Premier Lacrosse League plans to bring in team owners by 2028 'or soon thereafter,' co-founder says

Premier Lacrosse League co-founder Paul Rabil said the league intends to introduce outside team ownership by 2028, or shortly after, as it looks to capitalize on lacrosse's return to the Olympic program. Speaking with CNBC, Rabil pointed to the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Games as a pivotal moment that could dramatically raise the sport's visibility and, in turn, its commercial appeal to investors.

Lacrosse has not been part of the Olympics as a medal sport since the early 20th century, but organizers selected a fast-paced six-on-six version of the game for inclusion at the Los Angeles Games. For a niche American sport with a small but growing fan base, a spot on the Olympic stage represents a rare opportunity to reach viewers who have never watched a professional match.

The PLL currently operates under a centralized structure in which the league itself owns and controls its teams, rather than selling franchises to independent owners the way traditional major sports leagues do. That single-entity approach, similar to models other young leagues have used in their early years, allows the league to manage costs and competitive balance while it builds an audience and secures media deals.

Rabil's comments signal that the league sees bringing in private team owners as a natural next step once its brand and viewership have matured, rather than something to pursue prematurely. Tying that shift to the Olympic cycle suggests the league wants tangible proof of expanded interest and fan engagement before opening ownership stakes to outside capital.

Rabil, a former professional player, co-founded the PLL in 2018 alongside his brother Mike as an alternative to the previous top domestic lacrosse circuit, and the two leagues later merged. Since then, the organization has worked to expand its television and streaming footprint and to grow attendance at its touring events, steps that would likely factor into how attractive a franchise stake looks to prospective buyers.

Other leagues that started with centralized or single-entity ownership have eventually transitioned to independently owned franchises once they proved financially viable, a path that helped attract larger investment and regional fan bases. The PLL's timeline suggests its leadership is watching that model closely, betting that Olympic exposure could accelerate lacrosse's growth in the way soccer and other niche sports have benefited from similar global moments.

Still, the shift is not without uncertainty. Olympic inclusion does not guarantee sustained interest once the Games conclude, and the league will need to demonstrate durable audience growth and stable finances to convince investors that team ownership is a sound bet. Rabil's "by 2028 or soon thereafter" framing leaves the league room to adjust its timeline depending on how the Olympic moment actually plays out.

For now, the PLL's immediate focus remains on building momentum ahead of the Los Angeles Games, with any formal move toward outside ownership expected to follow rather than precede that milestone. How quickly the league moves may depend heavily on ratings, attendance, and sponsorship trends in the run-up to 2028.

Source: CNBC Business