2013 is shaping up to be a big year for lacrosse in the Philadelphia area

By Tom Hoffman

With a new year now underway, lacrosse fans in the Philadelphia area have quite a bit to look forward to in the coming months. Not only does the Wings 27th National Lacrosse League season begin on January 11 but there are three big events coming to the area in the coming months that lax fans of all ages can enjoy.


From January 11-13, US Lacrosse will bring its annual convention back to Philadelphia as it takes over the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Several thousand players, coaches, officials, vendors and fans will take over the hall to see the latest in lacrosse equipment along with clinics designed to help those involved in the game improve their skills. While membership to US Lacrosse is required to attend the actual convention, the casual fan will get a chance to see the vendor area as well as demonstrations from the Wings and members of the US National teams on January 12 during the US Lacrosse Fan Fest which will run from 11AM to 5 PM. Admission is $10 but those who are current players in youth or high school leagues and are wearing their team jersey admission is only $5. The $5 rate also applies to any fans wearing a Wings jersey that day. For more info on the convention go to: http://www.uslacrosse.org/TopNav2Right/Events/2013USLacrosseNationalConvention.aspx

For college lacrosse enthusiasts, two major events will be taking place in the Philadelphia area. On March 9 PPL Park will host Inside Lacrosse's Whitman's Sampler Independence Classic. The day will consist of three games starting at Noon with St. John's facing Syracuse. At 2:30 local fans will enjoy the matchup between Penn and Villanova before the day concludes with a 5 PM match between Penn State and Lehigh. For ticket information go to http://independenceclassic.com/.  Indoor fans can make it a complete day of lacrosse as the Wings will host Athan Iannucci and the Washington Stealth at the Wells Fargo Center at 8 PM.

Lastly, the biggest weekend in college lacrosse returns to Philadelphia May 25-27 when the NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship Weekend invades Lincoln Financial Field. Fans will see the champions crowned for Division's I, II and III. Ticket info can be found at http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/020048AAB21AAD41.

Also don't forget to take in a game in the area as there will be plenty of high school, college and pro action to be found in the coming months.