Oneida Nation to Host Four World Lacrosse Box Championship Games

UTICA, N.Y. — World Lacrosse today announced that Turning Stone Resort Casino has joined the upcoming 2024 World Lacrosse Box Championships as an Official Event Partner. As part of the partnership, the Mary C. Winder Community Center – Oneida Indian Nation’s new 90,000-square-foot community center – will host four games of the historic double world championship, which will feature the best men’s and women’s lacrosse athletes from around the globe. In addition, Turning Stone’s Exit 33 entertainment destination will be the site of the official post-championship celebration.

Central New York will be the center of the lacrosse universe from September 20-29 as 133 games are played over 10 days with 1,200+ participating athletes and staff from 38 national teams, and thousands of fans from around the world. Four key pool play matchups on September 24 are now set to take place at the Mary C. Winder Community Center and will be broadcast nationally (details to come):

9:30 a.m. // Canada vs Ireland (women)
1:00 p.m. // Haudenosaunee vs Netherlands (women)
4:30 p.m. // Haudenosaunee vs England (men)
8:00 p.m. // USA vs Canada (men)

The post-championship celebration at Turning Stone’s Exit 33 will take place following the gold medal doubleheader on Sunday, September 29, and will feature food, drinks, live music and a brief awards ceremony.

Robert Esche, Utica 2024 Organizing Committee chair, said: “We are proud to partner with Turning Stone for another world championship, and to showcase the best lacrosse players in the world in our county. These games at the Mary C. Winder Community Center will continue to showcase our county as one of the best sports destinations in the Northeast and highlight the amazing facilities created here by the Oneida Indian Nation.”

Ray Halbritter, Oneida Indian Nation representative and Turning Stone Enterprises CEO, said: “The Oneida people consider the game of lacrosse to be a gift from the Creator. We know that our ancestors would feel incredible pride that Native athletes and non-Native athletes alike from across the world will be playing the Creator’s game on our homelands. We are honored to host several games of the World Lacrosse Box Championships in our brand-new box lacrosse arena, excited to welcome fans into our beautiful facility and thrilled to continue Turning Stone Resort Casino’s long tradition of supporting top sporting events in our region by hosting the official post-championship celebration at the resort’s Exit 33.”

Named after Oneida Indian Nation member and Native American activist Mary C. Winder, the Community Center features a gym, pool, gallery, library and a state-of-the-art fieldhouse that will be utilized for the world championship.

Teams participating in the world championships will also benefit from the facility's amenities, having the opportunity to practice at the facility in the days leading up to the event. This move not only showcases the versatility of venues within Central New York, but also underscores the region's commitment to supporting world-class sporting events.

Anthony J. Picente Jr., Oneida County Executive, said: “The World Lacrosse Box Championships are going to be another marquee international sporting event for Oneida County. Our Adirondack Bank and Utica University Nexus centers will be bustling with activity and excitement during this event, and the addition of the Mary C. Winder Community Center will only make it bigger and better. The tradition of lacrosse runs deep in the culture of the Oneida Indian Nation, and I’m thrilled that our strong county partner will play host to a series of games, and that Turning Stone will host the official post-championship celebration.”

Further event information can be found at WorldLacrosse.sport/Utica2024. Tickets for the games at the Mary C. Winder Community Center will be available for pre-sale exclusively to event pass holders from July 17-30, with general sales (if tickets are still available) opening on July 31 via Ticketmaster.

The Mary C. Winder Community Center opened June 29 and has hosted several lacrosse events, including a training camp for the Haudenosaunee Women's Box Lacrosse Team as it prepares for the championship. The Haudenosaunee Nationals also offered a girls’ box lacrosse camp on July 6 for members of the community.