via Bloomberg.com, authored by Scott Soshnick – photo from Justin Chin of Bloomberg  

Author’s Note:  Came across this today and found it interesting enough to post an excerpt and a link to.  Joe Tsai, Vice Chairman of Alibaba, the Amazon of China, played lacrosse at Yale and participated in an IL forum earlier this year at Final Four weekend.  Just another sign of the rapid growth at all levels and all geographical regions around the country!

  Excerpt: Alibaba Executive Vice Chairman Joe Tsai has bought the National Lacrosse League’s expansion team in San Diego, bringing another billionaire owner to a league with plans to add franchises and expand its digital footprint. Tsai, who has a net worth of $11.4 billion, paid about $5 million for the yet-to-be-named franchise, according to a person with knowledge of the transaction who asked to not be named because the terms are private. NLL spokeswoman Ashley Dabb declined to comment on the terms of the deal. Tsai has a long history with lacrosse — he played at Yale in the 1980s — but the NLL may also be a precursor to other American sports investments. Those who consider buying a major U.S. sports franchise often start with a less expensive investment in a smaller league as a learning experience and proving ground, and Tsai has expressed an interest in buying a stake of the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets. “His investment in the league continues to legitimize our five-year strategy and prove what we have all known in the NLL for years — that we have an amazingly entertaining product and a sustainable and profitable business model,” NLL Commissioner Nick Sakiewicz said. “I have a strong passion for lacrosse, and look forward to bringing the NLL to San Diego,” Tsai said in a statement. “Our team is committed to creating a fan-first experience and to being an integral part of the local community.”   Read the rest HERE