By Paul Attner - The Washington Post - 7/2/1975
Photos courtesy of Tom Wersderfer
The Maryland Arrows made a decision this year to bench Atilla the Hun, Genghis Khan and other violent symbols of pro lacrosse and sell local fans on the skill of the sport.
It was a choice that apparently has backfired.
A year ago the Arrows were a surprise on the Washington sports scene. Although only a few area fans were familiar with pro lacrosse, the team averaged crowds of 6,000-plus at Capital Centre. The Arrows lost money, but they thought they could break even this year.
Instead, they still are in the red. Attendance is down, the team is averaging about 5,000 a game – and although ticket prices are higher and distribution of free tickets has been cut in half, the team will not make a profit.
The story is similar throughout the National Lacrosse League. Philadelphia, which led in attendance last year, is drawing fewer people, as is Montreal.
Three relocated franchises – Boston, Long Island and Quebec – are doing somewhat better but last season in Syracuse, Toronto and Rochester, they did poorly.
NLL officials, who once thought lacrosse would be highly successful within three years, have revised that estimate to five years. They say no one is bailing out yet, but they are puzzled with the turn of events.
Photos courtesy of Tom Wersderfer
No one in the NLL is more puzzled than the Arrows. “We aren’t pushing the panic button yet,” said Andy Dolich, vice president for administration.
“But it is discouraging. We aren’t making progress, and it hurts.”
Dolich likens the Arrows to a highly successful rookie in baseball who encounters a sophomore slump. Dolich thinks the Arrows will break out of the slump, but they need some help.
The Arrows point to four major reasons for their lack of progress: the successful Washington Bullets basketball team, the schedule, more passive playing, and lack of exposure in the news media.
The team made a heavy advertising pitch before the season began and it thought the exposure was a success when the opening game drew 8,400 fans. But then the Bullets made a run at the NBA title and suddenly Washington was talking about nothing but basketball.
“We got killed just when it seemed we were rolling,” said Mike Trilling, the Arrows’ public relations director. “We got a game on television and had a rating of six, which means 120,000 people watched us. Things looked up, and then nothing.”
The Arrows have never regained the momentum. They have not maintained a constant advertising blitz like last season and Trilling admits the team could use more air time to sell the sport.
Photos courtesy of Tom Wersderfer
The long schedule has not helped. The league added 16 games and 45 days to the regular season, which began in April and ends Sept. 21. The playoffs will extend into late October.
“The league thought that by scheduling more games it could reap the benefits of more money,” said Arrows general manager Jack Gibson. “We’ve found out it was a tragic mistake. There is no continuity from game to game. We can’t maintain interest.”
The league directed referees to enforce the slashing rule, which was abused last year. It led to constant fighting and resulted in what some considered was a violent, wrestling-like image for the league.
This season, players were not allowed to swing away at opponents with their stick, especially away from the ball. The result has been fewer fights and a duller contest. The Arrows are averaging about one fight a game, as compared with three a game last year.
“Frankly, it isn’t as exciting this year,” said Gibson. Many others in the league agree, so the referees are being told to ease off on slashing calls.
Said one Arrows official: “Sure, we’ll have more fights but that’s what the fan wants. It should help attendance.”
The Arrows’ players, all of whom now play lacrosse fulltime, complained bitterly last year that the team’s advertising slogan “You’ve Got to be Mean to Play Box Lacrosse”-and the emphasis on violence diminished their value as athletes. They welcomed the new emphasis on skill.
“This should be a better game this year, although it isn’t,” said Arrows star Paul Suggate.
“I don’t think everyone has their heads together yet. This is their life now, but some don’t realize that. And the league still has too many cement heads around. We need people of vision, not ones who are just worried about today.’
