US Lacrosse, the Maryland-based governing body, just issued a recent study of the sport's growth, and it is very relevant to the popularity it enjoys (and the $$$$ it returns to our state.)
Among the interesting points is the overall growth of lacrosse participants, by 8.4% in 2009. In the youth category (a favorite Terry target,) the annual growth was 12.1%, with colleges showing a 6% increase.
(You've got to love that growth in youth sports. That's where Maryland really shines as a destination for regional and national tournaments because we have so many top notch facilities and home grown competitors.)
Since 2001, organized lacrosse play has increased by an astonishing 120%. They anticipate that in the next ten years, participation will again double as lacrosse is one of the fastest growing team sports in the country.
Geographically, the sport is experiencing growth outside of its traditional Mid-Atlantic, Long Island base. New England, San Francisco, Denver and Minnesota are mentioned as specific areas where lacrosse enjoys popularity and greater participation.
Contributing to the growth is the number of states now sanctioning the sport, the increased number of varsity lacrosse programs, the expanded coverage of NCAA games on national television and the consistent growth in attendance at the NCAA championship tournaments.
(That's where we come in, folks -- we have to keep that growth going if we want to make Maryland the traditional site of the NCAA finals. Buy your tickets here.)
Here is an excerpt from the report:
For the last decade, lacrosse has been one of the fastest-growing team sports in the country. US Lacrosse chapters have been established in 40 states and more than 560,000 people played on organized teams in 2009 compared to just over 250,000 in 2001.
The sport is growing at almost every level of the game.
Youth lacrosse is the fastest-growing segment of the sport with more than 30,000 additional players picking up the sport last year. High school lacrosse is now sanctioned in 21 states with the addition of North Carolina and South Carolina in 2010 and Illinois in 2011. A record 60 teams will compete in NCAA Division I men’s lacrosse in 2010 and new college varsity programs are popping up in states like Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Wisconsin and more.
The NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Championship routinely draws crowds in the neighborhood of 50,000 for games played in NFL stadiums. The pro lacrosse leagues stretch across the country and this summer’s men’s world championship is expected to feature a record 30 nations competing.
Lacrosse has become a regular feature on television with nearly 100 games scheduled to
air in 2010, primarily on ESPNU and CBS College Sports.
The sport also receives additional exposure through several sport-specific print and Internet-based publications, including Lacrosse Magazine, a monthly periodical that is mailed to each of the 300,000-plus US Lacrosse members; Lacrosse Magazine Online (www.laxmagazine.com), a news-based Web site; and the US Lacrosse Web site (www.uslacrosse.org), which provides extensive background information about the sport and the leadership provided by US Lacrosse to support the sport’s healthy growth.
You can read the complete press release (which includes a link to the full report) here.
As we've said before, Team Terry is fully committed to convincing the NCAA and other lacrosse advocates to make Baltimore the traditional home of the championship series. We continue to compile evidence of why this is a good idea (the geographic growth and accessibility of our facilities as well as the critical fan base,) but the most convincing argument is always the bottom line. So follow the link and get your tickets early. This is going to be a breakout year for lacrosse festivities, and we want Maryland to drive the action.
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