Chaos LC-Atlas LC Week 2 Game on NBC is Most-Watched Outdoor Pro Lacrosse Game in History
Under-the-Helmet Interviews Continue to Serve Fans with Unmatched Game Perspective
“The Premier Lacrosse League hasn’t been around for long, but it’s already introduced an on-air feature that other sports should jump on ASAP.” – USA Today
11 of 18 Games Decided by One Point; 7 Overtime Games
Coverage Resumes with PLL All-Star Game at Banc of California Stadium in L.A., this Sunday, July 21, at 8 p.m. ET on NBCSN
STAMFORD, Conn. – July 16, 2019 – From record-breaking viewership to innovative production, NBC Sports and the Premier Lacrosse League have collectively introduced fans to a new era of lacrosse as the league approaches its All-Star weekend. The PLL resumes play this Sunday, July 21, with the All-Star Game at Banc of California Stadium at 8 p.m. ET on NBCSN, followed by a Skills Competition at 10 p.m. ET, exclusively available on NBC Sports Gold.
Following are highlights through six weeks and 18 games:
VIEWERSHIP
- The Chaos-Atlas Week 2 game on NBC is the most-watched outdoor pro lacrosse game in history. The game (2-4 p.m. ET) averaged a Total Audience Delivery of 412,000 viewers across NBC, NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app, making it the most-watched outdoor pro lacrosse game in history and the most-watched pro lacrosse game in 14 years (2005, NLL indoor championship, Toronto-Arizona, 689,000 viewers on NBC).
- NBC’s Week 2 Chaos-Atlas game (0.29 HH rating) also tied the 2016 NCAA Championship game on ESPN2 (North Carolina-Maryland) as the highest-rated lacrosse game on television in six years (2013 NCAA championship, Duke-Syracuse, 0.43 on ESPN).
- Behind NBC’s first-ever PLL telecast (Chaos-Atlas; 412K viewers), NBC’s Week 3 game between Chrome LC and Atlas LC averaged a Total Audience Delivery of 308,000 viewers across NBC, NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app, ranking as the second-most watched outdoor pro lacrosse game in history and the second-most watched pro lacrosse game in 14 years (2005, NLL indoor championship, Toronto-Arizona, 689,000 viewers on NBC).
- Prior to the two-week All-Star break, NBCSN’s PLL telecasts have shown audience growth for three straight weeks, with the Week 6 TV-only audience delivery 20% greater than its prior five-week average (61,000 vs. 51,000).
- Despite a weather delay in Week 6, NBCSN’s second primetime PLL telecast (Sat., 7/6; Atlas-Whipsnakes) averaged 69,000 viewers, a 41% increase from its first primetime telecast the week before (49,000 viewers), and its highest viewership for a PLL game since Week 1 (74,000).
PRODUCTION
New to the sport of lacrosse, NBC Sports has implemented player-to-commentator communication for every game of the PLL season. Two players on the field, focusing on the goalie and attack positions, have had communication with NBC Sports PLL broadcast team of Paul Burmeister (host), Brendan Burke (play-by-play), Ryan Boyle (analyst) and Chantel McCabe (reporter) throughout each game as the ball transitions up the field. This unique aspect to each broadcast has given viewers unmatched game perspective from an inside source, and has never been done before in the sport.
Following are reactions from media outlets on the under-the-helmet in-game interviews:
- “The Premier Lacrosse League hasn’t been around for long, but it’s already introduced an on-air feature that other sports should jump on ASAP.” – USA Today
- “The broadcast quality is impressive and indulgent, and the play is heated and close.” – The Ringer
- “…if the PLL has taught us one thing so far it’s a new league can create buzz by introducing new ideas to the broadcast game.” – USA Today
- “It felt crisp, clean, and even revolutionary.” – SB Nation
- “…the ability to interview players straight from their helmets after goals, though there were a few technical kinks, is next-level thinking that will likely be copied in the future by other sports.” – US Lacrosse Magazine
- “We need more in-game interviews in sports. This is AWESOME.” - Sports Illustrated
Click on the links below to see highlights of various under-the-helmet interviews this season:
- Week 2: Atlas LC’s Kieran McArdle immediately following his goal against Chaos LC;
- Week 3: Atlas LC’s Ryan Brown vs. Chrome LC on his favorite aspect of the new field dimensions;
- Week 4: Chaos LC’s Connor Fields following his goal against Archers LC.
COMPETITION
The Premier Lacrosse League has undoubtedly delivered on its promise to bring fast-paced action and the highest-level of competition to its fans, providing a true home for the sport with the best lacrosse players in the world.
Through six weeks and 18 games:
- 11 games have been decided by one point;
- 7 games have gone into overtime;
- 3 games have been decided by two points;
Following are the league standings through Week 6:
| Team | Wins | Losses |
| Whipsnakes | 5 | 1 |
| Redwoods | 4 | 2 |
| Chaos | 4 | 2 |
| Archers | 2 | 4 |
| Atlas | 2 | 4 |
| Chrome | 1 | 5 |
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PLL ALL-STAR GAME – SUNDAY, JULY 21 AT 8 P.M. ET ON NBCSN
The PLL resumes play this weekend with its All-Star Game on Sunday, July 21, from L.A.’s Banc of California Stadium at 8 p.m. ET on NBCSN. NBC Sports Gold will also air the PLL’s Skills Competition immediately following the All-Star Game, exclusively for subscribers.
ABOUT THE PREMIER LACROSSE LEAGUE
The Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) brings the sport of lacrosse to a national stage for the first time through a tour-based model, complete with the best players the game has to offer. Co-founded by lacrosse superstar, philanthropist, and investor Paul Rabil and his brother, serial entrepreneur and investor, Mike Rabil, the Premier Lacrosse League is backed by an investment group comprised of The Raine Group, Creative Artists Agency (CAA), The Chernin Group, and Blum Capital. The PLL season will begin in June 2019, with six teams, embarking on a 14-week season that concludes with a playoff and PLL championship game. The PLL season will be distributed through an exclusive media-rights agreement with NBC Sports Group. For more information, visit PremierLacrosseLeague.com, and follow on social media:
Instagram: @PLL
Twitter: @PremierLacrosse
Facebook: @PremierLacrosseLeague
YouTube: YouTube.com/PLL
--NBC SPORTS--