Jamie Horowitz and Peyton Manning Launch Lacrosse Series for ESPN Plus
Rabil’s Places premiered June 4, 2025, as the newest addition to Omaha Productions’ expanding Places franchise through a five-episode ESPN+ series exploring lacrosse’s roots, culture, and future. Hosted by Premier Lacrosse League co-founder Paul Rabil, the series showcases the Manning-Horowitz partnership’s expansion beyond traditional major league content into specialized sports programming.
Manning serves as executive producer alongside Horowitz, continuing their collaboration model that has generated Emmy-winning content across multiple sports and platforms since Omaha Productions’ December 2020 founding. Episodes feature legendary football coach Bill Belichick discussing his lacrosse background, former WWE star Mick Foley exploring goalie techniques, and Native American representatives teaching traditional game elements.
Weekly Wednesday premieres from June 4 through July 2 create sustained viewer engagement across ESPN+, Hulu, and Disney+ for Disney Bundle Trio subscribers. These diverse guest appearances demonstrate how the Manning-Horowitz partnership connects different sports and entertainment communities through shared athletic experiences and cultural appreciation.
Content Development Through Athlete Partnerships
Paul Rabil’s selection as host demonstrates the partnership’s methodology for identifying athletes whose credibility and charisma enable authentic storytelling across diverse audience segments. Rabil combines professional lacrosse excellence with entrepreneurial success through Premier Lacrosse League co-founding, providing unique perspectives on both traditional game elements and modern competitive evolution.
“Paul is the perfect person to tell the stories that make lacrosse the sport that it is today,” Manning explained regarding the hosting choice. “As a former player and entrepreneur, he is so close to the game that he loves and that shines through in this series.”
Content development required extensive research into lacrosse’s cultural significance, collegiate programs, and professional league structures to create programming that respects the sport’s indigenous heritage while celebrating contemporary achievements. Production teams collaborated with lacrosse historians, tribal representatives, and current players to ensure accurate storytelling of the sport’s evolution from sacred Native American traditions to modern competitive formats.
“This series continues our mission of giving athletes a platform to tell their own stories, in their own voices,” Horowitz noted regarding the lacrosse expansion, emphasizing consistent content philosophy that guides all Omaha Productions programming across varied sports and platforms.
Platform Integration Through Distribution Networks
ESPN+ distribution provides consistent platform relationships while multi-platform availability demonstrates understanding of contemporary content consumption patterns where viewers expect seamless access across devices and subscription services. Cross-platform promotion through ESPN’s traditional broadcasting channels drives awareness while streaming exclusivity provides added value for subscribers seeking premium sports documentary content.
Content accessibility across Hulu and Disney+ maximizes audience reach through integrated streaming services without additional marketing costs. Revenue optimization occurs through subscription retention and cross-promotional opportunities within Disney’s content ecosystem, creating sustainable income streams that support continued franchise expansion.
Franchise Expansion Model Across Sports Categories
Rabil’s Places continues systematic franchise growth that now encompasses programming across nine different sports, each hosted by respected athletes including Stephanie McMahon (wrestling), Abby Wambach (soccer), Vince Carter (basketball), David Ortiz (baseball), and John McEnroe (tennis). Each maintains consistent production quality and storytelling approaches that define Places brand identity while serving specialized audience segments.
Revenue diversification through franchise expansion reduces business risk while creating sustainable income streams that support continued growth across emerging sports markets. Each new entry builds credibility for subsequent athlete partnerships while generating content libraries valuable for long-term licensing and syndication opportunities across multiple distribution platforms.
Lacrosse programming addresses passionate but underserved fan bases concentrated in specific geographic regions and collegiate environments. Programming analysis identified gaps where authentic sports storytelling could attract dedicated audiences while introducing casual viewers to sports they might not otherwise experience through traditional broadcasting coverage.
Long-Term Content Development Through Partnership Stability
ESPN partnership extension through 2034 provides operational stability that enables ambitious content planning and talent development across multiple sports and entertainment formats. This long-term commitment allows the Manning-Horowitz team to secure athlete cooperation and develop comprehensive content approaches that benefit from sustained platform relationships.
Company valuation of approximately $800 million reflects investor confidence in the partnership’s ability to identify and develop successful content across varied sports markets. Recent Silver Lake investment demonstrates Wall Street recognition of their content development methodology and platform relationship management capabilities.
Industry analysts suggest continued expansion opportunities as streaming platforms compete for differentiated sports content that serves both niche audiences and broader entertainment demographics. Franchise development provides sustainable competitive advantages through established athlete networks, proven content formats, and comprehensive platform relationships that position Omaha Productions for continued growth under collaborative leadership across multiple sports and entertainment verticals.
