MLL expanding again

[DanGenck]

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.

If that is the plan, then they should merge with the MLL. Lacrosse is too young to have rival outdoor lacrosse leagues. We need a unified product to present to people and not two subpar products sharing consummer dollars and talented lacrosse players.

[KnoxVegas]

I agree but if they plan to take the indoor game outside, would it be played on grass? A neighbourhood basketball court? A parking lot?

The NLL's product is married to an ice rink, just like Arena football is. To imagine draining an already shallow pool of professional lacrosse talent is just a fools dream. The MLB expanded twice in the 1990s and is still atempting to recover its farm systems, specifically pitching talent.

[Sonny]

The NLL's product is married to an ice rink, just like Arena football is. To imagine draining an already shallow pool of professional lacrosse talent is just a fools dream. The MLB expanded twice in the 1990s and is still atempting to recover its farm systems, specifically pitching talent.

I think that is a bit of a misnomer. MLB draws players from all over the world - Japan, Korea, the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, South America, Australia. The pool of players available to MLB has grown just fine.

[James Foote]

The NLL will still have the indoor league. The owners are working to create an additional outdoor league to compete with the MLL and basically run it into the ground.

[KnoxVegas]

The pool of players available to MLB has grown just fine.

Ah yes, just like the Braves this season? I think just as much as steroids lead to the rise in home runs in the late 90s/early 2000s, I think that bad pitching is just as much to blame. When you add an MLB team, you just don't add 25 spots at the top level but over 100 throught out the farm system. Just like the military has lowered their expectations on recruits for todays military, pro sports have to as well. A player that might not have made an MLB roster in the late 80s, is now a can't miss surefire Major Leaguer.

I am sure that the backers of MLL and NLL do not have enough money to draw internationals to come to the states, even for a limited season.

I pose this question:

Which professional talent pool (both domestic and international) is deeper: women's soccer or men's lacrosse? Once you have answered that, I would like you to consider the WUSA. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women's_United_Soccer_Association

It is not that I do not want to see professional lacrosse succeed in this country and grow. I love the game. But you have to be realistic. Is lacrosse in this country on par with basketball or football? Is the fan base there to support two league? Think AFL vs. NFL. Think ABA vs. NBA. Think ABL vs. WNBA.

[cjwilhelmi]

I am sure that the backers of MLL and NLL do not have enough money to draw internationals to come to the states, even for a limited season.

The NLL does just fine with a ton of players from Canada. Yes Canadian players are internationals.

[KnoxVegas]

Ok, non-North Americans then. My point is that there is not enough talent to sustain two outdoor professional lacrosse leagues at the moment, IMHO.

[JW]

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!

Seattle wouldn't be bad, but I think that Southern expansion is more likely than adding another team to the West Coast. The west coast will have plenty of teams in the future, but the South needs a little representation.

[PigPen]

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.....

I could be wrong-but MLL isn't the smartest at pciking places-NJ, Bridgeport!? I think Columbus would be a wrong move with St. Louis, Dallas and Seattle other , and much more stronger possibilities. But I do not have any inside info-so you might very be right-MLL is known for some questionable decisions.

Venues-Seattle-that place the Seahawks play, they have hosted the h.s. championships there (if the Seahawks's ownership has a hand in it-look at Denver), Dallas-SMU has a perfectly sized venue in the niddle of the glitzliest and poshest place on the prarie. St. Louis? Gotta talk to Troy about that one. I like ABSC, but not sure if the locker room facilities would dictate them being a long term solution. Size is perfect though.

[JW]

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.....

I could be wrong-but MLL isn't the smartest at pciking places-NJ, Bridgeport!? I think Columbus would be a wrong move with St. Louis, Dallas and Seattle other , and much more stronger possibilities. But I do not have any inside info-so you might very be right-MLL is known for some questionable decisions.

Venues-Seattle-that place the Seahawks play, they have hosted the h.s. championships there (if the Seahawks's ownership has a hand in it-look at Denver), Dallas-SMU has a perfectly sized venue in the niddle of the glitzliest and poshest place on the prarie. St. Louis? Gotta talk to Troy about that one. I like ABSC, but not sure if the locker room facilities would dictate them being a long term solution. Size is perfect though.

The MLL probably did visit columbus, but they are probably going to Visit the other options also and see which one makes the best sence. They are going explore every financial avenue and marketablility.

To say that the MLL visited Columbus is not a headline. When the big 4 sports in America decides to expand, they do same thing.

Being from the DFW area I would love to see a team here, and I think that a team would do great here.

Possible team names.

Dallas Stampede
Texas Tornados


Would have said Outlaws, but it is already taken.

[shrekjr]

Possible team names.

Dallas Stampede
Texas Tornados


Would have said Outlaws, but it is already taken.

Texas Tornados is a minor league hockey team in Frisco.

[JW]

Possible team names.

Dallas Stampede
Texas Tornados


Would have said Outlaws, but it is already taken.

Texas Tornados is a minor league hockey team in Frisco.

I know, but it is still a cool name. There isn't much else that goes with Texas.

I guess they could name them the Texas Heat.

[KnoxVegas]

I guess they could name them the Texas Heat.

Original! How about they call them the Roughriders? Don't like that? How about Rough Riders?

Why not Posse?

[PigPen]

I'd love to see the MLL team with the name Posse-think of the marketing opportunities!

[shrekjr]

And maybe they could wear the pink helmets and be called the Pink Posse