NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Championships Expected to Generate $22 Million In Economic Impact for Philadelphia

NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Championships Expected to Generate $22 Million In Economic Impact for Philadelphia Over Memorial Day Weekend

The event is expected to attract approximately 70,000 fans to Lincoln Financial Field

PHILADELPHIA – All eyes will be on Philadelphia this Memorial Day weekend as the region is expected to host an estimated 70,000 fans for the NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Championships. The event is anticipated to generate a $22 million economic impact for Philadelphia.

Lacrosse fans will descend upon Lincoln Financial Field from around the country to watch powerhouse Division I teams from University of Notre Dame, University of Denver, University of Maryland and University of Virginia, in addition to Division II teams Adelphi University (Garden City, N.Y.) and Lenoir-Rhyne University (Hickory, N.C.) and Division III teams Rochester Institute of Technology (Rochester, N.Y.) and Tufts University (Medford, Mass.). Drexel University and the Philadelphia Eagles are hosting the championships in partnership with the NCAA and PHL Sports, a division of the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau.

“We are thrilled to host the NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Championships this weekend at Lincoln Financial Field,” said Don Smolenski, Philadelphia Eagles president and PHL Sports chair. “This will serve as another opportunity to showcase our stadium and city as premier destinations for major sporting events and attractions. We are proud to work with Drexel University, PHL Sports, and the NCAA to deliver a first-class, championship experience for all participating teams and fans this Memorial Day weekend.”

The Division I men’s lacrosse semifinals will take place Saturday, May 25 starting at 12 p.m. The Division II and III finals will be held Sunday, May 26 starting at 1 p.m. and the Division I final will close out the championship weekend on Monday, May 27 at 1 p.m.

“We are excited to be back in Philadelphia with an outstanding local organizing committee (Drexel University, Philadelphia Eagles and PHL Sports) providing a top-notch experience for not only the student-athletes and coaches but also for fans,” said Ryan Tressel, director, championships and alliances, for NCAA. “They have proven to be a great host for the student-athletes and coaches who have competed in the Division I, II and III lacrosse championships in the past. We look forward to a tremendous weekend of lacrosse.”

“We are excited to once again host the NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Championships,” said Nick Gannon, Drexel University deputy athletic director and chief operating officer for the Department of Athletics. “The city of Philadelphia and Lincoln Financial Field have been great hosts in the past and we are looking forward to having another outstanding event. We are grateful for the collaborative effort and partnerships with the Eagles, PHL Sports and NCAA to continue to put forth such a prominent event.”

Since 2000, Philadelphia has hosted a total of 22 NCAA championships, including six men’s basketball tournaments and seven men’s lacrosse championships. In the next two years, the city will welcome an additional two championships – the 2025 NCAA Wrestling Championships and 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball first and second rounds. Learn more here.

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About PHL Sports:

PHL Sports, a business development division of the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau, seeks to attract major sporting events and conventions to the Philadelphia area. PHL Sports, working in conjunction with the City of Philadelphia, the city’s professional teams and universities, has attracted many events to the city and is currently working on bids for future sporting events. To learn more, visit www.discoverPHL.com/sports.

About the PHLCVB:

The Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau (PHLCVB) creates positive economic impact across the Philadelphia region, driving job growth and promoting the health and vibrancy of our hospitality industry by marketing the destination, the Pennsylvania Convention Center, and attracting overnight visitors. The PHLCVB’s work engages our partners, the local Philadelphia community as well as culturally and ethnically diverse regional, national and international convention, sporting event and tourism customers. The PHLCVB is also the official tourism promotion agency for the city of Philadelphia globally and is responsible for growing the number of overseas leisure visitors who come to the region each year. To learn more, visit www.discoverPHL.com.