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The Premier Lacrosse League descends on Herriman, Utah, for the PLL Championship Series beginning July 25. The 16-day, 20-game fully quarantined and fan-less tournament will be nationally televised during what was originally scheduled to be the window for the 2020 Olympic Games, giving those unfamiliar with the sport an opportunity to get hooked.

Ryder Garnsey, an attackman for Redwoods LC, is excited to head to Utah  — or anywhere, for that matter — to compete for a championship.

“I’d be pumped if they announced today that it was going to be played in a cornfield in Nebraska, as long as we are playing,” he said.

Here’s everything we know about the series.

THE VENUE  

Zions Bank Stadium is described as a soccer-specific stadium that can seat 5,000. The stadium is home to the Real Monarchs of the United Soccer League and the Utah Warriors of Major League Rugby.

Zions Bank Stadium hosted the National Women’s Soccer League Challenge Cup from June 27-July 18, exemplifying the viability of the space.

EXPOSURE  

The tournament will run from July 25–Aug. 9, taking up the window on NBC and NBC Sports previously reserved for the Olympics. The visibility for lacrosse’s growth out west — and for the sport in general — could result in a boon in interest.

“It is just so good for the sport,” said Archers LC attackman Will Manny, an assistant coach at the University of Utah alongside teammates Marcus Holman and Adam Ghitelman. “Obviously, no one will be able to watch it in person, but the amount of times they’re going to say ‘Salt Lake City’ on NBC and NBC Sports is going to be huge.”

All games will be presented live across NBC, NBCSN or NBC Sports Gold, with all televised games also streaming live on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app.

HEALTH PROTOCOLS  

The league has formed a COVID-19 medical committee. During the tournament, there will be regular COVID-19 preventative measures. Travel in and out of the venue will be restricted. There will be COVID-19 testing at home, upon arrival and during the event. Paul Rabil said there would be fewer than 300 people (players and personnel) on site.

Tucker Durkin and Evan Connell tested positive for COVID-19 during the first wave of testing, and Jules Heningburg had to exit the PLL Championship Series after a positive test on June 21. Further testing revealed that he is at high risk for cardiac arrest.

The second round of testing revealed zero positive cases.

GROUP PLAY  

Each of the league’s seven clubs will play four games during the 14-game group session starting July 25 and ending Aug. 2. After group play, the teams will be seeded, with the top finisher given a bye in the elimination round.

MATCHUPS TO WATCH  

US Lacrosse Magazine staff writer Nelson Rice highlighted five intriguing matchups to watch during group play.

• Whipsnakes vs. Redwoods

• Redwoods vs. Chaos

• Archers vs. Atlas

• Chrome vs. Chaos

• Waterdogs vs. Archers

HOW THEY TRAINED

Connor Farrell and John Crawley have been pushing trucks. Tom Schreiber has enlisted the help of his fiancé, U.S. national field hockey team member Kathleen Sharkey.

Several Archers LC players made their way to Utah early — where Manny, Holman and Ghitelman serve as assistants for the Utes — and summitted the K90 Nordic Ski Jump on foot twice. Normally, a chair lift takes people to the top, which is 7,500 feet above sea level.

Could getting accustomed to the elevation give Archers the edge?

“It’s almost like you should be wearing a mask when you work out so you can replicate limiting some of your breathing,” Manny said.