Expansion Teams for 07-08

[OneBetter]

Does anyone have any leads on if there will be any expansion teams in 07-08? I'd like to see Vancouver get a team again. What about the LA area, Dallas, Ohio, etc?

[Minor League Man]

We heard Seattle, Salt Lake City, Boston, and Oklahoma City as USA possibilities.

As for Canada, they've said Vancouver, Winnipeg, and Montreal are the cities they'd most like to go to there.

Time will tell...

[Paul S]

Vancouver, Winnipeg, and Montreal


They've been to both Vancouver and Montreal before and no luck. Hopefully 2nd times the charm. Winterpeg is usually a fickle sports market. Something new will work for 2-3 years and then die a rather sudden and painful death.

The list of teams that have gone Kaput in the 'Peg range from Canadian Soccer, to minor league basketball to NHL hockey. Its also a city that still labors under the delusion of a major city. It used to be Canada's 4th largest city and now is probably 8th or 9th and losing population each year. Its kind of Canada's Cleveland.

[Pounder]

The more solid rumors I've heard are Seattle and Salt Lake... with Vancouver and Oklahoma City rating more than a mere mention. If the Canucks are involved, you could probably pen in Vancouver... and that's not out of the realm of possibility.

I just don't see Boston happening. I don't see anything behind them.

I'm curious to see the financials in San Jose... I have a hard time believing they'll be back based on attendance alone.

[jayme_reid]

Ottawa is expected to joing for next year along with vancouver.Seattle will be comming in 2009 along with salt lake.

[OneBetter]

Great to hear...

Would Vancouver use the old Ravens name again or something new?

[Pounder]

I stand corrected. Sit, even.

http://www.nll.com/article.php?id=2944

Welcome back, Boston.

[OneBetter]

It's good to see that expansion is actually occuring for next season. I hope we see 2-4 more teams announced!

[hfxhockeyfan]

Halifax ?

http://www.hfxnews.ca/index.cfm?sid=31118&sc=92

[OneBetter]

Halifax ?

http://www.hfxnews.ca/index.cfm?sid=31118&sc=92

I hope Halifax does get a team. That's a great lacrosse community. And we all know that they'll fair much better than the ABA team that is scheduled to play there.

[summerfan]

I hope Halifax does get a team. That's a great lacrosse community. And we all know that they'll fair much better than the ABA team that is scheduled to play there.

Halifax has yet to show if there are a great lacrosse community.I really do not think a lacrosse team in the nll would have much ticket sales luck there.

[McMinnesotaFan]

The league needs to announce the teams soon so drafting and scheduling can be completed!:-D That would include any divisional re-alignments.:rolleyes:
As a Swarm supporter, it is my hope that the Swarm can stay in an eastern or a central division because it makes it make following road games so much easier.

Boston is in. What other cities will be next.

[Andre Tippett 4 HOF]

Providence, RI

[Natey]

I hope they get a team in Dallas. I dont know if it would work but it would be interesting.

[Pounder]

Vancouver BC has been "provisionally" accepted for either a rebirth of the Ravens or a different name.

The provision: sell 2,500 season ticket pledges in 30 days. At $25 per pledge, it won't take too many companies to take care of that requirement.

The issue may be that they won't get a lease in GM Place. That's not a deal-breaker, since Pacific Coliseum surely has open dates when the WHL Giants aren't playing. It's just a little less than optimal.

[hfxhockeyfan]

Halifax has yet to show if there are a great lacrosse community.I really do not think a lacrosse team in the nll would have much ticket sales luck there.

Halifax broke an attendance record-

http://www.worldindoorlacrosse.com/

[Shootmaster_44]

Vancouver BC has been "provisionally" accepted for either a rebirth of the Ravens or a different name.

The provision: sell 2,500 season ticket pledges in 30 days. At $25 per pledge, it won't take too many companies to take care of that requirement.

The issue may be that they won't get a lease in GM Place. That's not a deal-breaker, since Pacific Coliseum surely has open dates when the WHL Giants aren't playing. It's just a little less than optimal.

I don't think they will have a problem getting a lease at GM Place. It may be pricey for them to play there, but since the Canucks are GM Place's only tenant, it could be doable. The only reason the Giants play at the PNE is that they couldn't get Friday and Saturday night dates and Sunday afternoon dates at the Garage as easily with the Canucks. Since generally the NLL seems to play more afternoon games than evening games, I don't see a schedule conflict with the Canucks. On the other hand, there may be more schedule conflicts with the Giants at the PNE, as they both want similar type dates.

I think the aim of the proposed ownership group is for GM Place. Apparently, this ownership group has cash, which was the only problem for the last Ravens group. According to an article I read, the owner of this franchise was a former owner of the San Diego Chargers, so he should have the financial means to keep this team afloat.

[McMinnesotaFan]

:confused:

It is approaching the halfway point in sales. Also it appears that VBC is the final expansion hope for 2008.

It looks like a timeline for season prep, drafts, etc has been set, so it is getting very late for anyone to meet a sales goal to join. *Calgary or Edmonton teams page had a schedule.

[Shootmaster_44]

:confused:

It is approaching the halfway point in sales. Also it appears that VBC is the final expansion hope for 2008.

It looks like a timeline for season prep, drafts, etc has been set, so it is getting very late for anyone to meet a sales goal to join. *Calgary or Edmonton teams page had a schedule.

As far as scouting for the draft, I doubt the Ravens would have any problem putting that all together by the September draft. Since the majority of Canadians come out of the WLA and OLA, there would be at least another month and a half of games to scout. As well, judging by the website the Ravens have currently, it seems that it is resurrected from their old site. So I'd guess that the scouting staff is still in place.

That said, most NLL teams have a very small full-time front office staff. I applied many years ago with the Rock for a job and was told there were 3 people who working full-time for the Rock front office. I believe the majority of scouting staff and on-field staff are amateur coaches that the coaching staff knows. What I mean is if a coach from the Brooklin OLA side is a friend of the Ravens' head coach, then there will likely be a Brooklin player picked up in the draft. However, the draft is not a major component of the NLL as it is in the NHL, NFL etc. Basically, players taken after the first round have long odds of making the team. The majority of new blood brought into the NLL it seems are free agents from either the MLL (few jump though) or from one of the Senior leagues in BC or Ontario.

Granted you are right about it being a short notice to set up things in time for the draft. But the NLL regular season generally kicks off early January. So other than preparing for the draft and the expansion draft, the Ravens would have nearly 5 months until training camp opens to market the team etc. Plus, until the NHL and NBA release a definitive schedule for the 2007-08 season, the NLL cannot release a definite schedule. In most buildings the NLL are third or in some cases fourth on the list for available dates. So this time frame gives Vancouver plenty of time to set up. I would assume since they were granted a conditional franchise, they have some semblance of a front office set up and overtures are being made to WLA and OLA coaches for scouting tips. If they miss their deadline than I would assume the idea would be to try for the 2009 season and they would have a year and a half roughly to prepare for that.

[McMinnesotaFan]

Vancouver is most likely a lock for coming in, and they are most certainly prepared to come in.

The statement about running out of time was really directed toward the possibility of expansion this summer beyond Boston and Vancouver, which have already been announced. Not only is time tight for any possible third team, but the expansion draft will likely have different rules if a third and/or fourth team is also selecting players. Surely the existing teams' strategy concerning protected players and those made available for the expansion draft would change.

Based on that, my assumption has to be that only VBC and BOS are entering this year, and I'd be more than a little bit surprised if another team was announced between now and Labor Day.