It is not just the shiny helmets. Let’s say you are a lacrosse salesperson, and the athletic director at the University of Texas, University of Oregon, and the University of Georgia were curious about men’s lacrosse, and you had a day to sell Varsity lacrosse to them. How would you do it?
Showing 30k plus at the Final Four at an NFL Stadium is the best way, but during the regular season, touring them for a big game at Notre Dame's Arlotta stadium would be a good strategy. (Like the March 3 game against #3 Maryland with an attendance of 5000 on a unseasonably warm and sunny day. )
Here is why.
Notre Dame shows you can win it all based outside of the mid-Atlantic and Northeast. Notre Dame was the 2023 Champion.
Notre Dame shows you can achieve success and a packed house with a lacrosse program in a town like South Bend that does not have a history with lacrosse. If you can do it in South Bend, you can do it in Eugene, Austin and Athens.
Notre Dame is putting on a show. The stadium and berm are packed so whatever view you have in person or TV, you see enthusiastic fans surrounding field (not empty bleachers) There are lots of kids and students so the game looks like the future. The team also plays up tempo and an athletic form of the sport which helps the energy.
The football team shows up in force and enthusiastically jumps around. Football players take their shirt off like Jason Kelce. That is social proof of concept for these athletic directors. Not to mention, there are player(s)who play both sports.
Notre Dame is taking the whole show seriously. They bring a (small) band. They bring cheerleaders. They bring the mascot. The football team comes in support of their dual sport team mate Jordan Faison, who is an emerging lacrosse star as well. The energy the football team brings to the sidelines carries over to the stadium and the telecast. The atmosphere is one where the connection between fans and players is palpable.
The atmosphere is also a credit to Coach Kevin Corrigan, who clearly sees a big picture. Certainly other programs do extra activities outside lacrosse as well. Here is Coach Corrigan explaining how Notre Dame lacrosse does it modeling a "Character, Community, and Culture" identity. These pillars certainly breed goodwill among the University and external community.
Now, back to Notre Dame, if the weather forecast is frozen sleet, reroute the Athletic Director tour to Syracuse (# 1 in total attendance by far), Charlottesville-Virginia (#2 in total attendance in 2023) , or College Park-Maryland (#2 in total attendance now and just had 7845 for its home game against Virginia) for the next best places to showcase the sport. But for my money, Notre Dame with a topflight opponent on a nice day is lacrosse’s shining example.
In full disclosure, 1) my brother played at Notre Dame. 2) I have not seen big games everywhere. If you think there is a better place to showcase the game, please make the case.
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