When the release from the National Lacross League hit the inbox Feb. 3, it was not all that much of a surprise to read the league was announcing plans for an abbreviated season this spring were 小蓝视频 cancelled due to uncertainties arising from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The NLL, which of course includes the Saskatchewan Rush, is a league that relies on ticket sales for much of its revenue, unlike the National Hockey League and National Basketball Association which generates significant dollars from television contracts.
So any regulations limiting seating was going to be difficult to make work financially for the NLL.
The cancellation, while not exactly unexpected, finding a scenario where a smaller league can make the numbers work was going to be trough, it was still disappointing. I am a huge lacrosse fan, and of course a huge Rush fan, so I has remained hopeful they might be hitting the floor again sometime around my birthday in April.
But I was curious about where the cancellation left things for the NLL, which had been on a rather steep trajectory of growth prior to the pandemic hitting, and shutting down sports in early 2020, including the NLL.
Fortunately, through a few contacts I was able to catch up with NLL Commissioner Nick Sakiewicz on the phone last Thursday to chat about the league.
Sakiewicz said the decision to cancel a spring season, instead turning the NLL's attention to starting in the fall with a more traditional season structure, did not come easily.
"Obviously it's always a very, very difficult decision to not play," he said, adding they had been diligently working on a return-to-play plan for several weeks.
Sakiewicz said the most recent plan was focused on a 'made-for-TV' series of games to be held in a bubble situation in Hamilton.
Then the rules changed.
The recently announced tighter travel and quarantine restrictions across the Canadian border became the final straw.
"There were too many hurdles to overcome," said Sakiewicz.
In the release regarding the spring cancellation, the Commissioner noted, "while many of the factors we can control were moving along well, those outside of our control, especially pertaining to obtaining government approval as far in advance as we would have needed, are no longer feasible. All the efforts and innovations we were planning will now go towards a full season starting this fall and into next year."
While it will near 20-months between games when the league starts in the fall -- assuming that plan sees fruition -- Sakiewicz said the cancellations have lost the NLL games, but has not altered its longer term course, which is a course that has the league adding franchises.
"We were a rocket ship in March of last year (when the season had to be cancelled)," he said, noting fan and sponsorship numbers were both growing.
So the long delay is a hurdle.
"It's going to be a challenge, but we're really bullish in regaining that momentum," said Sakiewicz.
Part of the momentum will come via continued expansion.
"It hasn't slowed the growth," said Sakiewicz, adding the Fort Worth (Panthers Lacrosse) announced to join in the fall of 2022.
"And we will be announcing the 15th team in early 2021, (to start play in 2023)."
A city and ownership for a 16th franchise, planned to start in 2024, is also in the process of 小蓝视频 identified.
"We are making progress where we can control things," said Sakiewicz.
So could the 15th, or 16th, team be in Canada - there are currently five Canadian franchises in the NLL?
"There's definitely been a lot of interest (in Canada)," cited Sakiewicz, pointing to Edmonton, Montreal, Ottawa and Winnipeg.
It has helped how the NLL has gained footholds in this country. The Rush in Saskatoon draws large crowds.
"And, Halifax was having an amazing first year (until the cancellation)," said Sakiewicz.
So more Canadian franchises seem likely. The Commissioner said "seven or eight teams" seem likely one day, reiterating "there's lot of opportunities."
Then there is Hamilton too, a city that jumps into the conversation when you think about the NLL planning its bubble effort for the Ontario city.
Sakiewicz said they have talked to the people running the arena and there is interest.
Of course the NLL Commissioner is an optimist in terms of cities ready for the NLL.
"I don't believe there are any bad markets," said Sakiewicz. "... It's all about the operator."
Sakiewicz said ownership needs to have a plan to market a team in such a way that it becomes ingrained in the fabric of the community -- pointing to the Rush and how they have become so quickly a fixture in Saskatoon.
In the end Sakiewicz said owners become caretakers of good franchises as good teams are "really owned by the community." He said players and owners come and go but the team and the community always remain. "They're always part of the fabric of the community."
Sakiewicz added that expansion will continue on a steady incline, one team per year, unlike the recent expansions that saw San Diego and Philadelphia join one season, and New York and Rochester the next.
The decision to add two teams a year at that point was to provide the NLL with a better base.
"We really needed to get the scale of the league up," said Sakiewicz, but to continue with more than one team a year would be "too stressful on the league" in particular in assuring competitiveness was maintained.
However growth takes place, the hope is it eventually helps the NLL secure a television contract.
Sakiewicz said when he joined the league in 2015 its television profile was nearly non-existent. The creation of NLLTV in 2016 helped, and led to a home on B/R Live.
The next step is network TV in Canada, and of course the U.S.
In Canada Sakiewicz said "TSN is not just engaging but are very deeply interested," adding they are not the only ones eyeing the NLL.
For that all to occur Sakiewicz said the announcement of team 16 will be huge.
"Sixteen is a magic number," he said, adding that provides a foundational base "that really gets broadcaster's attention and sponsorship attention."
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