Paul Rabil on Lacrosse Growth, Premier Lacrosse League, and Olympic Return

Lacrosse's Growing Popularity

• 🎽 Lacrosse is experiencing a significant surge in popularity, evidenced by 35,000 attendees at a recent football stadium event.
• 📈 The women's final four set an attendance record, with ESPN viewership anticipated to reach 800,000 to 1 million.
• 🌍 The sport's global appeal is highlighted by its return to the Olympics in LA28 for the first time in over 120 years.

Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) Growth

• 🚀 The Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) is entering its seventh season, aiming to expedite the growth curve of professional sports.
• 💡 As an entrepreneur, the league's journey involves being agile and creating optionality, adapting to shifts in the media environment towards streaming.
• 🤝 The PLL has secured premium partnerships with Fortune 500 companies like Lexus and US Bank, indicating strong brand interest.

Audience and Player Demographics

• 🎯 The PLL's audience is substantial, with 48 million fans in the US, 60% of whom have a net worth over $1 million.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 A significant portion of ticket purchasers have children, suggesting a family-oriented fanbase.
• 💻 Fans are native to the streaming environment, making them attractive to brands and networks.

Player Economics and Career Paths

• 🎓 Many lacrosse players come from prestigious universities with strong academic programs, offering good post-graduation career opportunities.
• 💰 The PLL is working to make players full-time professionals, with some earning over $100,000 per season.
• 🏠 The league adopts a holistic approach, considering player needs like housing and offering marketing support to help them achieve full-time professional status.