2004 Washington State Championships

Press Release

MLL Regular Season Action Comes to Seattle on Saturday, May 22 at 7:30 p.m.

SEATTLE, March 3, 2004 — Major League Lacrosse (MLL), the premier professional outdoor lacrosse league, announced today a joint event with Seahawks Stadium featuring a nationally televised season-opening matchup between the National Division rivals Baltimore Bayhawks and the Rochester Rattlers at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 22, 2004.  This game will be the first Major League Lacrosse game played in the western part of the United States. 

"There is no doubt that interest in lacrosse in Seattle and the Pacific Northwest is growing rapidly," said Tod Leiweke, CEO of the Seattle Seahawks and First and Goal Inc. "We are thrilled to host this exciting MLL matchup and look forward to a great day of lacrosse at Seahawks Stadium."

“The best players in the world play in Major League Lacrosse, that’s what sets us apart from other startup leagues,” said MLL Founder Jake Steinfeld, CEO of Body by Jake Global.  “Along with our great sponsors such as Anheuser-Busch, New Balance, Gatorade, Joe Boxer, and 24-Hour Fitness, we also strive to find the best off the field.  Tod Leiweke and his team are the kind of folks we want to be associated with—first class professional sports operators and marketers who can make Major League Lacrosse successful in their own back yard.  We’re looking forward to working with Tod and his team to bring MLL lacrosse to an awesome venue like Seahawks Stadium.  It’s going to be a great event!”

The MLL has pioneered lacrosse and made history during the summer of 2001 with its inaugural season.  Since its first year, the league has made tremendous strides in its growth and development, including an unprecedented level of television exposure for the sport.  The MLL recently released its 2004 “Major League Lacrosse Game of the Week” telecast schedule for ESPN2. The 12-game broadcast schedule begins on June 1, which will air the matchup between the Baltimore Bayhawks and the Rochester Rattlers at Seahawks Stadium, and concludes with a live telecast of the New Balance Championship Game on August 22.

In addition to the MLL matchup, the Washington Chapter of US Lacrosse and Seahawks Stadium will feature the 2004 Washington State Lacrosse Championships earlier in the day.  These state championship games will showcase boys and girls youth and high school lacrosse state championships and will be played throughout the day beginning at 8 a.m. and ending with the boys high school state championship at 5:30 p.m. 

“We were tremendously pleased with the success of last year’s championships at Seahawks Stadium where over 10,000 tickets were sold,” Mark Larson, President of the Washington Lacrosse Foundation said.  “Being at a world-class venue will elevate the stature of the event for all involved.”

The game is a part of "Project West Coast", the MLL's latest exploratory expansion initiative.  This effort looks to match the nationwide growth of Major League Lacrosse by adding a West Coast Division of at least four new teams by the start of the 2006 season. Markets under consideration include Austin, Dallas, Denver, Los Angeles, Phoenix/Tucson, Portland, San Diego, San Francisco/San Jose, Sacramento, and Seattle. 

“Hosting both the Major League Lacrosse game and the Washington State Lacrosse Championships ensures that May 22 will be one of the biggest days of lacrosse anywhere in the country this year.” Leiweke said.

Seahawks Stadium and First and Goal Inc. will help the MLL promote this game and provide operational support for the game.  Tickets are on sale now and are available at all Ticketmaster locations, and online at www.ticketmaster.com.  Tickets are affordably priced at $35.00 for VIP Reserve, $16.00 General Admission for Adults, and $10 General Admission for students with valid student identification.

About Major League Lacrosse

Major League Lacrosse, a six-team professional outdoor lacrosse league, was founded in 1999 by fitness entrepreneur Jake Steinfeld, CEO of Body by Jake Global, and partners Dave Morrow, a former champion lacrosse player and now CEO of Warrior Lacrosse, a leading global provider of innovative and high performance lacrosse equipment; and Timothy B. Robertson, former CEO of The Family Channel and the current chairman of Bay Shore Enterprises, L.L.C., an investment holding company with activities in international media and Internet technology ventures.   The MLL commenced play in June of 2001 with teams in Baltimore, Boston, (Bridgeport) Connecticut, Long Island, (Bridgewater) New Jersey and Rochester.  The 2004 MLL season begins on Saturday, May 22 and concludes with the New Balance Championship Weekend, Friday-Sunday, August 20-22.  League information can be found at www.majorleaguelacrosse.com.

 About The Washington Chapter of US Lacrosse

The Washington Chapter is affiliated with US Lacrosse, the national governing body of men's and women's lacrosse. The mission of the Washington Chapter is to grow the sport of lacrosse in the state of Washington. 

About Seahawks Stadium
Seahawks Stadium is a world-class, premier sporting facility and home to the Seattle Seahawks.  The 67,000-seat football stadium and the versatile Exhibition Center, with 255,555 square feet of usable space, are capped by stunning architectural arches that outline the Seattle skyline. The complex offers a breathtaking venue experience featuring sweeping views of the Olympic Mountains, Puget Sound, and Mount Rainier. To learn more about Seahawks Stadium and Exhibition Center, visit www.seahawksstadium.com.