Utah to Host Sting-Mammoth Preseason Game

[Sonny]

The defending NLL champion Colorado Mammoth will face-off against their West Division rival, the Arizona Sting, in an exhibition game at the E-Center in West Valley City, Utah on December 16th. Dubbed the "Utah Pro Lacrosse Showcase" the match-up will be the first ever professional lacrosse game played in Utah. A rematch of last season's West Division Final, the exhibition contest will start at 1:00 PM Mountain.

The contest takes place just two weeks prior to Opening Night of the 2007 season and will give the Mammoth and Sting another chance to tweak their lineups before their season openers. The rivals last faced each other in the 2006 West Division Final, won by the Mammoth 13-12 at Pepsi Center in Denver, in April.

"We are very excited to host the National Lacrosse League at the E-Center," said E-Center General Manager Kevin Bruder. "As is the case for hockey, the sightlines for lacrosse will also be very fan friendly and we are looking forward to giving the sports fans of Utah a sample of the sport."

The "Utah Pro Lacrosse Showcase" will bring the high action sport of professional indoor lacrosse to the state of Utah for the first ever time.

"The National Lacrosse League is excited to be playing in front of Utah's great sports fans for the first time," said NLL Commissioner Jim Jennings. "We consider Salt Lake City to be a future NLL market, and we're pleased to give local fans their first taste of professional indoor lacrosse at the E-Center on December 16th."

"We're excited to welcome the National Lacrosse League to our state," said Jeff Robbins, president & CEO of the Utah Sports Commission. "Playing host to the world's best lacrosse players further demonstrates what a diverse sports culture our state has to offer."

The Sting and Mammoth have each represented the West Division in the NLL Championship Game stretching the past two seasons. The Sting were the 2005 West Division Champions but fell to the Toronto Rock in '05 NLL Championship Game. Last season the Mammoth won their first league championship, defeating the Buffalo Bandits in the 2006 NLL Championship Game in Buffalo.

"We're really looking forward to showcasing our sport, the league and its great athletes to the fans in Utah," Mammoth general manager Steve Govett said. "It's a great opportunity for our team to jell in the preseason and for the NLL to showcase itself in a new market."

Tickets for the event go on sale Saturday, October 21 at 10:00 a.m. at the E-Center box office and all Smith's Tix Locations. Visit TheEcenter.com or call (801) 988-PUCK for more information.

[Sonny]