NLL finally announces New York expansion team
Considered one of the worst kept secrets in the entire National Lacrosse League, the New York expansion team has finally been officially announced. This is probably a good thing considering the expansion draft happens today.
On hand to help NLL Commissioner Jim Jennings with the announcement was New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Maybe the reason we all had to wait so long before the announcement was due to the Mayor’s schedule — after all, he is a Mayor and probably pretty busy.
The press conference took place at East River Park in Manhattan where it was revealed that Mayor Bloomberg is apparently quite a big lacrosse fan. When describing his alma mater, Johns Hopkins University, as a lacrosse powerhouse Bloomberg said, “It’s a great chance to take a stick and hit somebody. And you can do it legally. With a smile on your face.” Great statement.
Touted as a “key franchise for the National Lacrosse League” by Commissioner Jim Jennings, the new team will play at least four games at the famed Madison Square Garden — home to the NBA’s NY Knicks and the NHL’s NY Rangers. It has not been determined where the rest of the 2007 season games will be played at this time.
Following in the footsteps of the Chicago Shamrox, the New York team will open up the team naming to the fans. Anyone interested in submitting a name for the team can do so at the New York team’s website, newyorknll.com