After days of discussions, the Saskatchewan Rush are now official. The 2015 NLL Champions Cup winners will move east from Edmonton.
For months, there has been speculation of a move, and owner Bruce Urban has mentioned more than once how he didn’t believe Edmonton wanted the team. He has visited Saskatoon on more than one occasion.
“This is a day of mixed emotions as we are very excited about what is to come in Saskatchewan, but at the same time, we are saddened to leave our outstanding Edmonton fans,” said Urban via the press release on NLL.com.
“However, I sincerely hope the great fans of Rush Nation will continue to follow the team into Saskatchewan for 2016 and help join in the celebration of the Champion’s Cup season.”
“I would like to thank our fans, friends, and corporate partners. Without them, the Rush would not have survived long enough to celebrate our 10th anniversary,” added Urban in the press release.
“We had an incredible end to the 2015 season, and our loyal and passionate fans were a big reason for that. But this is a business decision and it is in our best interest for the continuing future of the franchise to move to Saskatchewan.”
The Rush will be the second pro sports team in the city along with the Saskatchewan Rough Riders of the Canadian Football League and they will share an arena with the Saskatoon Blades of the Western Hockey League.
The Rush are the second team to downgrade their location this off season after the Minnesota Swarm moved to Gwinnett, Georgia where they will share an arena with an ECHL club, the Gwinnett Gladiators. They are the third team in two years to downgrade after the Philadelphia Wings moved to Connecticut.
