Langley, B.C., bids on 2019 world indoor lacrosse championships

OTTAWA – Langley, B.C., has placed a bid to host the 2019 world indoor lacrosse championship, the Canadian Lacrosse Association announced on Tuesday.

The CLA, together with the Langley Events Centre and the support of the British Columbia Lacrosse Association, submitted the bid to the Federation of International Lacrosse.

“The LEC is extremely excited to have the opportunity to bid on the 2019 FIL men’s indoor world lacrosse championships in partnership with the BC Lacrosse Association and Canadian Lacrosse Association,” said Jared Harman, director of business development for the Langley Events Centre. “This event will feature the best lacrosse playing nations in a true showcase of the sport and will be a unique event to showcase in our community.”

The Langley Events Centre is home to the National Lacrosse League’s Vancouver Stealth. It has also hosted the Mann and Minto Cups, Canada’s senior A and junior A indoor lacrosse championships.

Canada previously hosted this event in 2007 (Halifax), the women’s field World Cup in 2013 (Oshawa, Ont.), the men’s field world championship in 2006 (London, Ont.), the under-19 women’s field world championship in 2007 (Peterborough, Ont.) and the under-19 men’s field world championship in 2008 (Coquitlam, B.C.).

“We are pleased to support the bid to host the WILC in Canada, especially in a hotbed of box lacrosse like Langley, B.C.,” said CLA president Joey Harris. “We have every confidence in Langley and the LEC in their ability to put on a world-class event; not only building on but topping the great success Canada had when we last hosted and won this event in 2007 in Halifax.“

Should they be successful in their bid, the Township of Langley, the Province of British Columbia and all of Canada will have the opportunity to experience some of the best lacrosse being played in the World right in their backyard.

A decision is scheduled to be made by the FIL’s selection committee by the fall of 2015.

The 2015 world indoor championship is being hosted by the Onondaga First Nation in upstate New York.