NLL starting outdoor league?

by **WyoPoke** on Wed Oct 12, 2005 9:44 pm

Will the NLL air it out in Denver?
Commissioner says city figures in plans for league in 2007

By Paul Willis, Special to the News
September 29, 2005

COMMERCE CITY - National Lacrosse League commissioner Jim Jennings attended the ground-breaking ceremony Wednesday for the Prairie Gateway complex, then unveiled some news of his own.

The NLL, an indoor league that is home to the Colorado Mammoth, is considering starting an outdoor league that would begin play in 2007 and would compete with Major League Lacrosse.

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/m ... 05,00.html

**Sponsor**

by **James Foote** on Wed Nov 09, 2005 3:51 pm

I've heard better ideas

by **Timbalaned** on Wed Nov 09, 2005 11:00 pm

They are just going to cannibalize one another, they should merge, it is just going to hurt the leagues and the sport.

by **James Foote** on Thu Nov 10, 2005 3:52 pm

They should just not do it. Put some more time and effort into the NLL first. Hold out for Jake to sell the league. Rich guys with nothing to do tend to get on my nerves.

by **Kyle Berggren** on Thu Nov 10, 2005 5:03 pm

I personally don't have a problem with it. Right now the MLL has all the power, and with it, Warrior has the power. Another league will take away some of that power, and benefit any other manufacterer that is allowed in the league (STX, Brine, Harrow). In that sense, it will further the sport, but not for Jake's benefit. When Warrior loses some of its power, they lose power over retailers, and we won't lose retailers such as Bacharach in the future.

I'm surprised to hear any negative feedback from the lax community. With all the whining and complaining about Warrior, I would have assumed people would be greatful to increase the competition. I guess I was wrong. Will this weaken the MLL, most likely. There is only so much demand for lacrosse, and if we're lucky, neither league will go under at first, but neither will be as successful as they could have been alone. By the time a buyout, folding, or merger occurs, we'll hope that one league is strong enough to survive nationwide (and with the full support of all manufacterers, not just one).

by **James Foote** on Sun Nov 13, 2005 3:00 am

Exactly... there is only so much demand for lacrosse. You add a 2nd outdoor league that is played in the same season as the MLL, plus you divide the talent into two leagues, and I just don't see a whole lot coming from it. I don't particulaly care about Jake's or Warrior's profit... I just like to see the best product brought to the plate for the fans. I could easily see both leagues going under if this venture is persued. Just my two cents, however.

by **Kyle Berggren** on Sun Nov 13, 2005 5:18 am

Going under is possible, but it could only be temporary if it was caused by the split. Another league would form within a few years and professional lacrosse would be back because of demand. If they fold, and a new league could not survive, the problem would have existed regardless.

If you want the best gear at the best pricing, allowing Warrior an advertising monopoly in the premier field lacrosse league is not going to help (hence $300 gloves and such). That monopoly is big business, and has done Warrior very well. Who can blame them? They need to turn a profit, that's their job. As much as the MLL has 'furthered' or is important to the sport is questionable, but the amount the MLL has 'furthered' Warrior's bottom line is not comparable.

If the demand for a league is there, it can survive. Obviously the NLL believes they can do something better than Warrior with the MLL. If they can make it work, it will be better for the sport and the fan. At no point is a new league going to form, suck, and replace the current system. Fans and advertising drive the success of just about any league.