On January 31, New York City Sports Commissioner Kenneth J. Podziba will welcome the inaugural Mayor's Cup FDNY-NYPD Indoor Lacrosse Challenge to Madison Square Garden. The Mayor's Cup, held prior to the New York Titans home opener against the San Jose Stealth, will feature the NYPD's Finest and FDNY's Bravest in an exhibition game. Admission to the Mayor's Cup is included in the price of admission to the New York Titans game and a portion of the proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to the PBA Widows & Children's Fund and the FF Thomas R. Elsasser Fund. The Mayor's Cup will begin at 5:30pm and the Titans home opener will begin at 7:30pm.

"It is truly an honor to present the inaugural Mayor's Cup FDNY-NYPD Indoor Lacrosse Challenge," said Commissioner Podziba. "New York's Bravest and Finest put on uniforms every day and place their lives on the line to keep the city's citizens safe. On January 31, they will once again selflessly strap on their pads to benefit two worthy causes -- PBA Widows & Orphans Fund and the FF Thomas R. Elsasser Fund. I wish each department the best of luck as they go toe-to-toe for department bragging rights."

The Titans will award the Most Valuable Player of the Mayor's Cup FDNY-NYPD Indoor Lacrosse Challenge with the Police Officer Ronald Kloepfer MVP plaque. Kloepfer, in association with the Patrolman's Benevolent Association, formed the NYPD lacrosse team in 1997. He passed away on September 11, 2001, but has left a lasting legacy with the NYPD lacrosse squad.

"The Titans have brought a lot of historic firsts to the Garden over the past year," said Titans COO Timothy Kelly. "The Titans' inaugural 2007 season home opener was the first ever lacrosse game played at the Garden, the Titans hosted the first ever collegiate lacrosse match when NYU took on Columbia at the Garden last season and on January 31, 2008, the Titans will host the first ever FDNY-NYPD lacrosse match at the World's Most Famous Arena."

Immediately following the Mayor's Cup FDNY-NYPD Indoor Lacrosse Challenge, the Titans will take on the San Jose Stealth in their 2008 season home opener. The last time the New York Titans played the San Jose Stealth at home on February 24, 2007 the Titans suffered an emotional 12-11 loss, igniting an instant rivalry.

For more information about the Mayor's Cup FDNY-NYPD Indoor Lacrosse Challenge, please visit the Mayor's Cup FDNY-NYPD Indoor Lacrosse Challenge website.

Fans interested in purchasing tickets for the Mayor's Cup FDNY-NYPD Indoor Lacrosse Challenge and New York Titans home opener on January 31 can log onto www.ticketmaster.com.

For additional information about the New York Titans, please visit www.nytitans.com.

The New York City Sports Commission is the mayoral agency charged with attracting, facilitating and promoting professional, amateur and scholastic sports events in New York City. The Sports Commission has played an integral role in creating or developing many new sporting events, including the NFL Kickoff Live from Times Square, NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series™ Champions Week, the BMC Software NYC Cycling Championship, the AVP Brooklyn Open, the NAUTICA NYC Triathlon, the NYC Half-Marathon, the Union Square Street Sessions presented by Jeep®, the Wild Onion Urban Adventure Race, and the Men's Health Urbanathlon.