National Lacrosse League and Marvel Team Up To Promote Lacrosse’s Legendary Origin Story
The Indigenous history of lacrosse will be showcased by the NLL via Marvel Super Hero™ theme nights featuring custom comic books and league stars. Native American Heritage Month is at an end but the National Lacrosse League and Marvel comics will keep the spirit alive with the release of the origin story of North America’s oldest sport which dates back to 1100 as told by tribes across the United States and Canada. The goal of the new, multi-year program is to provide compelling storytelling to honor the sport and heritages of both First Nations and Native American as shared across generations, while at the same time implementing game-specific promotions throughout the 2023-24 NLL box season. The Sports Techie community blog continues to offer our digital support of the NLL and one of the newest, official sports of the LA28 Summer Olympic Games. The collectable, custom comic book will only be available at designated Marvel Super Hero™ themed games every NLL team will host each year of the program. The collaboration was facilitated by AthLife, Inc., Marvel’s longtime sports-centric agency of record. The 37th season begins on Friday, Dec. 1, to start off NLL Faceoff Weekend.
“With NLL-style sixes lacrosse enjoying heightened global momentum with the IOC’s recent vote to add the sport to the upcoming LA28 Summer Olympic games, the NLL wanted to celebrate lacrosse’s fabled beginnings with our rapidly expanding worldwide fan base,” said Kurt Hunzeker, NLL Executive Vice President of Commercial Operations. “Great stories are the heartbeat of the Marvel Universe, and the NLL is honored to work with Marvel to bring the legend of North America’s original pastime to life.”
The central theme of the collaboration, the history of lacrosse, will be at the core of a custom comic book written by Paul Allor, in close collaboration with the NLL’s Indigenous consultants, drawn by Indigenous creator Shaun Beyale, and a cover by JL Giles.
The same core story will be offered in each market, and Marvel will produce variant covers featuring star players from every NLL team that will be given out at their respective games.
In addition to the comic book premium distribution, each NLL team will wear special edition Marvel Super Hero-inspired jerseys on floor during its designated game. NLL fans can expect more Marvel-themed activations throughout the year.
Each NLL team has designated its Marvel Super Hero theme night for the upcoming 2023-24 season:
- Albany FireWolves: Saturday, March 2, 2024, 7pm ET, vs. New York
- Buffalo Bandits: Friday, March 8, 2024, 7:30pm ET, vs. Saskatchewan
- Calgary Roughnecks: Friday, March 22, 2024, 7pm MT, vs. Albany
- Colorado Mammoth: Saturday, March 2, 2024, 7pm MT, vs. Saskatchewan
- Georgia Swarm: Friday, April 19, 2024, 7:30pm ET, vs. Rochester
- Halifax Thunderbirds: Friday, February 16, 2024, 7:30pm AT, vs. Buffalo
- Las Vegas Desert Dogs: Saturday, April 13, 2024, 7pm PT, vs. Colorado
- New York Riptide: Saturday, February 10, 2024, 7:30pm ET, vs. San Diego
- Panther City Lacrosse Club: Sunday, March 3, 2024, 3pm CT, vs. Rochester
- Philadelphia Wings: Saturday, March 2, 2024, 1pm ET, vs. Calgary
- Rochester Knighthawks: Sunday, April 21, 2024, 3pm ET, vs. Philadelphia
- San Diego Seals: Friday, February 23, 2024, 7pm ET, vs. Georgia
- Saskatchewan Rush: Saturday, February 24, 2024, 7pm CT, vs. Halifax
- Toronto Rock: Saturday, March 23, 2024, 7pm ET, vs. Halifax
- Vancouver Warriors: Saturday, February 10, 2024, 7pm PT, vs. Saskatchewan
The 2023-24 NLL season will commence with NLL Faceoff Weekend tomorrow with a “NLL Game of the Week” doubleheader on TSN in Canada as Saskatchewan travels to Halifax at 7pm ET and Panther City opens up in Vancouver at 10pm ET. ESPN2 will carry the first “NLL Saturday Night Showcase” this weekend with Philadelphia battling New York starting at 7:30pm ET.
Marvel
Marvel is one of the world’s most prominent entertainment brands, built on an unparalleled library of iconic characters and stories that have shaped pop culture for 85 years. The Marvel brand spans entertainment, including film, television, publishing, licensing, games, live events, digital media, and more.
For more information, visit marvel.com. © 2023 MARVEL
AthLife
Established in 2004, AthLife is a privately-owned company that hold service contracts with many sports and entertainment properties, including Marvel Entertainment, the NBA & G League, NFLPA, The Trust (powered by the NFLPA), Major League Soccer, National Basketball Retired Players Association, and college and university athletic departments. Since 2010, AthLife has helped facilitate hundreds of Marvel Super Hero™ themed events and activations for Marvel with more than 100 professional and minor league sports franchises. ©2023 AthLife
For the latest scores and developments in the National Lacrosse League, please visit: NLL.com and find the NLL on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and TikTok.
Sports Techie, might fans see a Marvel and NLL animated series or even a movie in the mode of the NFL, Disney+ and ESPN+ ‘Toy Story FunDay Football‘ earlier this year. The aim was to excite a new generation of fans with intellectual property (IP) they enjoy to help grow the sport. I believe it worked.
Be sure to get your Marvel Super Hero™ theme nights comic book in 2024 and celebrate the indigenous origins lacrosse, aka the Creator’s Game, Baggataway, and also known as “little brother of war” or Tewaaraton.
See you later sportstechie in Seattle, Atlanta and around the world!
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