For the 2022 season, the Premier Lacrosse League (PLL), powered by Ticketmaster, has announced an extended worldwide distribution. The games will be offered in over 170 countries worldwide.
All 47 games will be accessible to Canadian fans via TSN.ca and the TSN app, with select games televised on TSN’s national television feeds.
Star+ (Latin America), ESPN Player (Europe, Middle East, Africa), ESPN Pacific Rim, and ESPN Caribbean will all be able to view games.
“Having the ability to watch the PLL in 170 countries is a dream come true,” said Co-Founder and President Paul Rabil.
“Lacrosse broadcasted in multiple languages, showcasing the game’s greatest players and moments will only continue to grow awareness and participation, and the game’s greater push for Olympic inclusion in 2028.”
“With all games available to stream on TSN platforms, as well as linear television coverage on TSN feeds, the 2022 season will boast the most extensive coverage to-date for the PLL’s Canadian fans,” said PLL VP of Growth Mick Davis.
“Given lacrosse’s rich history north of the border, and with over 40 Canadian players occupying the ranks of PLL teams, exposure in Canada is a priority for the league.”
“PLL will have extensive reach across the world, which is huge for not only the growth of the league but the sport of lacrosse,” said Dan Margulis, ESPN Senior Director, Programming & Acquisitions. “This is an incredible opportunity to showcase the league’s brand, teams and talent throughout the season to a worldwide audience.”
Lacrosse on the rise
Many people are drawn to lacrosse because of its blend of several sports. Men’s lacrosse is a physical sport like football, but it also requires shooting and scoring like soccer. Players use sticks to manipulate the puck in the same way as hockey players do, but offensive and defensive systems are conducted in the same way that basketball players do.
The quick tempo of the games is another attraction of lacrosse. To be successful, you must be able to play both offence and defence. A single blunder or turnover suddenly becomes a dash to the opposite side of the field.
Lacrosse has grown in popularity as a collegiate and professional sport. Famous individuals such as Jim Brown, a Hall of Fame running back, also played collegiate lacrosse.
During Brown’s senior year at Syracuse, he led his team to an undefeated record and became the first Black player inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame.
More recently, the Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) has grown in popularity. The league has inked a deal with ESPN to bring professional lacrosse to the masses.
