Major League Lacrosse Releases Schedule for 2006
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
Wk Day Date Visitor Home
1 Saturday 05/20/06 Rochester Philadelphia
1 Saturday 05/20/06 Baltimore Long Island
1 Saturday 05/20/06 Los Angeles San Francisco
1 Saturday 05/20/06 Chicago Denver
1 Saturday 05/20/06 Boston New Jersey
2 Friday 05/26/06 Boston Long Island
2 Saturday 05/27/06 Los Angeles Philadelphia
2 Saturday 05/27/06 Chicago Baltimore
2 Saturday 05/27/06 Denver San Francisco
2 Saturday 05/27/06 Rochester New Jersey
3 Friday 06/02/06 New Jersey Philadelphia
3 Saturday 06/03/06 Rochester Los Angeles
3 Saturday 06/03/06 Long Island Boston
3 Saturday 06/03/06 San Francisco Chicago
3 Saturday 06/03/06 Baltimore Denver
4 Saturday 06/10/06 Philadelphia Chicago
4 Saturday 06/10/06 San Francisco Denver
4 Saturday 06/10/06 Long Island Rochester
4 Saturday 06/10/06 Boston Los Angeles
4 Sunday 06/11/06 Baltimore New Jersey
5 Friday 06/16/06 Rochester Baltimore
5 Saturday 06/17/06 San Francisco Boston
5 Saturday 06/17/06 Philadelphia Long Island
5 Saturday 06/17/06 Denver New Jersey
5 Saturday 06/17/06 Chicago Los Angeles
6 Friday 06/23/06 Long Island Baltimore
6 Friday 06/23/06 New Jersey Rochester
6 Saturday 06/24/06 Los Angeles Chicago
6 Saturday 06/24/06 Philadelphia Boston
6 Saturday 06/24/06 San Francisco Denver
7 Thursday 06/29/06 Boston Philadelphia
7 Saturday 07/01/06 Long Island Chicago
7 Saturday 07/01/06 Los Angeles Denver
7 Saturday 07/01/06 New Jersey San Francisco
7 Saturday 07/01/06 Baltimore Rochester
* Thursday 07/06/06 2006 MLL All-Star Game - Boston
8 Saturday 07/08/06 Philadelphia New Jersey
8 Saturday 07/08/06 Rochester Long Island
8 Saturday 07/08/06 Boston Baltimore
8 Saturday 07/08/06 Chicago San Francisco
8 Saturday 07/08/06 Denver Los Angeles
* Bye Week
9 Thursday 07/20/06 Long Island Philadelphia
9 Saturday 07/22/06 Rochester Boston
9 Saturday 07/22/06 New Jersey Baltimore
9 Saturday 07/22/06 Chicago Denver
9 Saturday 07/22/06 San Francisco Los Angeles
10 Thursday 07/27/06 Baltimore Philadelphia
10 Saturday 07/29/06 New Jersey Boston
10 Saturday 07/29/06 Los Angeles Chicago
10 Saturday 07/29/06 Denver Long Island
10 Saturday 07/29/06 San Francisco Rochester
11 Saturday 08/05/06 Philadelphia Rochester
11 Saturday 08/05/06 Denver Chicago
11 Saturday 08/05/06 Baltimore Boston
11 Saturday 08/05/06 Los Angeles San Francisco
11 Saturday 08/05/06 Long Island New Jersey
12 Saturday 08/12/06 New Jersey Long Island
12 Saturday 08/12/06 Philadelphia Baltimore
12 Saturday 08/12/06 Chicago San Francisco
12 Saturday 08/12/06 Boston Rochester
12 Saturday 08/12/06 Denver Los Angeles
Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2005 7:16 am