DENVER – Sports Authority Field at Mile High will host one of the 2015 NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Quarterfinals will be played at, the NCAA announced. The bid to host the event was submitted by Denver Sports, an affiliate of VISIT DENVER, in partnership with the University of Denver Athletics and Recreation, Sports Authority Field at Mile High, the Denver Broncos and Denver Outlaws.
The lacrosse selection continues Denver’s growing reputation as one of the great lacrosse cities of America. In the last nine years, Denver has hosted three Major League Lacrosse All-Star Games, two National Lacrosse League All-Star Games, and will in 2014 host the FIL World Lacrosse Championships.
“We are thrilled the NCAA has entrusted Denver to host this event,” said Ken Chin, executive director of Denver Sports. "This decision is a testament to the hard work put forth by our city’s grassroots lacrosse community, Denver’s two professional lacrosse teams – the Denver Outlaws and the Colorado Mammoth – and to the lacrosse program built by the University of Denver Pioneers head lacrosse coach and Hall of Famer Bill Tierney."
Assisting in the bid was Bill Tierney, the legendary head lacrosse coach of the University of Denver Pioneers, who said, “Everyone associated with lacrosse in Denver should be very excited about this announcement, and I thank all that worked so hard to make it happen. The opportunity to host such meaningful Division I games in the NCAA Tournament is something we will embrace to make the experience second to none. Our guests, visitors and television viewers will assuredly get to find out why Denver is truly ‘The Lacrosse Capital of the West.”
According to Chin, the popularity of lacrosse in Colorado has been exploding in recent years. The Denver Outlaws have led the MLL in attendance for seven straight years and there are now more than 11,600 Colorado students playing lacrosse, almost double the amount in 2006. “The increasing popularity of lacrosse in Colorado was one of the key factors in Denver being chosen to host the 2014 FIL World Lacrosse Championships, and no doubt also played a significant role in the NCAA’s selection today,” Chin said.
He added that being strongly associated with a growing sport is a real positive for the city. “Denver will receive national television coverage and exposure from both the FIL World Lacrosse Championships and NCAA Men's Lacrosse Quarterfinals, and we're confident our local lacrosse community will come out and support both of these events."
The NCAA also announced that Denver Sports will host the 2016 NCAA DII Spring Sports Festival.