL should expand just enough to even the divisons in the next three years and then hold there. I agree about the WUSA comment. Let's not get crazy eh. More teams will really dillute the talent pool-with six there was too much, now with ten it should be interesting. I hope that it thins out the crazy scoring from years past.

[Andy Sharp]

I took a late night peak at the MLS stadium in Frisco, 30 miles north of Dallas, impressive was the word that came to mind. It's not the perfect fit for MLL, as it's got 21,193 seats, but I haven't seen a better facility as far as proximity to the action. The field is some 50 feet below street level and surrounded on 3 sides by stadium seating, so the action is all you've got to look at, I am sure it would be ten times better than some teams' bleacher style stadiums with tracks between the action and fans.



Along with the stadium there are 17 other fields, can you say dream MDIA tournament facility?

[Troy Hood]

Looking at the three cities mentioned, I can see Dallas as the next logical step. I imagine that they are looking to balance the Western and Eastern Divisions. There wouldn't be a shortage a facilities from which to choose. Stadiums like Kimbrough are all over the area. Although I believe you'd need something closer to town to attract a good fan base. Frisco is an excellent facility. But, Andy brings up a good point with the size of the venue.

Being from STL, I can tell you that the MDIA should not be a measuring stick as to the level of support that would exist for a MLL team. STL is a great sports town that supports their teams. I believe we would see more casual sports fans out for MLL events. Plus, we have several venues which would accommodate this level of attendence.

That said, I can see Columbus as a logical step due to the size of the lacrosse community. It'll be interesting to see.

[pepsi24]

there is also alot of talk about seattle being one of the next cities. the MLL even played a few games up there last year. from what i have read and heard, sounds like seattle is almost a lock for getting one of the teams. they actually got alot of attention to be one of the 4 that started this year.

[PigPen]

Seattle probably-Dallas a close second, Columbus-no way, Body By Jake has a long memory and will remember the way the city screwed him and the league when the held the championship there in year 2. Sorry Columbus-hey you always have the crew!

[horn17]

No way to columbus eh? I have a source that says the MLL was there on tuesday, visiting the venue, and talking team name and leasing information for the fields.....

[James Foote]

I'm spending the summer here in Springfield, MO and it's crazy to see how much lacrosse is growing out here. I think 2008 might be early to put a team in St. Louis, but perhaps in 2010-2012, if the league still exists that is. I'm hearing from a lot of NLL players in Denver that the new NLL Outdoor league might be taking a lot of the talent out of the MLL to create a better product. It will be interesting to see what happens. I know a lot of the Colorado Mammoth players that are doubling up with the Outlaws might be jumping ship for better pay and things of that nature. I hope Jake doesn't have his guard down and is working to get a lot of support.

[ZagGrad]

I'm hearing from a lot of NLL players in Denver that the new NLL Outdoor league might be taking a lot of the talent out of the MLL to create a better product.

What's NLL Outdoor? Any websites I can check out?

[James Foote]

Nothing much, but if you do a Google search you'll be able to find some stuff. The owners of the NLL are working together to start an outdoor league to compete with the MLL. The owner(s) of the Mammoth just built an outdoor complex for use by the future Denver/Colorado NLL-Outdoor team. Not much more info I can tell ya, but take my word for it.

[DanGenck]

If anything, the lacrosse community should do their best to curve growth of the NLL and encourage growth of the MLL. The NLL is a poor standard for field lacrosse and is a game that is not played (for good reason) at the youth, high school and collegiate levels.

We already pay people to run around in an ice rink and beat the piss out of each other, and it's very entertaining because it's a great product with great support (the NHL). Offering this same product no only with the NLL but also in an NLL outdoor league is ridiculous.

[KnoxVegas]

I thought that the NLL's outdoor plans are to provide a rival outdoor league to the MLL, not move the indoor game outside.

Please correct me if I am wrong about this.