Premier League Lacrosse Secures ESPN Deal

The Premier Lacrosse League continues to grow in popularity and recently secured a four-year media rights deal with ESPN ahead of its fourth season, which is scheduled to begin on June 4.

The deal, which is reportedly worth eight figures, will see all 47 PLL games air across ESPN’s broadcast platforms, including ESPN+ and ABC. ESPN’s deal with the PLL follows a strong year for the league with its previous broadcaster, NBCUniversal, which attempted to re-up its deal. 

• Total viewership on NBCSN grew by 29% in 2021 compared to the 2019 season. 
• Last season’s PLL Championship on NBC registered 333,000 total viewers.
• The PLL produced four of the six highest-rated NBCSN games in its three-year history.
• Ticket revenue increased by 56% in 2021 compared to the 2019 season. 

Last June, the PLL closed an additional round of funding led by Arctos Sports Partners. The round also included 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. 

Player Safety Innovation

Earlier this week, the PLL announced a partnership with Q30 Innovations, a Connecticut-based research and development company dedicated to reducing traumatic brain injuries. The two entities will work together to raise awareness of brain injuries and promote Q30’s products.

As part of the deal, all eight PLL teams will be equipped with Q30’s Q-Collar, an FDA-authorized device that provides an added layer of brain protection.