ESPN Films Sets Streaming and Air Dates for Lacrosse Documentary – Deadline

EXCLUSIVE: The Michael Doneger-directed documentary Fate of a Sport, which ESPN acquired ahead of the picture’s world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival, will air August 29 on ESPN+.

The documentary tells the story of lacrosse legend Paul Rabil and his struggle to change the way the sport he loves by creating a new professional league, the Premier Lacrosse League (PLL). After 11 years as one of the most decorated players in a professional lacrosse league that was anything but professional, Rabil decides to start his own league in the sport that made him a star. In partnership with his brother Mike, Paul is raising funds, poaching the best players, fighting lawsuits and navigating a global pandemic to establish the PLL as the premier destination for professional lacrosse in the country. The documentary features original interviews with the Rabils, Jeffrey Wright, Adam Silver, Bill Belichick, Peter Berg, Joe Tsai and Lyle Thompson.

Fate of a Sport will make its linear debut on Thursday, September 15 at 7pm ET on ESPN. It will also air on ABC Sunday, September 18 at 1:00pm ET leading to the PLL Championship game.

“Having the benefit of knowing Paul and Mike before documenting their story and how tenacious and determined they are, I knew audiences would appreciate a peek behind the scenes to see how strong these two are.” Personalities are building a professional sports league from the ground up and helping change the trajectory of a traditional niche sport,” Doneger said. “We are at such a time of upheaval across all industries and there is no better example of the script being turned than the genesis of the Premier Lacrosse League. Fate of a Sport is an underdog tale of ambition, identity and sacrifice. I’m humbled and excited for audiences to see it all unfold on ESPN.”

Fate of a Sport is produced by Matt Tolmach (The Armstrong Lie, Jumanji franchise) and Doneger. The film is being produced by ESPN Films and Uninterrupted’s LeBron James, Maverick Carter, Jamal Henderson and Philip Byron with co-EP Camille Maratchi.