The fastest game on two feet is coming to the city with the fastest cars on four wheels. Indianapolis will host the inaugural USA Lacrosse Experience from Oct. 11-13, 2024.
The USA Lacrosse Experience will offer a festival-type atmosphere featuring international competition anchored by the U.S. National Teams playing Sixes (the version of the sport that will be contested at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles), tournaments for players of all ages featuring small-sided formats and educational and training opportunities for players, coaches and officials all located within walking distance of each other in the downtown Indy area.
Together with these elements, the USA Lacrosse Experience will blend competition, learning and fun to create a unique atmosphere for visitors to experience the sport.
“We are thrilled to be coming to Indianapolis and showcasing the great sport of lacrosse in a first-of-its-kind event,” said Kristy Nutt, director of events for USA Lacrosse. “From the beginning, it was important for us to create an event that had young athletes in mind – those that have been playing for years and for those that are just starting out. Each athlete will be able to choose their own experience and what they want to get out of their time in Indy.
“And this event isn’t just for lacrosse fans. Any sports fan or family will be able to come and find something to enjoy.”
U.S. national team athletes Dempsey Arsenault, a gold medalist with the U.S. women’s team at the 2022 world championship, and Trevor Baptiste, a gold medalist with the U.S. men’s team at the 2018 and 2023 world championships, were in Indianapolis in February to kick off the buildup for the event.
Arsenault and Baptiste both set an unofficial new world record for the longest lacrosse goal ever scored – with the duo both scoring from 811 feet (the length of Indy’s Salesforce Tower) – at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Indy Car driver Conor Daly, a former lacrosse player, participated in the festivities.
🚨 THE INAUGURAL USA LACROSSE EXPERIENCE IS HEADED TO INDY. 🚨
What better way to celebrate than setting the WORLD RECORD for the longest lacrosse goal ever scored.
Watch @trevorbaptiste9, @_demps and @ConorDaly22 make history. pic.twitter.com/j6qqVef8Hd— USA Lacrosse (@USA_Lacrosse) March 7, 2024
International Competition
The international competition at the USA Lacrosse Experience will feature the U.S. Men’s and Women’s National Teams playing Sixes, a new fast-paced discipline of the sport that will be used in the 2028 Summer Olympics. Games will be held on Friday, Oct. 11 (9 am to 6:30 pm) and Saturday, Oct. 12 (4 pm to 9 pm) at Michael A. Carroll Track & Soccer Stadium on the campus of Indiana University Indianapolis (IUI).
A full slate of game times and opponents will be announced soon, but tickets are on sale now, including VIP opportunities, at USALacrosse.com/experience.
Playing Opportunities
Lacrosse players of all ages can take part in the King and Queen of the Park – small-sided games at White River State Park. Just six to eight players are needed for each team and each team will play a guaranteed six games. The age groupings of 8U, 10U, 12U, middle school and high school play this format on Saturday Oct. 12.
Sunday’s slate on Oct. 13 is reserved for men’s and women’s post-collegiate/masters and adaptive/coed teams.
Players can also sign up as individuals to play on a USA Lacrosse house team as well. All players receive an official event pinnie and tickets to all the international games.
Middle school and high school teams that have registered for the King and Queen of the Park event also have the opportunity to play Sixes in a one-day competition on Sunday, Oct. 13. Teams will play three games each, giving them the opportunity to experience the Olympic-version of the sport they’ll see the international teams playing.
All teams participating in the USA Lacrosse Experience also have the opportunity to customize their experience. All registered players from 8U through high school can sign up for three skills clinics at no additional charge and can also upgrade with an additional fee to attend an athlete combine that includes speed, power and agility high-performance tests. Teams can also purchase a VIP team clinic, a 60-minute clinic with current and/or former national team players and coaches and can purchase reduced price tickets for parents for the international games.
Growing the Sport
USA Lacrosse strategically chose the Midwest to further fuel the growth of the sport that will be aided by Olympic inclusion. Lacrosse’s appearance in the LA28 Games marks the sport’s return to the Olympics as a medal sport for the first time in more than a century.
In October 2023, the formation of Elevate28, a group of eight leading lacrosse organizations who have a shared goal of doubling participation in the sport by the end the decade, was announced by representatives from the groups ringing the closing bell for the New York Stock Exchange.
About USA Lacrosse
USA Lacrosse, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, is a Recognized Sports Organization of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee. As the governing body of men’s and women’s lacrosse in the United States, USA Lacrosse leads the U.S. National Teams Program and establishes universal standards. With more than 400,000 members across the country, USA Lacrosse unites the community of players, coaches, officials, parents, and program leaders. Working together, we inspire participation, enrich the athlete experience, and support the growth of the sport.
