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NLL Team in Seattle in 2008?

Submitted by mariani13 on Fri, 2006-06-23 09:47. NLL

Whitsitt seeking lacrosse team
Former Seahawks, Sonics exec places NLL bid for Seattle

P-I NEWS SERVICES

Jim Jennings, commissioner of the National Lacrosse League, said Wednesday he has received an application from Bob Whitsitt for a Seattle expansion team for the 2008 season.

Whitsitt is former president and general manager of the Sonics and Portland Trail Blazers and former president of the Seahawks whose son, Sean, played on the Harvard lacrosse team as a freshman.

"I'd say his chances of getting a franchise in Seattle are pretty good," Jennings said from his office in New York.

Before receiving a franchise, expected to cost $5 million, Whitsitt must secure an arena lease and demonstrate that a Seattle-based franchise can attract season ticket and corporate support. The team likely would play its home games at KeyArena or the Tacoma Dome.

"We still have to present it (the application) to our board, but I think with a guy like Whitsitt running the team, I think he'll accomplish the goals," Jennings said.

The P-I was unable to reach Whitsitt for comment.

The indoor league has 13 franchises in the United States and Canada. They include the Arizona Sting, Buffalo Bandits, Calgary Roughnecks, Chicago Shamrox (new for 2007), Colorado Mammoth, Edmonton Rush, Minnesota Swarm, New York (new for 2007), Philadelphia Wings, Portland LumberJax, Rochester Knighthawks, San Jose Stealth and Toronto Rock.

"The Portland team, which was new last season, played in the Rose Garden and averaged about 10,000 fans per game," Jennings said. "We think Bob (Whitsitt) could develop a nice rivalry between Seattle and Portland."

Last season, the league's average attendance was 10,804, with several games drawing crowds in excess of 16,000. Total attendance was 1,037,147 for 88 regular-season games, six playoff games, the All-Star game at Toronto and the NLL Championship Game.

Each NLL team plays a 16-game schedule (eight home, eight away) in a season that runs from January through April and concludes with the Champion's Cup Playoffs.

All games are played on weekends.

The NLL is not affiliated with Major League Lacrosse, the professional field league that plays in the summer.

Professional indoor lacrosse, played within an NHL rink, combines the physical play of hockey with the high scoring and fast pace of basketball. The playing surface is turf carpet.

The 20-year-old league recently announced a national broadcasting agreement with OLN that will begin in January.

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NLL Arena

Submitted by LAX Steve on Tue, 2006-07-18 17:25.

With the Sonics bolting for Oklahoma City, the Key should be a great site for the new NLL franchise. I can hardly wait.

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nll

Submitted by leelark456 on Thu, 2006-07-13 14:37.

i probably wouldnt go to a game.i might go to one or two actually. theres no way im going if its at the tacoma dome. who in their right mind would want to play here anyway

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O'hearn

Submitted by Iusedtobegood on Wed, 2006-06-28 11:19.

O'Hearn might have to fight a b**** come '08

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Trouble with NLL team?

Submitted by vlax9 on Tue, 2006-06-27 23:39.

I'm sure all this news is way newer than mine, but I heard that they were not going to have a professional lacrosse team in Seattle.

Something about, not enough attendance at the 2005 championships at Quest Field when the Bayhawks and Pride came.

But, I am very excited if a team is indeed coming. Please keep us posted if you find anything more out.

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yeah

Submitted by Teho on Wed, 2006-06-28 02:27.

That was the MLL not the NLL.

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No difference

Submitted by vlax9 on Wed, 2006-06-28 14:53.

Doesnt matter. The majority of lacrosse fans here wouldve gone to either NLL or MLL. I heard they kind of used that as a way to see how many people would attend. Not even the lower 1/4th of the field used to seat the fans. And the majority were kids.

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MLL Attendance

Submitted by LAX Steve on Thu, 2006-07-20 15:06.

Average attendance at most MLL games is around 3,500. Seattle had 10,000 in 2004 and around 8,000 in 2005. The only MLL team beating that is Denver. Seattle will have the attendance necessary to support a MLL team if we can find the right ownership. NLL should be successful as well.

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