ESPN360.com To Stream Live All 2008 Chicago Machine Games

ESPN360.com To Stream Live All 2008 Chicago Machine Games
Deal augments ESPN2 and local market television coverage of pro lacrosse team

Chicago, IL – Starting with the very first home game on Sunday, May 18, fans of lacrosse, and especially of the Chicago Machine, will have an unprecedented opportunity to watch the hard-hitting action of Major League Lacrosse (MLL). The premier professional outdoor lacrosse league and ESPN360.com have announced that every MLL game this season will be streamed live on ESPN’s signature broadband network. Additionally, games will be archived and available for on-demand replay for a period of time after they are completed.

The MLL/ESPN deal includes coverage of all 60 regular season MLL games, July’s All-Star Game, both Semi-Final match-ups, and the NB ZIP Championship Game. A total of 64 Major League Lacrosse games will be available on ESPN’s broadband network in 2008.

“Being featured on ESPN360.com is a tremendous step both for the league and for the sport of lacrosse,” said MLL Commissioner David Gross. “For the first time, fans will have the chance to catch the full line-up of MLL action each and every week. This commitment from ESPN goes hand in hand with our goal to greatly expand our offering of lacrosse on the web this summer.”

ESPN360.com streamed its first MLL game on June 9, 2007 from INVESCO Field at Mile High when the Denver Outlaws defeated the Los Angeles Riptide by a score of 18-15. ESPN360.com went on to stream 5 more MLL events last season, including the NB ZIP Semi-Finals and Championship Game from PAETEC Park in Rochester, New York.

Television Coverage
In addition to the live online streaming, the ESPN2 cable television channel will air 11 MLL games this season. The Saturday, July 26, 2008, Chicago Machine game at Denver will be ESPN2’s MLL Game of the Week, airing at 2:30 pm CT. A local cable television deal for the Chicago Machine is also being negotiated.

ESPN and Major League Lacrosse have worked in agreement since 2003, when ESPN2 became the League’s national television home. In 2004, ESPN aired the New Balance Championship Game, making it the first live national telecast of a Major League Lacrosse competition.

Home Opener May 18
Fans of the Chicago Machine can tune-in on Sunday, May 18, at 3:30 pm (CT) when the Machine plays their division rival the San Francisco Dragons in their home opener at TOYOTA PARK. Tickets to the game are still available at http://www.chicagomachine.com/ or by calling (312) 255-1540.

About the Chicago Machine
The Chicago Machine is Chicago’s outdoor professional men’s lacrosse team, members of the Western Conference of Major League Lacrosse (MLL). Now in their third season, the Chicago Machine plays at TOYOTA PARK, 15 minutes southwest of downtown Chicago. Led by head coach John Combs, the team has top players from nationally ranked college programs such as Notre Dame, Cornell, UMass, Virginia, Navy and Syracuse. The Chicago Machine opens their third season at home on Sunday, May 18, 2008, against conference rival San Francisco Dragons. Season tickets and individual game tickets are now available. For game schedule, ticketing, team and player information, visit http://www.chicagomachine.com/.


Media Contact:
Kevin Boyer, (312) 588-3713, Kevin.Boyer@allterrain.net
Josh Cole, Chicago Machine, (312) 255-1522, jcole@chicagomachine.com


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