LAX attitude: Lacrosse world title bound for state
38 countries will be represented at event in Commerce City
commerce city » Commerce City is looking for ways to highlight local businesses and attractions in preparation for the 2014 Federation of International LacrosseWorld Championships from July 10-19 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.
Officials from US Lacrosse, the sport’s national governing body, estimate that 150,000 athletes, coaches and spectators from 38 countries will flood the streets of Commerce City throughout the 10-day tournament.
“We’re thrilled to be the official competition city for this event,” said Commerce City spokeswoman Michelle Halstead. “It really bodes well when an event of this size can happen in (our) community.”
Because there are no large hotels in Commerce City, economic development officials are working to keep athletes and eventgoers near the stadium instead of near their hotels in Denver and Aurora.
The city is putting togeth- er a coupon book for lacrosse fans and athletes that points out locally owned restaurants and some of Commerce City’s 1,500 businesses.
Mainstay sites like Buffalo Run Golf Course and the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge will be spotlighted.
“We hope to mail the books to coaches and international delegation officials first, in June,” Halstead said.
The lacrosseworld championships are not only the largest event Commerce City has hosted but also the largest international sporting event inColorado history.
In addition to the world championships, more than 140 teams will compete in the men’s masters and the boys’ competitions, which will be at the same time as the world championships on the surrounding fields at Dick’s, at 6000 Victory Way.
Aurora also will host the 2014 US Lacrosse under-15 national championships July 21-23 at the Aurora Sports Park, 18601 E. Sports Park Circle.
It has been 16 years since the men’s world championship was held in the United States; it was hosted in Baltimore in 1998.
Bill Schoonmaker, chief operating officer of Baltimore-based US Lacrosse, said bringing a lacrosse event of this size to Colorado was fated.
“We felt, strategically, that it was time to take a major competition off of the East Coast and bring it to the middle of the country,” Schoonmaker said. “(Colorado) is the perfect place because there is so much youth, high school and collegiate-level lacrosse there.”
He pointed to the program at the University of Denver, which he said is growing at an incredible rate, and noted the popularity and success of the Pioneers. Under coach Bill Tierney, the team has been to the NCAA Final Four three times.
Schoonmaker mentioned that the two professional lacrosse teams inColorado— the Colorado Mammoth and the Denver Outlaws — are the twomost successful franchises in their respective leagues, measured by attendance.
“It was a natural fit for us,” Schoonmaker said. “Commerce City is providing excellent operational support. … We’re very pleased to partner to bring this to them.”