Team Illinois Lacrosse

What Team Illinois Lacrosse does

Team Illinois Lacrosse is an Illinois-based nonprofit youth sports organization dedicated to growing the game of lacrosse in the state. Founded by Coach Joe Opron, the organization operates a vertically integrated player-development platform spanning community-level introductory programs, structured league play through the Illinois Youth Lacrosse League (IYLL), six select state member clubs (Chicago Elite, East Ave, Four Star, Second City, Steelhead, Yeti), and elite youth national teams that compete in premier tournaments such as NLF, Great Atlantic Lacrosse Championship, Crab Feast, and Future Champions. The organization claims to have helped over 500 student-athletes progress to collegiate lacrosse, supported by year-round personalized college recruiting assistance led by Director of Recruiting Kevin Benages.

The organization runs a full calendar of invitational tournaments and showcases — including the Wisconsin-Illinois Spring Invitational (Spring WILLI), Summer Lacrosse Invitational & Showcase, Battle in the Dells, Fall Invitational & Showcase, Frozen Tundra, and Box Lacrosse events in Illinois and Michigan — drawing 80+ college coaches and 100+ teams at peak events. Its technology stack is intentionally lean: third-party platforms handle registration (LeagueApps), professional HD video (NLV Productions), and documentation (Google Docs/Forms); there is no proprietary technology product. Core venue partners include Mercyhealth Sportscore (Rockford), Canlan Sports (Libertyville), Woodside Sports Complex (Wisconsin Dells), Naperville Lacrosse Arena, and Total Sports Novi East (Michigan).

Team Illinois generates revenue almost exclusively through tournament team registration fees (ranging from $750 to $2,200 per team depending on event) and individual showcase registration fees ($285–$295 per player). Revenue is not publicly disclosed. GTM is event-driven: marketing runs primarily through Instagram, the LeagueApps event pages, and recurring showcase/tournament visibility, with word-of-mouth through member clubs and community affiliates driving organic acquisition. The organization is led by founder Joe Opron (a financial derivatives attorney and adjunct law professor) and Kevin Benages (Director of Recruiting and National Teams), and operates with approximately 21 employees.

Name

Team Illinois Lacrosse

Legal name

Team Illinois Lacrosse

Website

https://teamillinoislax.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Team Illinois Lacrosse is an Illinois-based nonprofit youth lacrosse organization that operates a vertically integrated player-development platform — community affiliates, the IYLL league, six state member clubs, and youth national teams — supported by a year-round calendar of tournaments and college-recruiting showcases across the Midwest.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Sports Events and Lacrosse Programming

NAICS

Spectator Sports (71121), Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620), Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth & Scholastic Sports Organizations (K–12, AAU, Club Leagues) (MPAKACAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth & Junior Tournament Organizers (MPAKADAL), Recreational & Intramural Sports Programs (MPAKACAG), Amateur & Grassroots Tournament Organizers (MPAKADAH)

Keywords

• College recruiting showcases
• Community youth sports
• Travel lacrosse clubs
• Youth lacrosse programs
• Lacrosse tournament events

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Tournament and Invitational Registration Fees: Team Illinois charges team registration fees for participation in its invitational tournaments (e.g., Spring WILLI, Summer Invitational, Frozen Tundra, Box Lacrosse events). Fee amounts vary by event, ranging from $750 per team for youth Frozen Tundra events to $2,200 per team for Illinois Box Lacrosse Invitational. Individual players pay separate registration fees for college showcases (e.g., $295 for Summer Individual Showcase).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Team Illinois Lacrosse organizes, hosts, and manages year-round youth lacrosse events and developmental programs across Illinois and the broader Midwest. Its core deliverables are tournaments and invitationals (Spring WILLI, Battle in the Dells, Summer Invitational, Frozen Tundra, Box Lacrosse Invitationals, Summer Summit, Fall Invitational), individual college recruiting showcases, the Illinois Youth Lacrosse League (IYLL), six select state member travel clubs, a Community Affiliate Program with 30+ clubs, and youth/high school national teams that compete in premier national tournaments.

Product overview

Team Illinois Lacrosse is a comprehensive lacrosse organization offering a multi-tiered platform of programs. The core offerings include the Illinois Youth Lacrosse League (IYLL) for community-based youth development, State Member Clubs (six select travel clubs), Community Affiliate Clubs, and National Teams programs. Event offerings span the calendar year with tournaments including the Summer Lacrosse Invitational & Showcase, Wisconsin-Illinois Spring Invitational, Battle in the Dells, Fall Lacrosse Invitational & Showcase, Frozen Tundra (winter box lacrosse), Michigan and Illinois Box Lacrosse Invitationals, Summer Summit, and TI/OWLS Community Shootout. The organization also provides college recruiting assistance through its High School Exposure Program and tracks college commitments across multiple divisions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Illinois Youth Lacrosse League (IYLL): A league dedicated to fostering the development of young lacrosse players across Illinois, organizing structured, community-based programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• 500+ student-athletes placed at the collegiate level through Team Illinois recruiting programs
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• OWLS Lacrosse (Outreach with Lacrosse and Schools)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 October 2026OWLS Lacrosse is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization founded in 2011 focused on improving the lives of Chicago's at-risk youth through lacrosse combined with academic tutoring and mentoring. Team Illinois co-hosts the TI/OWLS Community Shootout, a high school 7v7 tournament where all proceeds benefit OWLS Lacrosse programs.
• NLV ProductionscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerNLV Productions provides best-in-class HD video packages for all Team Illinois showcase and invitational events at no additional cost to participants. Film is distributed to participants via the NLV Dashboard within 2 weeks of each event. This partnership is a key value driver for college-recruiting-bound players and their families.
• Inside LacrossecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerInside Lacrosse serves as the official content and branding partner for the Team Illinois Summer Individual College Showcase. The partnership elevates the credibility and reach of the showcase among college coaches and recruiting audiences. Inside Lacrosse's logo appears on all Summer Showcase promotional materials.
• Athletes HospitalityminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAthletes Hospitality provides out-of-town teams at Team Illinois events with a 'Stay to Play' hotel reservation service at negotiated rates. This partnership ensures teams have quality accommodations and reduces last-minute hotel searches. Used across all multi-day tournaments including Spring WILLI, Summer Invitational, and Battle in the Dells.
• Scorpion Performance WearminorGTM or Marketing PartnerScorpion Performance Wear powers the IYLL Championship Weekend, serving as the official sponsor of the All-Star Games and State Championship events. The partnership provides branded apparel and gear for league participants during championship events.
• Mercyhealth Sportscore One and TwocoreOthersMercyhealth Sportscore One and Two in Rockford, IL serve as the primary venue partners for Team Illinois events including the Summer Invitational, Spring WILLI, and Fall Invitational. Sportscore TWO (8800 E Riverside Blvd, Loves Park, IL) features ten turf fields with concessions and restrooms. Sportscore ONE (1288 Elmwood Rd, Rockford, IL) hosts girls events.
• Canlan Sports Complex LibertyvillecoreOthersCanlan Sports Complex in Libertyville, IL serves as the venue for the Boys Frozen Tundra (December) and Illinois Box Lacrosse Invitational (January) events. The indoor facility supports box lacrosse and winter tournament formats.
• Woodside Sports Complex (Wisconsin Dells)coreOthersWoodside Sports Complex in Wisconsin Dells, WI hosts the annual Battle in the Dells tournament. The facility accommodates youth and high school teams from Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and beyond over a September weekend.
• Naperville Lacrosse ArenacoreOthersNaperville Lacrosse Arena serves as the venue for the Girls Frozen Tundra event (both HS and Youth divisions) and is referenced as a playoff location for the IYLL Girls division. Located at 460 Industrial Drive, Naperville, IL.
• College of DuPageminorOthersCollege of DuPage Soccer Fields (425 Falwell Blvd, Glen Ellyn, IL) serve as a playoff venue for the IYLL Girls U12 and U14 divisions during conference playoffs.
• LeagueAppscoreTechnology or IntegrationLeagueApps is the tournament management and registration platform powering all Team Illinois events. Teams and individual players register through LeagueApps for tournaments, showcases, and league play. The platform handles waivers, scheduling, and payment processing.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• 3d Lacrosse: 3d Lacrosse is the largest select lacrosse club in the US, running club teams, training programs, and tournaments nationally. Directly comparable to Team Illinois in combining elite club programming with tournament and showcase event operations.
• True Lacrosse: True Lacrosse operates select travel lacrosse clubs and tournaments nationally, with strong Midwest presence. Directly comparable in providing both club team membership and showcase/tournament event services to youth and high school players.
• National Lacrosse Federation: NLF operates premier national youth lacrosse tournaments (NLF Fall, NLF Summer, Crab Feast) that Team Illinois national teams compete in. Comparable as a tournament organizer serving elite youth players across multiple states.
• MadLax: MadLax operates select lacrosse club teams and tournaments across multiple US regions. Comparable to Team Illinois in offering elite club travel teams and showcase-style events serving youth and high school players seeking college recruitment exposure.

Broad incumbents

• USA Lacrosse: USA Lacrosse is the national governing body for the sport, setting rules, providing insurance, and supporting youth programs. Comparable in the youth lacrosse development space but operates at a national, federation level rather than as a single-state event organizer.

Regional players

• NXT Lacrosse: NXT operates select lacrosse clubs and events primarily in the Midwest (Ohio, Michigan). Comparable in combining club programming with tournament operations in an overlapping geographic footprint, competing for the same regional teams and college coaches.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/teamillinoislacrosse

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Team Illinois Lacrosse