There is a realistic chance that the college lacrosse season could wrap up in nearly the same way it begins.
At least that is the hope of those at Inside Lacrosse. The 10-year-old company is preparing for its inaugural Face-Off Classic March 3 at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore. The event features a doubleheader that includes the top four teams in the national preseason poll.
No. 2 Johns Hopkins takes on No. 4 Princeton in the first game, which is scheduled to start at 12 p.m. Top-ranked Virginia, the defending national champion, faces No. 3 Syracuse in the second game at 2:30. Those four teams have combined to win every NCAA Division I national championship since 1991.
While the Face-off Classic might be new, these teams meeting early in the season is not. Johns Hopkins and Princeton started playing each other at the start of the season in 1990. A similar series between Virginia and Syracuse began in 1996.
“This is a great way to attract more fans, and I have to give credit to the people at Inside Lacrosse for taking a chance for the betterment of the sport,” Johns Hopkins coach Dave Pietramala said.
So far, at least 8,000 tickets have been sold for the event, with hopes of eventually selling 15,000 to 20,000 tickets overall. Andy Bilello, Inside Lacrosse?s director of business development, said he is pleased with ticket sales so far and feels confident they can reach their ticket goals.
“I think 15,000 tickets is achievable, but at least 20,000 is possible, especially if we get a good break in the weather,” Bilello said.
Bilello said the eventual goal is to make the Face-Off Classic an annual event involvingthe top teams in the country.
How this year?s event turns out will play a large role on whether it takes place in the future.
“There really isn?t something that symbolizes the start to the lacrosse season, and we?re hoping the Face-Off Classic can be that event,” Bilello said. “Fans are hungry for lacrosse by this time of year, and this could be a way to get them even more excited about the sport, just like Memorial Day weekend does for the end of the season.”
Tickets are $10 for groups of 10 or more, $15 for lower-level reserved seats and $25 for club-level seats. Reserved parking passes are also available for $15. For more information, visit faceoffclassic.com.
Face-Off Classic
» What: Inside Lacrosse?s top four teams square off for national bragging rights in Baltimore.
» Who: No. 2 Johns Hopkins vs. No. 4 Princeton, noon; No. 3 Syracuse vs. No. 1 Virginia, 2:30.
» Where: M&T Bank Stadium ? the same venue where the NCAA championship will be decided on Memorial Day weekend.
» Tickets: Go to ticketmaster.com or call 410-261-RAVE.
