According
to the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association’s (SGMA) 2009 Lacrosse Single
Sport Report, lacrosse remains one of the 'hottest' sports to play in the U.S.
Figures indicate lacrosse has grown by nearly 80,000 participants per year
since 2000. Since 2000, overall participation in the sport has more than
doubled — from 518,000 to 1,127,000.

 

The SGMA
also notes that there’s potential for additional growth as two-thirds of all
lacrosse players come from just one-third of the country.

 

“Concentration
of lacrosse participation lies along the Eastern Seaboard,” said SGMA
President Tom Cove. “Right now, virtually all of the Midwest
is an untapped demographic.”

 

According
to SGMA’s 2009 State of the Industry Report, lacrosse is the 2nd hottest sport
for sales growth.

 

“That
bodes well for manufacturers of product and local recreation professionals as
demand for gear and accessories will be high plus interest in local programs
should be strong,” noted Cove. Not only is interest in lacrosse strong
right now, but its future looks bright, too. In a nutshell, the rate of
participation is high and those playing the game are young, too. According to
SGMA, 65% of all participants are under age 25. And 75% of all 'core'
participants (those playing 13 times a year) are under age 25.

 

Listed
below are some additional notes of interest, as they apply to lacrosse:

*
Cross-Participation: Lacrosse players also play football, rugby, and ice
hockey.

*
Big-City Appeal: 45% of lacrosse players live in cities of at least 2,000,000
people.

* Inside
the Numbers: Since 2000, overall participation in lacrosse has grown by 117%.

 

The
source of these facts and figures on lacrosse is SGMA’s Lacrosse Single-Sport
Participation Study (2009 edition).