2019 Major League Lacrosse season
2019 MLL season | |
---|---|
League | Steinfeld Cup |
Champions | Chesapeake Bayhawks |
Runners-up | Denver Outlaws |
Finals [[2]] | Steele Stanwick |
The 2019 Major League Lacrosse season was the 19th season of
For the third time in five years, the
On April 1, the league announced that the Charlotte Hounds, Florida Launch, and Ohio Machine would not be participating in the 2019 season, with Charlotte set to return in 2021 and Florida and Ohio folding.[2] An updated league schedule was released April 3.[3] The league competed with only six teams, the fewest since 2011.
Milestones and events
- September 17, 2018 - The league announces a 51% increase in the gameday salary cap, an expansion of the schedule from 14 to 16 games, and expansion of the game day active roster from 19 to 20 players.[4]
- October 1 - The league announces a shift in the season, stating the league will begin the 2019 season on Friday, May 31, the weekend after Memorial Day and the NCAA Lacrosse championships.[5]
- October 18 - The league announces plans for a total rebranding effort. The most noticeable changes will be a new logo, replacing one that has been around since the league's inaugural season. MLL also announced with the rebranding, its official website (along with each team's website) will be overhauled.[6] On November 14, MLL announced it had selected Troika to lead that process.
- November 29 - The 2019 schedule is released, highlighted by 58 weekend games compared to only 14 weekday games.[7] With the schedule release, the league also stated it will continue its partnership with ESPN in 2019. An updated schedule reflecting league contraction was released April 3.
- May 16, 2019 - Progressive Insurance is announced as the league's official insurance provider.[8]
- May 25 - 44-year-old John Grant Jr., the second-all time leading scorer in MLL history and Denver Outlaws offensive coordinator announces he will come out of retirement and suit up for the Outlaws in 2019. Grant Jr., who last played in 2017 as a member of the Machine, will serve a unique role as a player-coach.[9]
- June 8 - John Grant Jr. surpasses Paul Rabil's points record (regular season and playoff) of 596 and reclaims his title as the league's all-time leading scorer.[10]
- July 15 - Denver is announced as the host city for the 2019 Championship Weekend. Peter Barton Stadium will host the two semifinal games on October 4 and Dick's Sporting Goods Park (home to MLS's Colorado Rapids), will host the 19th Steinfeld Cup on Sunday, October 6.[11]
- July 28 - Due to maintenance beginning at Grady Stadium, the Blaze announce they will play their last three home games at Atlanta Silverbacks Park in North Atlanta.[12]
- August 24 - John Grant Jr. becomes the all-time regular season points leader on a seven-point night propelling the Outlaws to a 16-13 win over New York, snapping a four-game losing streak.[13]
Stadium changes
- Central Broward Regional Park in Lauderhill, due to the later season date overlapping with the Florida Atlantic Owls football season. The Launch had spent all five years of their franchise's history at FAU Stadium.[14] However, on April 1, the Launch were announced as one of the three teams being suspended under league contraction.[15]
- Boston Cannons - The Cannons announced on December 4 that they would be moving their home games to Veterans Memorial Stadium in Quincy. The team will also invest in making significant upgrades to the facility, which was built during The Great Depression.[16]
- Fifth Third Bank Stadium.[17]However on July 28, the Blaze were forced to move again due to Atlanta Silverbacks Park due to maintenance at Grady Stadium.
Coaching changes
- New York Lizards - B.J. O'Hara was announced the Lizards' new head coach after Joe Spallina transitioned himself into a front office role. O'Hara had been serving as the head coach of the Denver Outlaws, who have won three of the past five Steinfeld Cup games.[18]
- Denver Outlaws - At the same time the Lizards announced O'Hara as their head coach, the Outlaws named Tony Seaman their sixth head coach. Seaman had served as the Outlaws' general manager from 2012 to 2018.[19]
- Charlotte Hounds - Former player Joe Cummings was announced as the Hounds' third head coach on January 16.[20] Cummings replaces Jim Stagnitta, who stepped away from the Charlotte Hounds after three years on October 25. Stagnitta was the franchise's all-time leader in wins (21) and led the team to its first and only winning season in 2016.[21] However, the Hounds were one of teams affected by league contraction on April 1.[22]
Broadcast
Along with the league's schedule release on November 29, 2018, MLL announced it will continue its partnership with ESPN and Lax Sports Network for the 2019 season. ESPN+ will broadcast a Game of the Week. The All Star Game in Annapolis will be broadcast on ESPN2 while the 2019 Steinfeld Cup will be broadcast on ESPNEWS.[23]
On May 30, the league announced that 12 games and a weekly studio show would be broadcast on Stadium.[24]
On June 14, the league announced a partnership expansion with ESPN, as ESPN Player will broadcast 18 games on an international streaming platform.[25]
Teams
Atlanta Blaze | Boston Cannons | Chesapeake Bayhawks |
---|---|---|
Atlanta Silverbacks Park | Veterans Memorial Stadium | Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium |
Capacity: 5,000 | Capacity: 5,000 | Capacity: 34,000 |
Dallas Rattlers | Denver Outlaws | New York Lizards |
---|---|---|
The Ford Center at The Star
|
Empower Field at Mile High | James M. Shuart Stadium |
Capacity: 12,000 | Capacity: 76,125 | Capacity: 11,929 |
Standings
2019 Major League Lacrosse Standings | ||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
W | L | PCT | GB | GF | 2ptGF | GA | 2ptGA | |||||||||||
Chesapeake Bayhawks | 10 | 6 | .625 | - | 211 | 3 | 186 | 5 | ||||||||||
Denver Outlaws | 9 | 7 | .563 | 1 | 206 | 15 | 205 | 3 | ||||||||||
Boston Cannons | 9 | 7 | .563 | 1 | 217 | 8 | 211 | 5 | ||||||||||
Atlanta Blaze | 8 | 8 | .500 | 2 | 227 | 2 | 228 | 9 | ||||||||||
Dallas Rattlers | 7 | 9 | .438 | 3 | 192 | 7 | 202 | 7 | ||||||||||
New York Lizards | 5 | 11 | .313 | 5 | 195 | 2 | 216 | 11 |
Playoff Seed |
Attendance
For the first time since 2011, the league's average attendance per game would see an increase. Half of the six teams would see a boost in attendance, although the Denver Outlaws would record their worst attendance in team history. The Chesapeake Bayhawks would become the first attendance champion not named the Denver Outlaws since the Boston Cannons in 2012, and would draw 16,124 for their last regular season game on September 21. The Boston Cannons saw a 9% growth and announced two sellouts at their new home in Quincy, Massachusetts. The Atlanta Blaze, despite having to change stadiums midseason, would see a slight growth in attendance for the first time in their young history.
Team | Total | Average | Change |
---|---|---|---|
Chesapeake | 57,165 | 7,145 | 71% |
Denver | 46,497 | 5,812 | -25% |
New York | 36,424 | 4,553 | -3% |
Dallas | 33,485 | 4,185 | -12% |
Boston | 32,696 | 4,087 | 9% |
Atlanta | 13,916 | 1,739 | 4% |
League | 220,183 | 4,587 | 25% |
Collegiate Draft
The league hosted its collegiate draft on Saturday, March 9 in Charlotte at the
Rookie selection draft
With the league contracting to six teams almost a month after the collegiate draft, questions were raised about what would happen to the players selected in the draft by Charlotte, Florida, and Ohio. On April 26, the league's remaining six teams held a dispersal draft for those collegiate athletes selected by the three suspended teams and any other eligible NCAA seniors. Top pick Alex Woodall (selected by Ohio) was picked up by the Blaze.[28]
Dispersal draft
The league held a dispersal draft on April 24 to accommodate for the rosters of the three teams who suspended operations earlier in the month.[29] Notable player movement included Ben Williams (faceoff/defense) going to Atlanta, midfielder Nick Mariano signing with the Chesapeake Bayhawks, veteran midfielder Kevin Crowley and goalie Austin Kaut signing with the New York Lizards, and Dallas native attackman Bryce Wasserman going home to the Rattlers.
All Star Game
The
Playoffs
For the first time since 2013, the playoffs will have a Final Four format, with two semifinal games on Friday, October 4 and the championship game on Sunday, October 6. Four teams will make the postseason bracket. On July 15, Denver was announced as the host city. Peter Barton Stadium will host the two semifinal games and Dick's Sporting Goods Park will host the 19th Steinfeld Cup.
Semifinals October 4 Peter Barton Stadium | Championship October 6 Dick's Sporting Goods Park | ||||||||
1 | Chesapeake (OT) | 14 | |||||||
4 | Atlanta | 13 | |||||||
1 | Chesapeake | 10 | |||||||
2 | Denver | 9 | |||||||
2 | Denver | 17 | |||||||
3 | Boston | 15 |
References
- ^ MLL announces 2019 season schedule Archived 2018-11-30 at the Wayback Machine The Bayhawks defeated the Outlaws to earn their sixth championship
- ^ "MLL continues strategic plan". Archived from the original on 2019-04-01. Retrieved 2019-04-03.
- ^ "MLL announces new 2019 season schedule". Archived from the original on 2019-04-03. Retrieved 2019-04-03.
- ^ "Major League Lacrosse takes league to next level by investing in players". Archived from the original on 2018-11-30. Retrieved 2018-11-29.
- ^ "Major League Lacrosse announces 2019 schedule start date". Archived from the original on 2018-11-30. Retrieved 2018-11-29.
- ^ "MLL to engage the modern lacrosse fan with a comprehensive rebranding effort". Archived from the original on 2018-11-30. Retrieved 2018-11-29.
- ^ "MLL announces 2019 season schedule". Archived from the original on 2018-11-30. Retrieved 2018-11-29.
- ^ "Progressive signs partnership with MLL". Archived from the original on 2020-09-12. Retrieved 2019-05-21.
- ^ John Grant Jr to come out of retirement
- ^ "Jr breaks MLL all time scoring record". Archived from the original on 2020-09-13. Retrieved 2019-06-26.
- ^ Denver to host MLL Championship Game
- ^ Atlanta's pro lacrosse team may not last long in Midtown
- ^ John Grant Jr. breaks MLL career regular season scoring record
- ^ Launch release schedule, new home venue
- ^ Florida Launch team statement
- ^ "Boston Cannons and City of Quincy announce partnership". Archived from the original on 2019-04-13. Retrieved 2018-12-08.
- ^ Blaze relocate to Grady Stadium
- ^ BJ O'Hara named head coach of the New York Lizards
- ^ Tony Seaman named Denver Outlaws' head coach
- ^ "Hounds announce former player Joe Cummings as head coach". Archived from the original on 2019-01-23. Retrieved 2019-01-23.
- ^ "Jim Stagnitta steps down as Charlotte Hounds head coach". Archived from the original on 2018-11-30. Retrieved 2018-11-29.
- ^ Charlotte's lacrosse team is folding but expects to return in 2021
- ^ MLL announces 2019 regular season schedule, TV
- ^ MLL partners with Stadium to stream 12 games in 2019
- ^ ESPN Player broadcasts MLL games internationally
- ^ "MLL 2019 collegiate draft to be held at NASCAR Hall of Fame". Archived from the original on 2019-01-23. Retrieved 2019-01-23.
- ^ Bayhawks land Pat Spencer
- ^ "2019 MLL rookie selection". Archived from the original on 2020-09-13. Retrieved 2019-04-28.
- ^ "MLL player relocation". Archived from the original on 2019-05-15. Retrieved 2019-04-28.
External links
- Official Site Archived 2019-11-03 at the Wayback Machine