According to media reports and our sources, the Hamilton Nationals might be moving to Florida for the 2014 season.
There have been rumors for years of both the Hamilton Nationals moving and of a team appearing in South Florida, especially after two test games in Florida last year and the all star game taking place in Boca Raton two years ago. According to reports, the Nationals will be moving there in time for the 2014 season.
When contacted, Major League Lacrosse offered no comment on the rumor. Inside Lacrosse reported that in 2015 another team would return to Hamilton, but the Nationals current roster would move to Florida. This is the interesting part of the rumor, which has not been confirmed by our sources, since the Nationals roster holds the majority of Canadians currently in the league.
Inside Lacrosse also reports that the reason a Hamilton team will return due to the fact that the Hamilton Tiger Cats of the Canadian Football League are building a new stadium, and it is slated to be done in the middle of the summer of 2014.
Florida and Atlanta have been the most discussed expansion possibilities this off season and an Atlanta team in 2014 is still possible. Last week MLL commissioner David Gross was tweeting about meetings in Atlanta. The new ownership group of the New York Lizards have also discussed a team in Philadelphia, and Philly hosted MLL championship weekend this past season.
Stay tuned to ILWT for more as details become available.
