The National Lacrosse League's Board of Governors has decided to reinstate the All Star Game for next season, the Vancouver Sun reported today.

Vancouver Ravens governor Tom Mayenknecht told the Sun that there will be a midseason all-star game in 2004, to be hosted by one of the league's American franchises. The game would then alternate between countries, with Canadian cities hosting the game in odd-numbered years.

"It's a step in the right direction, in the league positioning itself as a major North American sports league," Mayenknecht said. "A midseason all-star game is great for the fans and it's a chance to promote some of the personalities and marquee players."

Mayneknecht said the Ravens are considering a bid to host the game in 2005 or 2007, adding that a decision on whether to do so will be made in the next two weeks.

As for this season, no location has been selected. However, league sources told the Outsider's Guide tonight that the Colorado Mammoth is interested and either has submitted a proposal to host the 2004 all-star game or will do so shortly.

The NLL has a sketchy past with all-star games, though. After a 1999 midseason exhibition at Rochester, the all-star game was not held again until 2002, at the Mohegan Sun resort in Uncasville, Connecticut.

The 2002 game, originally planned as a midseason game in Orlando, was cancelled after the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001, then reinstated several months later as a postseason event.

The all-star game format apparently is still undecided. For Rochester 1999, the then-seven-team NLL split into American and Canadian teams, based on nationality, while for Mohegan Sun 2002, the five Canadian teams joined up with the Rochester Knighthawks to oppose the other seven American teams.