BOSTON — Major League Lacrosse announced Wednesday the 2019 Collegiate Draft presented by Cascade will be held on Saturday, March 9 at the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, N.C.
“With a highly anticipated class of NCAA seniors set to be selected for the 2019 MLL Collegiate Draft presented by Cascade, we are excited to put on a show that aligns with the talent joining our league this summer,” said Alexander Brown, MLL Commissioner.
The 2019 Collegiate Draft presented by Cascade allows MLL to leverage its strong foundation in the sports community and in the sport of lacrosse. MLL is working closely with New York Lizards owner Andrew Murstein, who also owns Richard Petty Motorsports, to create a unique experience for the fans. The local Charlotte Hounds will be able to engage their established and growing fanbase with this unique opportunity. MLL is also working closely with league alum Chris Schiller through a partnership with his Crown Lacrosse Classic.
“We are thrilled to partner with Cascade for the 2019 MLL Collegiate Draft and to open the draft up to the public,” said Buddy Rose, MLL Director of Events. “Our priority is creating the best experience for all stakeholders at all of our events. We are excited to debut immersive experiences with the league, immersive experiences with NASCAR, and an unbelievable show.”
The 2019 Collegiate Draft presented by Cascade will be free of charge to attend. The event will feature representatives from every MLL team. The draft will be broadcast live by Lax Sports Network and streaming will start at 7pm E.T. The Ohio Machine will have the first overall pick.
Eleven of the eighteen Collegiate Drafts in MLL history were held at the conclusion of the NCAA schedule, and six drafts from 2011 to 2016 were held in January. The 2018 draft was held during the NCAA season, on April 18, at the US Lacrosse Hall of Fame. This will be the first MLL Collegiate Draft to be held in March.
The NASCAR Hall of Fame is located in Uptown Charlotte, N.C. Attendees will be able to experience all that the NASCAR Hall of Fame has to offer, including state-of-the-art racing simulators, galleries telling the story of NASCAR's exciting 70-plus year history, and a full-size transporter, giving visitors a first-hand look at the team's nerve-center at the track.
“We are very excited that MLL has selected the NASCAR Hall of Fame as the location for the 2019 Collegiate Draft presented by Cascade,” said Winston Kelley, Executive Director of the NASCAR Hall of Fame. “We have hosted many very special and unique events and the MLL draft is certainly a premier event that we’re honored to serve as the host location.”
The 2019 Collegiate Draft presented by Cascadewill take place the same weekend as The Crown Lacrosse Classic. The Crown Lacrosse Classic is the first independent college lacrosse tournament to be held in Charlotte and will feature four of the nation’s premier programs – Cornell, Jacksonville, Penn State, and Towson. The Classic will host three lacrosse teams that are preseason Top 25 selections. Fans will have an opportunity to see top MLL prospects, such as Zach Goodrich (Towson), Jack McCulloch (Cornell), and Chris Sabia (Penn State), competing in this round-robin event.