MLL to add 4 teams

[Sonny]

MLL to add 4 teams

BY TOM ALLEGRA
STAFF WRITER

July 16, 2005

A crowd of 12,674 at Invesco Field at Mile High would normally be cause for concern for Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen.

But not when it was the paid attendance for the July 2 Major League Lacrosse All-Star game. Instead, the larger-than-usual turnout was a sign that the league -- which will add a Denver-based franchise under Bowlen's ownership next season -- has built a strong foundation.

"The direction the league is going in is so positive," said Lizards goalie Greg Cattrano, one of six Lizards to play in the All-Star game. "Three, four years ago, people were saying it's not going to make it, but it's in its fifth year right now with expansion on the way."

The MLL plans to expand from six to 10 teams next year, with new franchises expected to take root in Denver and Los Angeles and expected to be granted to Chicago and Dallas.

That means the Lizards will only be able to protect 10 of their 19 players come the end-of-season expansion draft. However, it also means the once-regionalized sport is starting to garner national attention.

"The fans love it and are so excited for a new franchise there," said Lizards coach Jim Mul�, who served as the head coach of the All-Star Game's Old-School squad -- a team comprised of players who had been in the league since its inaugural 2001 season. "To have over 12,000 people on a holiday weekend, they just had open arms for the event. It's unbelievable how into it they are in other parts of the country."

Attackman Tim Goettelmann, who led all Lizards with five points (three goals, two assists), praised MLL players for their dedication to the league despite their small salaries (most starting players earn between $9,000 and $18,000) and their need to plan around their full-time jobs.

"You have to give credit to the players," he said, "because we're coming out all summer and working hard."

Goettelmann's Old-School squad worked hard to get back into the All-Star game. The Old-Schoolers went on a 7-2 run to end regulation and tie the score at 20, culminating with Josh Sims' equalizer with 17 seconds left. But defenseman Nicky Polanco, the only Lizard on the Young Guns team, picked off a Gary Gait pass and started a transition break that Walid Hajj finished with 7:50 left in the first overtime.

http://www.newsday.com/sports/lacrosse/ ... ports-mezz

[bste_lax]

No Seattle.......interesting.........

[onpoint]

In my opinion, this is going to greatly increase the marketability and competitiveness of the MLL. Thinning out the talent pool a little bit will give a lot more players the chance to play. The teams now are so elite that the games are hard to watch and it is hard to appreciate how good the players really are. Now that there will be less superstars (comparatively), maybe the teams will be able to garner some fan loyalty and the game will really be able to take off on the professional level.

[cgarrigues]

In my opinion, this is going to greatly increase the marketability and competitiveness of the MLL. Thinning out the talent pool a little bit will give a lot more players the chance to play. The teams now are so elite that the games are hard to watch and it is hard to appreciate how good the players really are. Now that there will be less superstars (comparatively), maybe the teams will be able to garner some fan loyalty and the game will really be able to take off on the professional level.

My thoughts were similar after getting to the Boston @ Rochester game in early June. Yeah, Roch is having a horrible season, but they're not playing that poorly. I really enjoyed the game but it definitely had an "all-star" feel to it, rather than a feel that play was developing through the game. I think spreading out the top talent a little bit more will be good for the league. I also think anything that increases the chance of Jay Pfeiffer getting a gig is good for the sport. Gotta love a Syracuse goalie who's willing to wear #22 if anybody thinks its that important.

[Rob Graff]

Chicago is interesting. A good choice though because many of the new players will want to go there for the good work opportunities. I'm hopeful the lax community in Chicago (which is well organized from an outsider's perspective) will support for the long term.

Makes the MLL more accessable for the upper midwest.

Rob

[BigheadTodd]

I wonder what the chances are of seeing Kale, Timmy or Plonkey suit up for Denver?

[defense_wins_championship]

This is just something to throw out there but I'm wondering if any thought was given to bringing an MLL team to Detroit since that's where Morrow has Warrior. I wouldn't put in into downtown Detroit because I think I would be harder to get people to come down for a game but if you put it in the burbs and still threw the Detroit name on it, like they do with the Pistons, I think I would be very sucessful. Lacrosse is growing huge in Michigan and has been big in Birmingham for a while. Maybe it's a thought for another expansion. If anyone could clue me in on the process they went through to pick the cities I would appreciate it.

[CornerPicker22]

Ok so after the local TV broadcast of the MLL (not the ESPN one) there was an interview with the commissioner of the MLL. Next years teams are Denver, Los Angeles, Chicago (just had been clenched) and (in his opinion) Dallas. 2008 will see the addiiton of two more teams.

[TrojanLaxman5]

Interesting that LA was chosen for the new California team. I would have thought that either the SF Bay Area or San Diego would have made more sense based on the lacrosse communities in those two regions as compared to that of Los Angeles. Sure, LA has a much larger population, but I believe that SF and SD have more active lacrosse communities that would support an MLL team more than LA will. Just my opinion though...

[bste_lax]

I haven't really read up on the LA team but who is owner or people investing in the LA team? If it's the LA Kings guy who owns the Home Depot Cener and LA Galaxy of the MLS, that would make some sense. I work with someone who used to work in the MLS and he said the league is not making a lot of money and one of the main reasons the league is a float is because of this guy. Was also told that if the MLS ever did fold, he would take the LA Galaxy into the Mexican league which I found interesting.

[byualum]

Yes, as I understand it, Phillip Anchutz will be the owner of the LA expansion team.

[KnoxVegas]

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/_ ... schutz.htm

The article is a little dated but it gives a good background on AEG and Phillip Anschutz. This guy has major bank and between Lamar Hunt and himself, they own MLS. He is a man commited to making soccer work in the US and could be the guy to provide the money to push professional lacrosse into the mainstream. Look for Kronke, the owner of the Mammoth, to get involved in the outdoor game in Denver.

[Bluevelvet]

San Francisco not Dallas!

August 21, 2005
Adam O'Neill

Major League Lacrosse has finalized the details of 2006 expansion and will place three additional teams in Chicago, Denver and San Francisco. They will join a team in Los Angeles, which was announced this spring.
http://www.insidelacrosse.com/page.cfm?pagerid=2&news=fdetail&storyid=97030

[lil lady lax fan]

LA's already selling season tickets?!!

Well, I know what my husband can get ME for my birthday this year

[KerrLax]

I heard an announcer during one of the games suggest San Fran and San Diego as two other possible places in the future, which I think is insane. I like the expansion, but I'd like to see a team come south, maybe Atlanta or somewhere in North Carolina (Raleigh, Durham, and the whole Triangle area is pretty big with lacrosse).