Major League Lacrosse awards Fairfield professional franchise

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Professional lacrosse is returning to Fairfield County.

Major League Lacrosse announced Tuesday the formation of its newest franchise, the Connecticut Hammerheads. The team will play at Fairfield University’s Raffery Stadium beginning with the 2020 season.

The Hammerheads will open their season at home May 30 at Rafferty Stadium, a 3,500-seat, state of the art facility which was built in 2015.

A press conference will be held at Fairfield University at 10 a.m. on February 28, and is open to fans and the public. Team leaders, coaches and players will be present according to the release.

This is the 20th season for MLL, which will own and operate all teams. Joining the Hammerheads are the Atlanta Blaze, Boston Cannons, Chesapeake Bayhawks, Denver Outlaws and New York Lizards.

“We are proud to welcome the Hammerheads to their new home at Conway Field at Rafferty Stadium. We appreciate the league’s confidence in Fairfield University and are excited to welcome lacrosse fans from across the region to visit our campus,” Jennifer Anderson, Fairfield University Vice President of Marketing and Communications said in a press release.

The Hammerheads will be the league’s first team to play in the state of Connecticut since the Bridgeport Barrage, which played at Harbor Yard from 2001-2003 before relocating to Philadelphia. The team will be coached by Bill Warder, who played for the Bridgeport Barrage in 2001. Warder is a respected coach in the MLL, having coached for 12 seasons. He was named the 2018 MLL Coach of the Year. He spent the past four seasons as coach of the Dallas Rattlers.

“We are thrilled to welcome Major League Lacrosse and the Connecticut Hammerheads to the Fairfield University campus,” said Director of Athletics Paul Schlickmann in the release. “As our athletic programs continue to grow, it is important to build strategic partnerships with organizations like the MLL to expand our reputation nationally and showcase our exceptional facilities such as Conway Field at Rafferty Stadium.”