BALTIMORE, Sept. 11, 2013 — US Lacrosse has announced that ESPN will carry the 2014 Federation of International Lacrosse Men’s World Championship across its networks. As many as 40 nations are expected to participate in the event which takes place from July 10-19, 2014, at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Denver and will be hosted by US Lacrosse.
ESPN will provide unprecedented coverage of the FIL World Championship, showing approximately 60 games across its networks and via ESPN3. The semifinals and championship game will be televised live on ESPNU, and all U.S. team games will be included in the package.
“Our partnership with ESPN will provide a global media platform for the sport of lacrosse that has never existed before,” said Bill Schoonmaker, chief operating officer for US Lacrosse. “They have a tremendous reach and their experience showcasing the sport is unmatched. We could not be more excited.”
“The World Championships will be an incredible opportunity for fans worldwide to see the best lacrosse in the world across ESPN platforms,” said Dan Margulis, ESPN Senior Director, Programming & Acquisitions. “ESPN is committed to lacrosse at the highest levels, and we’re excited to see the lacrosse community come together as the event returns to the U.S.”
The most recent world championship in 2010 from Manchester, England, had just one televised game in the United States. ESPNU aired the gold medal game between the United States and Canada, with the U.S. prevailing 12-10 to win the world championship. The 2014 event marks the first time since 1998 that the U.S. will host the FIL men’s world championship.
ESPN featured coverage from numerous US Lacrosse events in recent years, including this year’s Champion Challenge in January in Orlando which featured the U.S. Men’s and Women’s National Teams and the reigning NCAA Division I men’s (Loyola) and women’s (Northwestern) national champions.
About US Lacrosse
US Lacrosse, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, is the national governing body of men’s and women’s lacrosse and the home of the nation’s fastest-growing sport. US Lacrosse has more than 400,000 members in 64 regional chapters across the country. Through responsive and effective leadership, US Lacrosse provides programs and services to inspire participation while protecting the integrity of the game. Bookmark, like and follow US Lacrosse at uslacrosse.org, fb.com/uslacrosse and @uslacrosse, respectively.
