North American Lacrosse League officially announces Jacksonville franchise

[fieldafm]

The Giants may very likely be playing at UNF next year(which would be the same mistake as every other minor league basketball team that failed here).

JU is not leaving the Arena whatsoever.
They average around 2500 per game.  Slightly less than the Giants... but except for the annual game MPS sponsors, they also don't practically give away all of their tickets either.

[AFCassidy]

I'm pleased about this, but just suggesting that people be realistic.  It's a first step towards professional lacrosse in Jacksonville, but the chances this tanks are quite high.

It's a minor point, but I would still argue that this is the third tier of American pro-lacrosse

Those MLL numbers are from 2010.  The league is still relatively new and expanding.  They have a deal to televise a game per week with ESPN.  This July, the league set a new record for attendance at a game in Denver with over 27,000 fans.  No NLL venue could hold that crowd.

Regardless, I'm excited to see how this turns out. 

Big question for me is if they'll get themselves a radio/TV deal to go with playing in the Arena.  The Giants pulled that together, and it makes a big difference.   Without a media deal, this will be another Jacksonville Destroyers soccer club. 

[AFCassidy]

The Giants may very likely be playing at UNF next year(which would be the same mistake as every other minor league basketball team that failed here).

The Giants would do well to look at moving to the Continental Basketball League.  The CBL is still small potatoes, but it's significantly more grounded in reality than the ABA.

Literally... in the ABA the league's owner/commissioner makes up his own "Power Rankings" on a weekly basis... and then when it gets time for the playoffs he sort of figures out who is willing to make the trips and for how long and then decides how to organize that year's playoffs.  It's pretty insane.

[ProjectMaximus]

The Giants may very likely be playing at UNF next year(which would be the same mistake as every other minor league basketball team that failed here).

JU is not leaving the Arena whatsoever.
They average around 2500 per game.  Slightly less than the Giants... but except for the annual game MPS sponsors, they also don't practically give away all of their tickets either.

That's nice to know. I used to sneak over to watch games and practices in the swisher gym years ago..sometimes volleyball. It would be nice if they could have a nice venue on campus, but overall JU is just such a small school. Hope the arena continues to be successful for them.

As for the Giants, I'm simply not optimistic about their long-term future, but I do agree if they're to have any chance they will stay at the arena and continue to televise games.

I do remember attending a preseason Magic-Heat game at UNF arena.

[Tacachale]

Apparently, this lacrosse team will be the "Jacksonville Bullies".

http://www.ilindoor.com/2011/08/31/jacksonville-bullies-will-look-to-push-rest-of-north-american-lacrosse-league-around/

The FTU asked what people thought about it on their facebook page. They don't love it.

[reednavy]

the Bullies, seriously, that is the best they could think of?