EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey – Major League Lacrosse (MLL) officials announced recently that the six cities, which will host teams in the new professional outdoor lacrosse leagues’ inaugural season, include Fairfield County, Connecticut.

Baltimore, Long Island, Philadelphia, Rochester, and Washington, DC have also been awarded teams for the first season . . . which begins in June 2001.

“Announcing our six cities is an enormous step forward for the MLL and outdoor lacrosse,” said Jake Steinfeld, MLL founder and CEO of Body by Jake Enterprises. “The MLL cities that will host teams all have great lacrosse traditions and great family-oriented support networks for the sport. Introducing these teams is just the beginning. We expect the momentum to keep rolling, similar to the Summer Showcase, building as we announce team names, venues, front office staffs, players and schedules for each team. It’s a great day for the sport of lacrosse.”

Team and league officials had their first opportunity to evaluate players at the MLL Combine, which was held last weekend in Orlando, Florida. The scouting combine will feature some of lacrosse’s greatest names – including Casey and Ryan Powell, Mark Millon, Jesse Hubbard, John Grant Jr., Brian Carcaterra, Roy Colsey, Gary Gait, Jake Bergey and Tom Marachek.

After the combine, the league plans to announce team names, colors, venues, coaches and players.

A MLL draft will take place in early 2001. College lacrosse players who have completed their eligibility will be selected at a separate draft scheduled to take place after the NCAA Division I men’s championship game.

The MLL Summer Showcase, which was held during July and August, averaged better than 5,000 fans per game and featured 40 of the best lacrosse players in the world. Fan response during the six-city tour promoting the professional outdoor lacrosse league was, according to Mr Steifeld, positive and showed that there is a market for professional outdoor lacrosse.

Partners in MLL include Dave Marrow, a former champion lacrosse player and now CEO of Warrior Lacrosse, a leading global provider of innovative and high performance lacrosse equipment; Timothy B. Robertson, former CEO of the Family Channel and the current chairman of Bay Shore _Enterprises, LLC; and SFX Sports Group, a division of SFX Entertainment, which is also providing management, marketing and consulting services to the MLL.