NLL on NBC

[Sonny]

The National Lacrosse League has announced a historic television agreement with NBC Sports that will bring the game of lacrosse to network television for the first time in the history of the sport. The announcement was made today by Ken Schanzer, President, NBC Sports and NLL Commissioner Jim Jennings.

NBC will provide live broadcasts of the NLL All-Star Game and Champion’s Cup Final. The All-Star Game will be played on Saturday, February 26 at 2 p.m. ET at the Pengrowth Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta. The Champion’s Cup Final will be played on Saturday, May 14 at 3:30 p.m. ET.

“We are thrilled to bring this action packed sport to a network audience for the first time in history,” said Schanzer.

“We’re excited to welcome NBC as a broadcast partner, and look forward to bringing the great game of lacrosse to a national network audience for the first time in its history”, said NLL Commissioner Jim Jennings. “It’s a great day for all who play, coach and support the great game of lacrosse.”

[Jay Wisnieski]

It's also nice to see some NLL games on Fox Sports. Since Minnesota has a team now, those of us who get Fox Sports North can see Swarm games. Hooray for lacrosse on TV!

[Tim Whitehead]

For the all-star game I've heard that they are doing the entire game running time, and shortening half-time in order to fit in into 2 hours. Its great that the game will be on, but its too bad they are changing the rules to do it. As long as they don't mess with the championship game, though, it's all good...

[ZagGrad]

Just wanted to bump this to the top to remind everyone of the All-Star game this weekend, Feb. 26th @ 2pm. Game will be live. Hopefully, we get everyone and their mother to watch this and give NBC huge ratings in order to bring about future broadcasts.

[Jay Wisnieski]

I'm just happy NBC's finally getting a decent sport. Arena Football is OK, but it doesn't make up for golf, NASCAR, and pro bull-riding. I work at an NBC affiliate station, and they've made me waste way too much of my time watching garbage on Saturday afternoons.

[laxfan25]

There is a site called mlive.com out of Michigan that I also visit. They have a high school lacrosse forum with some good stuff but a lot of juvenile posting, naturally. (That's why it was a joy to stumble across this site a couple of weeks ago. It is excellent!) Anyway, I went on their Red Wings Forum and posted the following;

"Rink Action Fix by LaxFan25, 2/24/05

For those looking for a little action on the rink - bodies flying - goals in bunches - tune in to NBC on Saturday at 2 for the NLL All-Star game. NLL would be the National Lacrosse League, which plays in NHL arenas on turf. If you've never seen the game and want to see it at it's best, check it out! I'll be interested to hear your opinions afterward. I think you'll like it."

If you can get disaffected or bored hockey fans to watch that'll be a much bigger audience than all of our mom's and other relatives combined. I hope it gets decent ratings, with an enthusiastic response. For NBC it's a no-brainer - a produced spectacle that they can pay very low rights to put on, filling a dead zone in the sports calendar, and maybe becomes the next big thing! For the lacrosse community, it will be our most-watched game ever. I would have to think that it will draw larger viewership than the NCAA tournament just because its on network. (And all those newcomers will think that that is how lacrosse is played! Yikes.)

[ZagGrad]

Here's a good article on e-lacrosse that also gives the ratings share for the game. I guess everyone is pretty pleased. Hopefully, we can get more people watching for the championship.

http://e-lacrosse.com/2005/spotlight/nllasg.html