Nine days after canceling the 2008 season, the National Lacrosse League on Thursday resurrected the season after agreeing to a seven-year collective bargaining agreement with its players. The deal includes an opt-out by either side after five years.
The league last week announced it was canceling the 2008 season after some disagreement with the Professional Lacrosse Players Association, the union representing the league’s players. Some teams, including the Colorado Mammoth, released arena dates when the season was canceled Oct. 16. A new schedule is expected next week.
When asked if the cancellation was a bargaining ploy, NLL commissioner Jim Jennings noted that some teams refunded season-ticket money.
“It was as dead as dead can be,” Jennings said.
The players held their ground on a key issue, sharing revenue when it exceeds agreed-upon thresholds.
“Otherwise we wouldn’t have agreed to it,” said Colorado Mammoth goaltender Gee Nash, treasurer of the players union. “There’s a commitment that the players grow with the league. We’re satisfied that did occur, and in turn, we gave the league more in terms, a seven-year year contract. The challenge now is for Mr. Jennings to take the league to the next level. He has labor peace now.”
– By Theresa Smith
MLL All-Star Game set for Denver
Major League Lacrosse, the pro outdoor league, announced Thursday that the 2008 MLL All-Star Game will be played in Denver on July 17 at Invesco Field at Mile High. The game has been played in Boston the past two seasons. The Denver Outlaws have led the league in attendance by a wide margin since their inception in 2006, including a single-game mark of 19,793 last July 4.
