NU to host 2026 WLAX Championship

[CoralSpringsCat]

 

[its_the_sauce]

Very cool

 

[CoralSpringsCat]

Very cool

Hopefully we will be one of the participants!

 

[NJCat]

"Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts originally had been slated to host the championship but due to the facility being named a host for the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup, it became necessary to look at other sites."

Northwestern named host of 2026 NCAA Division I Women's Lacrosse championship

The city of Evanston, Illinois and Northwestern University were awarded the 2026 NCAA Division I Women’s Lacrosse Championship. The semifinals and championship will be played at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium on the campus of Northwestern on May 22 and 24 respectively.

www.ncaa.com

 

[palbeans]

I hope we still have some of the additional seating. When I first saw this, I wondered if it would be in new Ryan Field, but I guess that capacity is too large, and it might not be ready that soon.

 

[NJCat]

I hope we still have some of the additional seating. When I first saw this, I wondered if it would be in new Ryan Field, but I guess that capacity is too large, and it might not be ready that soon.

The Cary Soccer Park where last year's Championship was held has a capacity of 10,000 so Martin Stadium is plenty big enough.

 

[palbeans]

The Cary Soccer Park where last year's Championship was held has a capacity of 10,000 so Martin Stadium is plenty big enough.

Yes, if the "temporary" stands in the end zones are still in place and if most of the spectators don't mind sitting in those locations.

 

[NJCat]

Yes, if the "temporary" stands in the end zones are still in place and if most of the spectators don't mind sitting in those locations.

Do you think they would have gotten the bid without the temporary bleachers? And like soccer, most of the game is played near the goals so the temporary stands are fine for LAX.

 

[ubercat]

I guess the New Ryan Field won’t be ready by May, 2026. They originally announced it would be used to host women’s lacrosse. But I’m fine with the Lakeside; and when we get back to the Final Four it will indeed be The Lake Show.

 

[BarefootCat]

Context for those who don't follow lacrosse:

1) There were probably only 4-5,000 fans at last year's WLax championship game in Cary, NC

2) This year, for the 1st time ever, the NCAA decided to create a Lacrosse Championship Festival in the same city, same stadium, same weekend. They chose Gillette Stadium in MA as the men's game can draw 30,000+ for their game, and the festival weekend includes D1 Men's final four / championship, D1 Women's final four / championship, D2 Men's Championship & D3 Men's Championship.

3) For 2026, the festival weekend was scheduled to take place again at Gillette, but those plans have changed, and now Martin Stadium on the lakefront will host the WLax Final Four and Championship. I will be there!

 

[NJCat]

Context for those who don't follow lacrosse:

1) There were probably only 4-5,000 fans at last year's WLax championship game in Cary, NC

I went to the semi-final game against Florida. It was wicked hot and humid before it rained. There were less than 4,000 people for that game. Evanston will be a much more temperate climate for the games......