| Sport | Indoor lacrosse |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2012 |
| Inaugural season | 2012 |
| Ceased | 2013 |
| No. of teams | 2 |
| Country |  United States |
| Official website | ProLacrosseLeague.com |
The Professional Lacrosse League (PLL) was a men's professional indoor lacrosse league in the United States. It was announced in 2012 with its inaugural season scheduled to begin in September 2012. The league originated in a split with the North American Lacrosse League (NALL). The league ended after a year, in 2013.
The Professional Lacrosse League developed out of a rift in the North American Lacrosse League, which was originally scheduled to start play with five teams in January 2012. Weeks before the NALL season was to start, four of the teams – the Charlotte Copperheads, the Hershey Haymakers, the Jacksonville Bullies, and the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Shamrocks – announced that the NALL had relieved acting Commissioner Anthony Caruso of duty and would be switching from a winter to a fall schedule. In turn, Caruso responded that his removal was illegitimate and that he remained in charge of the NALL, which would keep to the winter schedule. [1] [2] The dispute went to litigation, with the result that winter faction kept the NALL name and branding, while the fall faction formed the PLL. [3] [4]
Brett Vickers was announced as PLL League President. The league was supposed to start play with four teams in September 2012, however, it was announced that the Haymakers and Shamrocks franchises had not secured arena leases and were currently searching for new locations. [3] [5]
On July 11, 2012, Commissioner Brett Vickers announced on Twitter "@PLLcommissioner I love throwing people off by setting up websites." & "Heading South..........had two great meetings in the two new PLL cities Wednesday and yesterday. Excited about September!". [6] This added to speculation that New Jersey might not be the league's newest member. On August 28, Brett Vickers resigned from the PLL. [7]
On September 6, 2012, New Jersey Rascals CEO announced "It is with a heavy heart that we announce the New Jersey Rascals will not be playing this season. We believe it is in the best interest of our fans, the Sun National Bank Center, our corporate partners and sponsors to take another year to explore the many ways that we can build on the great momentum we are seeing in the Mercer County area." With the loss of the Rascals, the 2012 PLL season was in serious jeopardy. [8] The Rascals tried to become a charter member of the failed United States Lacrosse League.
| Team | City | Arena (Capacity) |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte Copperheads | Charlotte, North Carolina | Bojangles' Coliseum (9,605) |
| Reading Rockets | Reading, Pennsylvania | Sovereign Center (7,083) |
| Team | City | Arena (Capacity) |
|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville Bullies | Jacksonville, Florida | Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena (13,141) |
| New Jersey Rascals | Trenton, New Jersey | Sun National Bank Center (7,604) |
Major League Lacrosse (MLL) was a men's field lacrosse league in the United States. The league's inaugural season was in 2001. Teams played anywhere from ten to 16 games in a summertime regular season. This was followed by a four-team playoff for the championship trophy, the Steinfeld Trophy, named after founder Jake Steinfeld. League attendance peaked at 6,417 in 2011 and the 2019 average was 4,587.
Paul Rabil is an American sports executive and retired professional lacrosse player. He played professional lacrosse in both the Major League Lacrosse (MLL) and the National Lacrosse League (NLL) before cofounding the Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) with his brother, Mike Rabil.
The North American Lacrosse League (NALL) was a professional indoor lacrosse league based in the United States. It was founded in 2011 as North America's fourth professional lacrosse league, after American Lacrosse League Major League Lacrosse and the National Lacrosse League. However, a rift in the organization led to the departure of four of the five teams to form the Professional Lacrosse League. After playing only one "full" season that was plagued with canceled games, a franchise folding, and players not showing up for games, the leagues folded.
The Pennsylvania Shamrocks were an American professional indoor lacrosse team based in Pennsylvania. They were a charter member of the Professional Lacrosse League (PLL). They were previously known as the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Shamrocks and planned to play in the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton area before losing their lease to the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza.
The Charlotte Copperheads were an American professional indoor lacrosse team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are a charter member of the Professional Lacrosse League (PLL) and began play in the 2012 season with their home games at the Bojangles' Coliseum.
The Jacksonville Bullies were a professional indoor lacrosse team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. Following a dispute with their original league, they played part of the 2012 season in the Professional Lacrosse League before canceling the remainder of their games. They played their home games at the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena.
The Kentucky Stickhorses were an American indoor lacrosse team based in Louisville, Kentucky. They were formerly a member of the North American Lacrosse League, before the league's demise after the 2013 season. The Stickhorses played their home games at Freedom Hall.
The Pennsylvania Haymakers were an American professional indoor lacrosse team based in Pennsylvania. They are a charter member of the Professional Lacrosse League. They were previously known as the Hershey Haymakers and intended to play in Hershey, Pennsylvania. However, they did not secure a lease to the Giant Center.
The Boston Rockhoppers were an American indoor lacrosse team based in Marlborough, Massachusetts. Formerly a North American Lacrosse League member, the Rockhoppers played their home games at New England Sports Center.
The Rhode Island Kingfish was an American indoor lacrosse team based in Kingston, Rhode Island. They were a member of the North American Lacrosse League. During 2013 season the Kingfish were scheduled for a limited 6 game road schedule. Due to the Baltimore Bombers folding mid-season the Kingfish only played 4 games, and posted zero wins on the season.
Dhane Smith is a Canadian professional lacrosse player for the Buffalo Bandits of the National Lacrosse League and Chaos Lacrosse Club in the Premier Lacrosse League. He also plays for the Canadian men's indoor lacrosse team and the Canada men's lacrosse team.
Mitchell Jones is a Canadian professional box lacrosse player for the Philadelphia Wings of the National Lacrosse League (NLL). Jones also played for the Chrome Lacrosse Club of the Premier Lacrosse League.
The Philadelphia Wings are a professional box lacrosse team in the Eastern Conference of the National Lacrosse League. The Wings have played at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, since the 2018–2019 season.
Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) is an American professional field lacrosse league composed of 8 teams. The league's inaugural season debuted on June 1, 2019, and included a 14-week tour-based schedule taking place in 12 major-market cities. The league was founded by the American professional lacrosse player Paul Rabil and his brother Mike Rabil. Investors include The Chernin Group, The Raine Group and Joe Tsai.
The New York Atlas, formerly known as Atlas Lacrosse Club, is a professional men's field lacrosse team in the Premier Lacrosse League (PLL). The Atlas are one of the six founding members of the PLL for the 2019 season.
Major League Lacrosse (MLL) was a men's field lacrosse league consisting of six active teams in the United States. The league's inaugural season was in 2001. Teams played 16 regular-season games from late May to late September, with a four-team playoff for the championship trophy, the Steinfeld Trophy.
Premier Lacrosse League (PLL), also known as Premier Lacrosse League Powered by Ticketmaster, is an American professional field lacrosse league. The league's inaugural season debuted on June 1, 2019, and included a 14-week tour-based schedule taking place in 12 major-market cities.
The MLL–PLL merger represented a unification of the two major professional field lacrosse leagues in the United States at the time: Major League Lacrosse (MLL) and the Premier Lacrosse League (PLL). Initial terms of the merger were released on the morning of December 16, 2020. The two leagues agreed to unite under the "Premier Lacrosse League" name and logo, operating as a tour-based model and removing the last of the hometown-based professional field lacrosse teams in the United States. The Boston Cannons would be the sole MLL team identity to play in the PLL for the 2021 season, rebranding as the Cannons Lacrosse Club.
Brett Dobson is a Canadian lacrosse goalie for the Archers Lacrosse Club of the Premier Lacrosse League, and as well for the Georgia Swarm of the National Lacrosse League. He is also a member of the Canada men's national lacrosse team. He represented Team Canada at the 2022 World Games Championship in Birmingham, Alabama, winning the gold medal.
The 2023 Premier Lacrosse League Season is the fifth season of the Premier Lacrosse League (PLL). It held from June 3 through September 24.