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Major League Lacrosse coming to Columbus in 2012

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Started 10 months ago by ZHC
Latest reply from Pickerington_Kyle

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ZHC
101 East Main Street, Downtown
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I guess this is kind of old news but it's news to me. The team will apparently be called the "Ohio Machine"

From http://www.majorleaguelacrosse.com/news/1968/mll-adds-two-new-teams/

As the 2011 Major League Lacrosse draft got under way on Friday, January 21st Commissioner David Gross stepped up to the podium and announced that beginning in 2012 two new teams would be joining Major League Lacrosse. Commissioner Gross announced the league is adding franchises in Charlotte, North Carolina and Columbus, Ohio.

...

Major League Lacrosse also has a history in the Columbus community. The city hosted the original Summer Showcase game in 2000, the 2002 MLL Championship Game between the Baltimore Bayhawks and the Long Island Lizards at Columbus Crew Stadium, and most recently a regular season game between the Long Island Lizards and the Chicago Machine in the summer of 2010. “Each time we have gone to Columbus, we have been very impressed with how it has gone,” says Gross. “We were waiting for the opportunity to move there.”

Like Charlotte, the city of Columbus is home to an NHL franchise, the Columbus Blue Jackets. It is also home to the Ohio State University, whose lacrosse program has continually grown in the past few years to go along with nationally ranked football and basketball teams who have large, passionate fan bases. “Columbus is a great sports community,” says Gross. “Lacrosse is growing, not just there, but across the entire State.”...

I wonder where they will play (crew stadium perhaps?), I think lacrosse might have better success this time around (didn't we used to have a indoor team called the Ladsharks that played at Nationwide?). The sport is growing in popularity immensely.

for some reason I haven't seen much press locally for this...

Posted 10 months ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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Pretty cool. Perhaps the press will pick up steam in 2012?

Or maybe there will be another OSU scandal that trumps it? ;)

Posted 10 months ago #
patient_zero
Falafel District
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This is great sporting news. Lacrosse is an active sport and fun to watch, and maybe they will garner a little more attention than the Landsharks. I'm thinking Crew Stadium will be their game site, but we'll find out soon enough. Welcome to Columbus, MLL!

Rattlers vs Bayhawks

Posted 10 months ago #
Neil Jaye

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ZHC said:
I guess this is kind of old news but it's news to me. The team will apparently be called the "Ohio Machine"

From http://www.majorleaguelacrosse.com/news/1968/mll-adds-two-new-teams/

As the 2011 Major League Lacrosse draft got under way on Friday, January 21st Commissioner David Gross stepped up to the podium and announced that beginning in 2012 two new teams would be joining Major League Lacrosse. Commissioner Gross announced the league is adding franchises in Charlotte, North Carolina and Columbus, Ohio.

...

Major League Lacrosse also has a history in the Columbus community. The city hosted the original Summer Showcase game in 2000, the 2002 MLL Championship Game between the Baltimore Bayhawks and the Long Island Lizards at Columbus Crew Stadium, and most recently a regular season game between the Long Island Lizards and the Chicago Machine in the summer of 2010. “Each time we have gone to Columbus, we have been very impressed with how it has gone,” says Gross. “We were waiting for the opportunity to move there.”

Like Charlotte, the city of Columbus is home to an NHL franchise, the Columbus Blue Jackets. It is also home to the Ohio State University, whose lacrosse program has continually grown in the past few years to go along with nationally ranked football and basketball teams who have large, passionate fan bases. “Columbus is a great sports community,” says Gross. “Lacrosse is growing, not just there, but across the entire State.”...

I wonder where they will play (crew stadium perhaps?), I think lacrosse might have better success this time around (didn't we used to have a indoor team called the Ladsharks that played at Nationwide?). The sport is growing in popularity immensely.

for some reason I haven't seen much press locally for this...

I ran into one of the coaches/organizers at A-Cafe and while back. He was saying they were looking to use a small college's football Stadium for starters.

Posted 10 months ago #
cowtownposse
Clintonville
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Landsharks, Landsharks, Go! If its at Crew Stadium, would be neat to get the Nordecke going for MLL.

Posted 10 months ago #
ZHC
101 East Main Street, Downtown
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Neil Jaye said:
I ran into one of the coaches/organizers at A-Cafe and while back. He was saying they were looking to use a small college's football Stadium for starters.

That's too bad in a way, as I imagine they could really use the exposure a higher profile venue would provide. Still maybe it makes sense to grow into the fanbase first before going big.

Walker said:
Pretty cool. Perhaps the press will pick up steam in 2012?..

I should hope so, you would think if nothing else they might want the potential advertising dollars The Machine could possibly spend.

I would have thought there was at least 4-5 decent easy to write story blurbs out of this before they launch (considering coming here, landing a team, naming the team, play site selection etc.)

All I've been able to find so far is a small story from NBC4 back in January.

Posted 10 months ago #
News
Columbus Underground
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Press Release:
MAJOR LEAGUE LACROSSE’S OHIO MACHINE ANNOUNCES ASSISTANT COACHES

The Ohio Machine (Machine), which begins its inaugural season as part of Major League Lacrosse (MLL) in May 2012, announced P.J. Kavanagh and Bill Wolford as assistant coaches. Kavanagh and Wolford will assist Head Coach Ted Garber with selection and management of the Machine players who will play in the MLL’s 2012 season with fellow newcomers the Charlotte Hounds and the six returning teams.

“P.J. and Bill are fantastic coaches and bring a wide array of expertise to the Machine,” said President and General Manager John Algie. “We are thrilled to have them as part of the team for our inaugural season.”

Kavanagh joins the Machine with more than 15 years of coaching experience, including his current tenure at the University of Mount Union where he was recently named the first-ever varsity men’s lacrosse coach. Prior to Mount Union, Kavanagh spent seven seasons with SUNY-Plattsburgh in New York as an assistant coach and head coach. During his five seasons as head coach, Kavanagh posted a 47-34 mark including the three best seasons in team history. Kavanagh also served as an assistant coach for the Bridgeport barrage during the MLL’s inaugural season and has coached at two New England prep schools, as well as his prep alma mater of Henninger High School in Syracuse, NY.

Wolford, a Columbus, OH, native and a graduate of The Ohio State University, is currently director of Max Elite Lacrosse and co-director of the Max Elite 100 Lacrosse Camp, as well as assistant coach of the girl’s lacrosse team at Worthington Kilbourne High School. Wolford has coached boys’ and girls’ lacrosse for more than 20 years, including head coaching positions at Upper Arlington High School (1987-1991), Worthington Kilbourne High School (1992-2006) and for the 2003 Korean U-19 National Team. He has coached in three state championship games and has won more than 230 games as head coach.

"I’m happy to have P.J. Kavanagh and Bill Wolford as my assistant coaches for the Ohio Machine’s first season. They have both proven themselves to be outstanding and respected lacrosse coaches up to this point in their illustrious careers,” said Head Coach Ted Garber. “I know that their knowledge of the game, along with their tremendous leadership skills and their overall lacrosse expertise, will make them valuable members to the Machine organization."

Players for the 2012 inaugural season will be acquired first through the MLL Expansion Draft on December 7 followed by the MLL Supplemental Draft on December 14. The Machine holds the first overall pick in both drafts.

About the Ohio Machine:
The Ohio Machine, a men’s professional lacrosse team based in Columbus, OH, begins its inaugural season in 2012 in Major League Lacrosse and will play its home games at historic Selby Stadium. The 2012 MLL season will run from April 28 to August 12 with the 2012 Sports Authority MLL All-Star Game on July 30 and the 2012 Sports Authority MLL Championship Weekend presented by Warrior on August 25 and 26. For more information on the Ohio Machine, visit http://www.theohiomachine.com, or follow the team on Facebook and Twitter: @MachineMLL.

Posted 8 months ago #
Anne
King Lincoln
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OHIO MACHINE ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP WITH HOLIDAY INN COLUMBUS DOWNTOWN

COLUMBUS, Ohio (November 9, 2011) – The Ohio Machine (Machine), which begins its inaugural season in Major League Lacrosse (MLL) in May 2012, announced today a multi-year partnership with the Holiday Inn Columbus Downtown Capitol Square (Holiday Inn Downtown) as the Preferred Team Hotel of the Ohio Machine.

The hotel will house the Machine players and coaches each home game weekend, as well as away teams, for the 2012 and 2013 seasons. As part of the partnership, Holiday Inn Downtown will also offer exclusive rates for Machine fans during Machine home game weekends.

Posted 6 months ago #
groundrules

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Anne said:
OHIO MACHINE ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP WITH HOLIDAY INN COLUMBUS DOWNTOWN

COLUMBUS, Ohio (November 9, 2011) – The Ohio Machine (Machine), which begins its inaugural season in Major League Lacrosse (MLL) in May 2012, announced today a multi-year partnership with the Holiday Inn Columbus Downtown Capitol Square (Holiday Inn Downtown) as the Preferred Team Hotel of the Ohio Machine.

The hotel will house the Machine players and coaches each home game weekend, as well as away teams, for the 2012 and 2013 seasons. As part of the partnership, Holiday Inn Downtown will also offer exclusive rates for Machine fans during Machine home game weekends.

This makes no sense to me. They're playing games in Delaware at OWU.

Posted 6 months ago #
Anne
King Lincoln
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FULL SCHEDULE. View it here and buy tickets.

First match is Saturday, May 5.

Opening Home Match is Saturday, May 19th at 8pm

Posted 1 month ago #
Anne
King Lincoln
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New Event: May 16 from 11:30am to 1:30pm

The Ohio Machine, Ohio’s newest professional sports team and first Major League Lacrosse team, 200Columbus, the Greater Columbus Sports Commission and Experience Columbus are hosting the Ohio Machine “Lacrosse Launch Party” on Wednesday, May 16, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Columbus Commons to celebrate the start of the Machine’s 2012 inaugural season.

The event will include four (4) local food trucks for lunch on the lawn, live music by 200Columbus Band Contest Finalist Earwig in the new Columbus Bicentennial Pavilion at Columbus Commons, an exclusive lacrosse demonstration and tricks by some of the best players in the world from the Machine and remarks from the team, city leaders and more.

At approximately 12:45 p.m. the Machine, 200Columbus, the Greater Columbus Sports Commission, Experience Columbus and event attendees will attempt to set the world record for the largest lacrosse game played with “200” total players. Participants who bring their own stick can preregister and receive two (2) complimentary tickets to the Ohio Machine’s home opener on Saturday, May 19th at Ohio Wesleyan’s historic Selby Stadium in Delaware. Anyone interested in participating in the lacrosse world record attempt can preregister by visiting http://www.theohiomachine.com/200cbus. Each of the 200 participants in the game will also receive a Bicentennial souvenir T-shirt from the Machine.

The Machine brings pro lacrosse to central Ohio with its inaugural season home opener three days later on May 19th against the Rochester Rattlers at 8 p.m. at historic Selby Stadium in Delaware, OH. Season tickets at only $100 and mini-plans at $45, as well as single-game tickets at $18, are now on sale by calling the Machine at (614) 754-1973 or visiting http://www.theohiomachine.com/tickets.

Posted 1 month ago #
Columbusneon
German Village/Brewery District
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If configured slightly different for lacrosse, they could have played at Cooper Stadium, until they were able to build their own facility, since it has no action right now. Too bad it's in Delaware.

Posted 1 month ago #
Briana Henry

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Earwig is playing from 11AM to noon! Earwig

Posted 3 weeks ago #
earwig

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Everyone that takes part in setting a new world record for lacrosse gets a FREE Earwig CD! How about that. Just be there 5/16 at Columbus Commons for the lunch time lacrosse demo and find the CD table.

Posted 2 weeks ago #
ntn4502
Italian Village
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Delaware!? Why in the hell would they play in Delaware when Crew Stadium would be perfect(and attract the casual fan such as myself)?

Posted 2 weeks ago #
patient_zero
Falafel District
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ntn4502 said:
Delaware!? Why in the hell would they play in Delaware when Crew Stadium would be perfect(and attract the casual fan such as myself)?

Crew Stadium is hosting Rock on the Range tonight, so I think they had their hands full. :)

So....great news! Ohio Machine won their home opener tonight in front of a stadium of 5000 fans. They are only the second team in MLL history to win their inaugural opener! The Outlaws were the first to win one.

Chazz Woodson executed some really spectacular plays, enough to be selected as Bud Light player of the game.

Posted 6 days ago #
Pickerington_Kyle

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Yea I would have to agree they should move closer into town. Jesse Owens Stadium would be perfect. 10,000 seats, easy parking, etc...

Posted 6 days ago #
bucki12

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Pickerington_Kyle said:
Yea I would have to agree they should move closer into town. Jesse Owens Stadium would be perfect. 10,000 seats, easy parking, etc...

+1

Posted 6 days ago #
buckeye54

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My wife and I happened decided to go the game on a whim last night and ran into a few issues. We got into delaware around 7:40 (game started at 8:00) and had a hard time finding parking.I saw no signs leading people to park as I drove around the area and happened to stumble onto a parking lot for a strip mall that they had roped off half of for event parking after about 10 minutes of driving.I got to the ticket area and ran into a huge line that seemed to be getting bigger every second.It turns out they only had two ticket windows open and I noticed people with tickets in hand were still standing in line.The problem was that there was no one actually directing traffic to the entrance for those who had pre-purchsed.After waiting for about 10 minutes and not really moving at all in line,I noticed the game was in the start of the second quarter.We decided that 18-25 was too much to pay for half of a game and ended up leaving with a mass of people still behind me in line.

Just some simple things in regards to crowd managment and signing would really go a long in eleviating the mess. That being said I watched some of the game on STO and it really looked exciting.I'm probably going to try to go back at some point but purchase tickets in advance.

Posted 5 days ago #
Pickerington_Kyle

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My high school football team played a play off game at Shelby Stadium. We had a full house, and parking was horrible. We had to park about a mile away. The stadium is out-dated, terrible parking, and just in a bad location. I really think they should consider moving into a different stadium *cough* Jesse Owens*

Posted 5 days ago #