Mohegan Sun and the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority (MTGA) announced today it has purchased half of the Philadelphia Wings of the National Lacrosse League (NLL). The team will relocate to Uncasville, Conn., and will begin play in December at Mohegan Sun Arena.
This is the second professional sports team acquired by the Mohegan Tribe and MTGA, which has owned the Connecticut Sun of the WNBA since 2003. It is the second current ownership group of Native American descent in the NLL, which is committed to honoring both the culture and history of the game which was founded by Native Americans over 700 years ago.
“The Mohegan Tribe is thrilled to be associated with a game with centuries-old roots with the Eastern Woodland Indians,” Kevin Brown “Red Eagle” said. “By bringing the lacrosse team to our reservation land, we are not only creating a tie with the past, but bringing the game into an exciting future with our top-notch sports and entertainment team. We are aiming to create a team and community spirit to match what we have been able to achieve with the Connecticut Sun.”
“We are equally excited about partnering with Mohegan Sun and the MTGA,” team president and co-owner Michael French said. “The New England market for lacrosse for both men and women has been expanding at a phenomenal pace. We have a great nucleus of proven players, strong leadership in our locker room and a very experienced coaching staff. We look forward to bringing all of this energy to Mohegan Sun Arena.”
The franchise name will be announced at a later date. The team will be a member of the NLL East Division, joining the Buffalo Bandits, Minnesota Swarm, Rochester Knighthawks and Toronto Rock. Teams in the NLL West Division are the Calgary Roughnecks, Colorado Mammoth, Edmonton Rush and Vancouver Stealth. NLL teams play an 18 game regular season schedule from December through April, with all games being played on weekends.
“On behalf of the entire NLL, we are proud to welcome the Mohegan Tribe as owners, further re-connecting our league with the rich roots of the game,” said NLL Commissioner George Daniel. “We are also excited about the prospects of bringing the NLL to Connecticut and greater New England for the 2015 season.”
Each NLL team features a 20 man active roster with up to four additional practice squad players. The current roster will remain intact for the new franchise. A total of 18 players, 16 runners and two goalies dress for each game with up to six players per team allowed on the floor during play. NLL games feature four 15-minute quarters as well as a sudden-death overtime period if tied at the end of regulation play.
Professional indoor lacrosse combines the physical play of hockey with the high-scoring, fast-paced and play-making style of basketball. Indoor lacrosse is played on turf often inside the confines of an ice hockey rink with glass and rink boards intact. Teams combine to score an average of 23 goals during an NLL game.
