The NLL, headquartered in Conshohocken, Pa., is bringing box lacrosse back to Philadelphia.
Confirmed Tuesday morning, the league will formally announce the acquisition of its 11th franchise by Comcast Spectacor on Thursday at Wells Fargo Center.
NLL commissioner Nick Sakiewicz and Comcast President and CEO Dave Scott will reveal Thursday the team’s name, the first season of play and where games will be held. According to a Bloomberg News report, the franchise, reportedly bought for $5 million, will begin play in 2018-19 and its home venue will be Wells Fargo Center, home of the NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers and NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers.
The news comes just one month after Alibaba co-founder Joseph Tsai, a former Yale lacrosse player, purchased the rights to an expansion franchise in San Diego. Under the direction of team president Steve Govett, who brought the Mammoth to Colorado in 2002, the Southern California team will begin play in December 2018 at Valley View Casino Center.