• Loading stock data...
Friday, November 22, 2024

Premier Lacrosse League Lands Kraft Investment

  • The PLL has closed an additional round of funding.
  • It includes investments from Patriots owner Robert Kraft and Nets owner Joseph Tsai.
Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports/Design: Alex Brooks

The Premier Lacrosse League continues to attract new fans and investors. 

Ahead of its third season, which begins on Friday, the PLL announced that it has closed an additional round of funding that includes new investments from New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft and Brooklyn Nets owner and Alibaba co-founder Joseph Tsai, an early investor in the league.  

“Bringing in folks like the Kraft family into our business can provide help where we have blind spots and provide us value in the long run,” PLL co-founder and CEO Michael Rabil told Front Office Sports.  

Led by Arctos Sports Partners, the round follows the league’s merger with Major League Lacrosse in December. The merger allowed the PLL to retain rights to former MLL teams for future expansion considerations. 

That will come into play when the MLL’s former Cannons franchise joins the PLL’s seven other clubs in an 11-week traveling schedule that ends with a championship game on Sept. 19 at Audi Field in Washington D.C. 

Viewers have more opportunities than ever to watch PLL as the league expands its footprint. 

  • In May, the league announced an exclusive streaming partnership with Peacock as part of the league’s three-year media rights deal with NBCUniversal.
  • The league has also revealed plans for the Pro Lacrosse Hall of Fame, which will induct its inaugural class during championship weekend.

“Having investors that actually roll their sleeves up to take organizations to where they are now is a reason why we are excited to bring them onto our ownership group,” PLL co-founder and Cannons midfielder Paul Rabil told FOS.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

PLL Launches New Women’s Lacrosse League With 6-on-6 Format

The league will begin with a two-week tournament in February.
Vanderbilt Commodores quarterback Diego Pavia (2) throws the ball as Auburn Tigers take on Vanderbilt Commodores at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala., on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024. Vanderbilt Commodores defeated Auburn Tigers 17-7.

Vandy QB Pavia Sues NCAA for 2 More Years of Eligibility

Diego Pavia beat Alabama. Can he beat the NCAA’s eligibility rules?

Lululemon-Fanatics Collab With NHL Sees ‘Explosive’ First-Day Sales

The premium collection made up 80% of all NHL merch sales.
Feb 1, 2024; Toronto, Ontario, CANADA; Team King defender Savannah Harmon (15) scores against Team Kloss goaltender Nicole Hensley (29) during the PWHL 3-on-3 Showcase during NHL All-Star Thursday at Scotiabank Arena.

PWHL Will Add Two Teams in Expansion Move

Possible new sites include Detroit, Pittsburgh, and Quebec City.
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

What’s Next for Hapless Jets?

0:00

Featured Today

Nov 18, 2023; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Williams Racing driver Logan Sargeant of the United States (2) during the Las Vegas Grand Prix at Las Vegas Strip Circuit.

F1 Grand Prix Upended Vegas Last Year. Stakes Are High for Its..

Stakes are high as F1 gears up for a successful second act.
Classic Football Shirts New York Pop-Up
November 18, 2024

Vintage Soccer Jerseys Have Found a Sweet Spot in the Lucrative U.S...

The money-making shirts are at the prime intersection of memorabilia and fashion.
Nov 13, 2024; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) reacts after fouling Chicago Bulls guard Coby White (not pictured) during the second half at Madison Square Garden.
opinion
November 16, 2024

NBA Ratings Rorschach Test: Buy the Dip

Was it the election? Too many threes? Lack of storylines?
November 15, 2024

Executive Decision: When Richard Nixon Named a College Football Champion

In 1969, the 37th president unilaterally named the winner of the season.

Why Liberty Media Spun Off Assets, Shook Up Leadership

Longtime CEO Greg Maffei is stepping down at the end of the year.
Jul 7, 2021; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning owner Jeff Vinik hoists the Stanley Cup after the Lightning defeated the Montreal Canadiens 1-0 in game five to win the 2021 Stanley Cup Final at Amalie Arena.
October 25, 2024

Lightning Sell at $1.8B Valuation, Nearly Double Prior NHL Record

The Lightning unveiled a multistep and multiyear sale process.
Oct 27, 2024; Seattle, Washington, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) passes against the Seattle Seahawks during the second quarter at Lumen Field.
October 30, 2024

Buffalo Bills in Talks to Sell Stake to PE Firm Arctos: Report

Arctos already has a slice of Paris Saint-Germain and the PGA Tour, among other assets.
Sponsored

How UBS Crafts Impactful Partnerships Across Sports, Arts, and Culture

As UBS continues to expand its impressive array of sports and entertainment partnerships, the company solidifies its position as a leader in wealth management.
May 24, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban celebrates after defeating the Minnesota Timberwolves in game two of the western conference finals for the 2024 NBA playoffs at Target Center.
October 9, 2024

Why Mark Cuban Sold the Dallas Mavericks When He Did

Cuban sold his majority stake to the Adelson family in December 2023.
Young fans look over Michigan State sports equipment on display during the Spring Showcase on Saturday, April 20, 2024, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing.
October 2, 2024

Private Equity Firms Buy Rival Hockey Brands CCM and Bauer

Both brands have been around for decades and changed ownership in the same week.
September 18, 2024

Rogers Tightens Grip on Canadian Sports With $3.46B MLSE Stake

The Blue Jays owner makes a big move to corner most of the Toronto pro sports market.
Fans watch TV screens during a game viewing party for fans at the FanDuel Sportsbook at Meadowlands Racing & Entertainment in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
September 18, 2024

FanDuel Parent Buys Italian Gambling Company in Bid for Growth

Flutter is making big moves in Italy and Brazil.