The National Lacrosse League (NLL), the largest men’s professional indoor lacrosse league in North America, today announced a two-year live streaming partnership with Twitter. As the NLL’s exclusive live streaming partner, Twitter will distribute a free live broadcast of an NLL Game of the Week, as well as playoff and Champion’s Cup games and league-wide highlights, on its platform for the 2017 and 2018 seasons. Games will also be simulcast on NLLTV.com, the League’s recently launched subscription video hub, for paying subscribers only.
The NLL Game of the Week will be broadcast on Twitter for the remainder of the 2017 season beginning March 17 and all of the 2018 season. One West Division and One East Division final will also be streamed, as well as the best-of-three games Champion’s Cup series.
Both logged-in and logged-out Twitter users in the U.S. and Canada will be able to stream the NLL games at NLL.twitter.com and via @NLL on computers, tablets and mobile devices – increasing the accessibility of the League to fans and expanding its digital presence across North America. As consumers’ consumption of media and entertainment continues to evolve, especially Millennials and Generation Z, this live stream will offer new viewing possibilities for fans.
“This is a historic broadcast relationship that will unlock the great game and we are honored to partner with Twitter. The future of the sports viewing experience is digital, and this partnership will not only elevate the fan experience by making the game more accessible to audiences, but enable simultaneous real-time conversations and connections with other fans on the same platform,” said Nick Sakiewicz, Commissioner of the National Lacrosse League. “Another critical step in the League’s transformation, this collaboration is a pivotal opportunity to enhance the NLL’s digital presence in North America.”
“We are thrilled to partner with the NLL as Lacrosse is one of the fastest growing sports in North America,” said Anthony Noto, COO at Twitter. “Our collaboration will allow the highly passionate lacrosse community to watch live NLL games and join the conversation all on Twitter.”
Fueled by powerful growth in participation levels, lacrosse is rapidly challenging more mainstream sports for fan interest and attention, and this partnership will super-serve the box lacrosse community while exposing the sport to new audiences. Twitter’s live stream will deliver the NLL experience to a wide range of audiences and provide the broadest access to NLL games in the League’s history.
This partnership underscores the NLL’s commitment to investing in technology and innovation that will strengthen its connections with fans and attract new ones to the growing League. In the fall of 2016, the NLL partnered with UHWK, a sporting goods company that develops player point-of-view (POV) cameras, to capture on-the-field, in-action footage from the athletes’ perspective. With the integration of these cameras into practices and games, the NLL can chronicle the high speed and intensity of lacrosse on its digital channels – immersing fans in the game like never before.
As part of the live stream collaboration, comprehensive sponsorship packages will be available for advertisers via Twitter.
The 2017 NLL Game of the Week schedule, to be live streamed on Twitter, is as follows (subject to change):
Day of the Week
Date
Visiting Team
Home Team
Time (pm ET)
Friday
March 17
Colorado
Toronto
7:30
Saturday
March 25
Saskatchewan
Colorado
9:00
Saturday
April 1
Saskatchewan
Buffalo
7:30
Saturday
April 8
Vancouver
Saskatchewan
9:30
Saturday
April 15
Rochester
Colorado
9:00
Saturday
April 22
Georgia
Buffalo
7:00
Saturday
April 29
Saskatchewan
Calgary
9:00
The dates for the East Division Final, West Division Final and Champion’s Cup Final games will be announced this spring upon completion of the regular season.
To stay connected to your team, the latest scores and developments in the National Lacrosse League, please visit: https://twitter.com/NLL.