NCAA FF to foxboro?

[spenny]

a final decision from the NCAA should come soon, maybe tonite

College Lacrosse
Baltimore, Boston likely tourney hosts
By Gary Lambrecht
Sun reporter
Originally published September 21, 2005

The NCAA is expected to announce tonight that its men's lacrosse tournament championship weekend is headed back to Baltimore and eventually will land for the first time in New England.

Sources close to the NCAA men's lacrosse committee and its championship and competition committee said the NCAA will return the sport's premier stage to M&T Bank Stadium in 2007. Then, it will shift the annual Memorial Day weekend event in 2008 to Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Mass., the home of the New England Patriots.

There also has been talk, according to sources, that Gillette Stadium will host the Division I final four and the Division II and III title games in 2009, as part of an unusual, three-year commitment.

Since the late 1990s, the NCAA has selected its championship sites in two-year blocks. Beginning in 2003, after two-year runs at the University of Maryland and Rutgers, the event moved away from college campus settings to larger venues.

In 2003 and 2004, the championships played to record crowds at M&T Bank Stadium, home of the Ravens. The games then moved to Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, where a record crowd of 44,920 watched Johns Hopkins edge Duke nearly four months ago in the Division I final.

In conjunction with the Maryland Stadium Authority and the Ravens, Baltimore bid once more for a two-year block in August.

Sources said the NCAA, which is eager to expose the sport to new regions, was highly impressed with the proposal by the Patriots.

"Both sides did elaborate and effective presentations. Both offer equally attractive NFL venues. I'll be surprised if this ever goes back to a college campus again," said Towson athletic director Wayne Edwards, a member of the men's committee.

gary.lambrecht@baltsun.com

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/college/lacrosse/bal-sp.lacrosse21sep21,1,6100952.story?coll=bal-college-lacrosse

[stegmakk]

Fact is we don't know until tonight.

I hope it keeps moving around...Philly, Balto, etc...I loved the afterlax atmosphere of balto but also liked the facilities at Phily

[shiftylax]

Foxboro itself isn't really the best place to have THAt many people coming from so many places. There simply aren't enough hotels to house everyone. People drive from quite far away (vermont, Maine, NH, etc) to go to pats games - but they all drive home, they don't stay overnight anywhere. Or if they do they stay at a relative's house nearby. So many independent attendees would cause more than a minor ruckus - the lanes just to get into Gilette are two lanes right up until the stadium. Imagine hundreds and hundreds of cars versus thousands of cars - it's not pretty. And if people are goign to fly in - how are they going to get there? Rent a car? Take a bus? It's too much of a pain and it's not close enough to the airport or boston itself to be a successful venue. I hope they have a contingency plan, because if they do get Gilette it's going to be messy at best.

[stegmakk]

Its official......

[adam]

HEre's the official word:

http://insidelacrosse.com/page.cfm?pagerid=2&news=fdetail&storyid=98921

[Trilax03]

idk i thnk foxboro is pretty far and a little inconvienient for a lot of ppl...i do like baltimore more or md for that matter

[laxngoalie]

Honestly, I think its a great decision. Sure foxboro is not the urban stadium that Lincoln Financial and Ravens Stadiums are, but it is a great place to see a game. It is a very short drive to both Boston and Providence, and convienently located off the highway. It also very convienent for the New England fan base of perenial d3 competitors, Middlebury

[Trilax03]

good thing my brother is going to providence...so i can probably stay with him then g2 the game

[spenny]

i think foxboro is not an ideal place to have the FF, but i'm glad that the NCAA made the gutsy decision to grow the game by sending to to a place that wont guarantee the sellout.

[stegmakk]

There will be direct trains from Boston to the stadium...
This should be good enough...
Have any of you seen the LIRR during belmont (or at least before all this terrorist crap)? People would put their coolers together and take it on the train that went directly outside belmont and then tailgate without the car...only problem is when you have to go inside...so the solution many times was either a cheap garbage can filled with ice and beer and then left on the curb, or styrofoam cooler which could be tossed out...

I think they need to keep the FF moving around...I do love the atmosphere of Baltimore...but I like to see it move...

[GBaschski]

Darn...Massachusetts? PA I can manage, Baltimore will be a breeze...but from Charlotte to Mass...don't think that'll happen.
I don't know how I feel about putting Baltimore in regular rotation, though. Maybe once every six years, but every other year, or once every three years is not cool.

Don't hate me for this but....UNC=Quarterfinals. Why not eh?

One day I'd love to see the Championships at Bank of America Stadium (Carolina Panthers). Of course Charlotte isn't the ideal location for the championship right now, but the stadium and downtown Charlotte is a great place to be.

P.S.- The 2006 championships are still in Philly right?

[ahslax18]

Such a stupid desicsion, do they not want people to show up? It's in the middle of no-where, and theres def not enough hotels and such to keep everyone there, and Boston is very far away.


Laxngoalie: Gillete Stadium opened in 2002, whata re you thinking, its not gonaa bein that crapbox foxboro stadium.

Trilax03: your brother will be out of college by then, so you cant

[Lax101]

Honestly, I think its a great decision. Sure foxboro is not the urban stadium that Lincoln Financial and Ravens Stadiums are, but it is a great place to see a game. It is a very short drive to both Boston and Providence, and convienently located off the highway. It also very convienent for the New England fan base of perenial d3 competitors, Middlebury
-Gillette is a beautiful stadium. there's no doubt about that. Nothing intimate or tiny like you're thinking of.
-It's a good hour to hour and a half from Boston/Boston suburbs to Foxboro.
-New England doesn't have a strong college lacrosse fanbase, which is partially why the Cannons are so successful. We have UMass...and that's about it. Middlebury is in Vermont (I believe), so its a long drive. However, New England DOES have a lot of lacrosse fans, and a lot of fans that love everything about Gillette stadium, which will compell them to come. Besides that, it's not a great idea.

[laxngoalie]

The areas still foxboro
and its in the same location. I know its big, but its still a very enjoyable place to see a game. Even in the snow... when my raiders lose... on a bad call

[Trilax03]

Trilax03: your brother will be out of college by then, so you cant
nah it's in 2008 right? he doesn't graduate college until '09

[Dan]

This makes me wish I still lived in Vermont. And Vermont lacrosse fans would drive. They're used to driving butt far to anything. Except I'll be 20 then, and long gone either way. Still, I would love to see the final four. I think this rocks. Who is seriously complaining about like a 20 minute drive to a stadium? Don't the Patriots play there? Don't they get a decent fanbase? I think it's okay. Actually, I think it's great. So complaints=suck.

[ahslax18]

nah it's in 2008 right? he doesn't graduate college until '09


no, college classes usually end in early may and they shut the dorms down

[zippo30]

This makes me wish I still lived in Vermont. And Vermont lacrosse fans would drive.

I doubt they'll drive over 10 hours for unless there is skiing involved.

They're used to driving butt far to anything. Except I'll be 20 then, and long gone either way.

Lacrosse isn't exactly an active lacrosse area, nor is it anywhere near the South Shore.

Still, I would love to see the final four. I think this rocks. Who is seriously complaining about like a 20 minute drive to a stadium?

We're complaining about an hour drive for those in the Greater Boston Area.

Don't the Patriots play there?

In May?

Don't they get a decent fanbase?

They play football, we're talking about lacrosse.

I think it's okay. Actually, I think it's great. So complaints=suck.

Well if you say so...

[temporary1357]

Foxboro isn't THAT far away from Boston, it's a little under an hour. Most people going to the NCAAs aren't in the immediate vicinity of the venue site anyway. The Revolution play in that stadium so hopefully there's no yellow soccer lines on the field.

[massliveguy]

im am so pumped, i live like a mile away from the stadium, this will be unreal, and from logan airport to boston is only 40 min at the most, plus tf green airport in ri would prob be less of a drive, so there are options

[zippo30]

Foxboro isn't THAT far away from Boston, it's a little under an hour. Most people going to the NCAAs aren't in the immediate vicinity of the venue site anyway. The Revolution play in that stadium so hopefully there's no yellow soccer lines on the field.

Dear, dear, dear. What aren't you getting? A little under an hour is too much of a drive. There's hardly any lodging in Foxborough, a whopping three hotels. Why would someone from out of state want to come up to Foxborough anyways?

[spenny]

its not an ideal spot, but i think that its really cool (and out of character) for the NCAA to pass on the $$ for once and help grow the sport. which this will most certainly do.

it will be a really good test of lax fans to see if they will put up with foxboro and come just for the lax, no inner harbor activities, no center-city philly 10 minutes by subway from the stadium.

i hope they pull it off. its a great opportunity for the game of lacrosse to show what it can do beyond the hotbeds

[HdGLaxWarrior]

I'd rather have crab cakes.

[zippo30]

it will be a really good test of lax fans to see if they will put up with foxboro and come just for the lax, no inner harbor activities, no center-city philly 10 minutes by subway from the stadium.



I don't believe any of the T line's run to Foxborough, so have fun with that 1 hour+ drive.

[SenatorLaX30]

What do you think is closer philly or foxbror I live in Norwalk, CT near NYC

[HdGLaxWarrior]

Philly is closer I think.

[zippo30]

Philly is closer I think.

Not really.

http://www.eddionline.org/images/maps/usa-map-parts2wr.gif

See for yourself.

EDIT: Sorry, keep in mind Foxborough is in Southern Mass, near Rhode Island.

[HdGLaxWarrior]

Well I never knew where Foxboro was.

[spenny]

I don't believe any of the T line's run to Foxborough, so have fun with that 1 hour+ drive.

err... that would be exactly, my point.

it will be interesting to see how it does. will the fans now travel, or will it be like when the had the FF in the carrier dome at SU and there was no-one there

[cannonslax624]

You can take the Commuter Rail in anyways, and that is spread out through Massachusetts, downtown or otherwise.

[swordsman]

When are they ever going to put it in NYC???

BTW it's still in philly for '06 right?

[RedStormLaxer41]

this is good news for me at least.... gillette is only a few hours from where i live so i can finally go see some FF action in person now.... (rents didnt wanna drive in the past... it sux not being allowed to legally drive)

[Lax101]

When are they ever going to put it in NYC???

BTW it's still in philly for '06 right?
The game would never be in NYC.

NYC lacrosse does not have a strong lacrosse following at all. And they tried the Carrier Dome years ago and nobody showed up.

[Hooligan]

I don't get it...Philly sets a new record attendance, and they only give them 3 total years? Hmmmm....

Oh well, gotta spread the love, I guess.

[spenny]

I don't get it...Philly sets a new record attendance, and they only give them 3 total years? Hmmmm....

Oh well, gotta spread the love, I guess.


penn didnt submit a bid for the next coming cycle. so there was no way it was coming back to philly this soon

[Waynelax]

What do you think is closer philly or foxbror I live in Norwalk, CT near NYC

Philly has got to be 3 hours, I don't know how far Boston is from Norwalk though! :monkey:

[Dan]

Golly zippo, way to totally misunderstand what I'm saying. Pats play there for the NFL season, of course, and during that season, fans travel FROM BOSTON to Foxboro Stadium to watch their boys throw the pigskin. And Foxboro definitely isn't 10 hours from Burlington, where most of the population lives, the other parts in like, Williston, South Burlington, Essex, Winooski, Shelburne, whatever, but all have populations of 16,000 and fewer, except maybe Essex, but those are all right around Burlington. And from that area, it's probably 3-4 hours to Foxboro (it was 3 to Boston from my house) and since you don't go to Boston then Foxboro, probably 3.5 hours at the most. Not bad for Vermonters. Way to try to prove me wrong (you got me in the driving time, I was estimating) in every aspect, but then make a fool of yourself because you failed at it. Try some humility for once. You're almost never right.

[CHSlax]

Ok first of all Lacrosse in MA is really big same with CT, Vermont, New Hampshire. It's about 40 minutes from Boston not a big deal its very quick to get too. There are tons of hotels all around foxboro and Boston. It will sell out. Boston has tons of stuff to do and the atmosphere in the city is awesome. Thsi will work out just fine and it will end up being a great venue. Plus most Boston fans will coem even if they've never seen a lacrosse game before Bostonians just like sports and fun. It's not the number 1 sports city in the country for nothing.