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ESPN Extends Premier Lacrosse League Deal Through 2030 and Acquires Stake

The investment underlines ESPN's confidence in lacrosse's rising viewership as the league weighs an earlier season start to sidestep NFL competition.

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Overview

  • ESPN's new five-year pact, running 2026–2030, covers all Premier Lacrosse League and Maybelline Women's Lacrosse League games, including drafts, All-Star events, playoffs and championship matches.
  • The network's equity investment, reported at roughly 3% of the league, marks its first public ownership stake and underscores confidence in lacrosse's commercial upside.
  • Fans can stream every game on ESPN+ while ABC, ESPN and ESPN2 will carry select showcase matchups for broader reach.
  • Since 2019, PLL's paid tickets rose 34%, attendance climbed 13%, ticket revenue gained 149% and sponsor contributions more than doubled.
  • With lacrosse returning to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics in the Sixes format, the PLL is assessing an earlier spring schedule to avoid NFL broadcast clashes.