Kennesaw to Host Major League Lacrosse Game

Major League Lacrosse and LB3 Lacrosse, in conjunction with the Atlanta Sports Council and Kennesaw State University, announced Tuesday that the Rochester Rattlers home game against the Boston Cannons will be played at KSU Stadium in Kennesaw, Ga., on Friday, June 7, at 8 p.m. This will be the first MLL game played in Georgia and will serve as a test for the league as it contemplates expansion.

“We are delighted to bring an MLL game to the Atlanta area and KSU Stadium, and pleased to be working with Liam Banks, Brian Silcott and LB3 Lacrosse” said MLL Commissioner David Gross. “This will serve as a test match for future expansion as the popularity of lacrosse continues to grow in the region.”

LB3, a local lacrosse club operated by former MLL stalwarts Liam Banks and Brian Silcott, will also organize ancillary events around the game including their Summer Jam Tournament and recruiting event, youth clinics prior to the game and the Syracuse University Team Camp in Rome, Ga., from June 2-6. The SU Camp will feature Rattlers stars Joel White and John Galloway.

“We saw this as the perfect opportunity to show our local community what MLL lacrosse was all about,” stated Banks. “Our goal is to grow the game in the Atlanta area and throughout the South, and we believe the MLL is an important part of our sport. Hopefully, this is the first step toward having a team here full time.”

The event is being supported by the Atlanta Sports Council, a division of the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce. The Atlanta Sports Council has played a role in helping to attract and support more than 50 major sporting events to metro Atlanta, including Super Bowls XXVIII and XXXIV, the Centennial Olympic Games, two NCAA Women’s Final Fours and three NCAA Men’s Final Fours.

“Lacrosse is an emerging sport in Atlanta and one of our key pillars of future growth,” said Dan Corso, executive director of the Atlanta Sports Council. “We plan on fully supporting this game and recruiting future lacrosse events to the region.”

The game coincides with the inaugural year of women’s lacrosse at Kennesaw State, which makes its debut on Feb. 10 at Vanderbilt and plays its first home against Coastal Carolina on March 2 at KSU Stadium.

“KSU is thrilled to play host to the MLL as well as to welcome more than 6,000 athletes who will be in town to participate in the LB3 Summer Jam Lacrosse Tournament June 7-9,” said Marty Elliott, executive director, Kennesaw Stadium, Sports and Recreation Park. “Events like these are wonderful ways for us to showcase the premier sports and recreation facilities we have at Kennesaw State and for the community to experience our commitment to delivering great service to fans and participants.”

Tickets for the event will go on sale March 1 and will be available (along with full event information) through the event website www.mllatl.com. The 2013 MLL season will commence on April 27, 2013. More information about the league can be found at www.majorleaguelacrosse.com, Facebook or Twitter.

Editor's note: This was prepared by Robert S. Godlewski of Kennesaw State University.

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