For founder Paul Rabil, the new Premier Lacrosse League, which will begin play next summer, "represents more than just the chance to further professionalize the sport," according to Ben Reiter of SI. Rabil: "This is an open canvas to reimagine how team sports leagues should be." Reiter writes if lacrosse is the "sport of the future, then Rabil intends the PLL to represent the league of the future." Part of that plan is "geographic fluidity." Rabil: "By going tour-based, overnight you're a national league. And fans can choose the teams they support either by their favorite player, or by the coach, or by the branding we create." The PLL has also placed an emphasis on "reaching modern consumers" and has "already signed a deal with NBC." Rabil: "If the game isn't on broadcast television, people will continue to say it's not a real sport." PLL games will be "covered by seven to 10 cameras, and some players will wear helmet cams and microphones." Rabil said he "heard enough feedback that it's tough to watch lacrosse with just three cameras because you can't follow the ball." Former lacrosse player Tom Schreiber, who will serve as the PLL's financial analyst, said the league has a "players-first mentality." Reiter notes that means having minimum salaries of $25,000, or $19,000 more than Major League Lacrosse in '18, as well as giving players "equity in the league on a vesting schedule and providing them health benefits, which MLL does not." It also "means that players will be encouraged to build their personal brands." The PLL has "already signed 152 players -- more than 90% of them from MLL -- including most of the biggest stars" (SI, 11/19 issue).
CAN ALL THREE PLAY NICE? SPORTS BUSINESS JOURNAL's Adam Stern notes MLL and indoor NLL believe there are "enough lacrosse fans to support the PLL and the two established leagues." MLL Commissioner Sandy Brown and NLL Commissioner Nick Sakiewicz are "undaunted" and "even supportive" of Rabil's venture. The launch of the six-team PLL "includes a splashy media tour to unveil the league, which will be headquartered in Los Angeles, and a group of bold-faced names as investors and advisers." That "includes The Raine Group, Chernin Group, CAA and Blum Capital, and advisers such as Barstool Sports CEO Erika Nardini and Google Ventures CEO David Krane." Sakiewicz said that in light of the NLL "recently forming a new marketing arm for lacrosse called Global Lacrosse Marketing, the PLL’s formation could turn into a business opportunity." Sakiewicz: "We’re not viewing this league as anything other than growing the game of lacrosse" (SPORTS BUSINESS JOURNAL, 11/19 issue).
