The Premier Lacrosse League announced today an attendance total of 10,097 for three games played this weekend at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton, Ontario (Aug. 17-18). Additionally, Saturday’s Chaos-Archers thriller (12:30-2:32p) was NBCSN’s most-watched (106,000 viewers) weekend afternoon PLL telecast ever (5 tc’s). With a powerful audience run the last seven weeks, NBCSN’s PLL season average (12 tc’s) increased for a fifth consecutive week.
Week 9 officially got underway with a 12:30 PM ET game that saw Chaos LC’s Canadian attackman Josh Byrne score the overtime winner to give his team the 11-10 victory over Archers LC. The victory put Chaos in a position to secure either the first or second seed in the playoff bracket (postseason play beings September 6th at Mapfre Stadium in Columbus, OH). The 3:30 PM ET matchup between Atlas LC and Chrome LC was a do-or-die game that neither team could lose if they wanted to keep dreams of a playoff birth alive. Chrome started off the hotter of the two teams and entered the half with the lead, but a seismic Atlas rally in the second half saw them triumph 17-14, with Paul Rabil scoring the crucial go-ahead goal late in the fourth to send Atlas on the path to victory at the Premier Lacrosse League’s Hamilton weekend. The Sunday matchup in Hamilton proved to be one of the biggest shocks of the entire season as Whipsnakes LC dominated Redwoods LC from start to finish to claim a massive 17-4 victory. Whipsnakes were driven by a seven point performance from star Matt Rambo and the Redwoods never had an answer. The weekend’s events generated nearly two million views and amassed fifteen million impressions on PLL social channels. Chaos star Connor Fields was once again featured on SportsCenter’s nightly Top 10 for one of his dazzling goals – his second straight week making the list.
The PLL returns to the United States next week for the final weekend of the regular season with three mouthwatering matchups that will solidify the regular season standings. Tom & Mary Casey Stadium in Albany will host all three games throughout the weekend with what looks set to be packed crowds in attendance. On Saturday, August 24th the Atlas will battle the Chaos under the lights at 8PM ET on NBC Sports Gold. Chaos are looking to lock up the number one overall seed and the weekend will see their roster of numerous UAlbany alumni return to their former college campus. On the other side, Atlas can secure a postseason opportunity with a win and an Archers/Redwoods loss. Sunday’s action will be a doubleheader starting at 1:30 PM ET with a game between Chrome LC and Redwoods LC on NBC Sports Gold. The last game of the weekend will be a 4:30 PM ET face off between Archers LC and Whipsnakes LC that will be shown live on NBCSN. Atlas LC, Redwoods LC, and Archers LC are all battling one another for the final two postseason spots and the weekend looks sure to deliver one last dramatic turn.
ABOUT PREMIER LACROSSE LEAGUE
The Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) brings the sport of lacrosse to a national stage for the first time through a tour-based model, complete with the best players the sport has to offer. Co-founded by lacrosse superstar, philanthropist, and investor Paul Rabil and his brother, serial entrepreneur and investor, Mike Rabil, the Premier Lacrosse League is backed by an investment group comprised of The Raine Group, Joe Tsai Sports, Brett Jefferson and Creative Artists Agency (CAA). The PLL season began on June 1, 2019 with six teams embarking on a 14-week season that concludes with a playoff and PLL Championship Game. The PLL season is distributed through an exclusive media-rights agreement with NBC Sports Group. For more information, visit www.premierlacrosseleague.com and follow on social media: Instagram (@PLL), Twitter(@PremierLacrosse), Facebook (@PremierLacrosseLeague) and YouTube (YouTube.com/PLL).
