It’s finally official. The MLL is moving to Dallas and bringing the Rattlers franchise with it. 

The league touted a major announcement on Thursday morning and came through with a press conference at The Star in Frisco, Texas announcing the relocation of the Rochester Rattlers to Dallas. MLL Commissioner David Gross joined new team president Bill Goren of Dallas Lacrosse, Dallas Cowboys Executive Vice President of Business Operations Chad Estis and Frisco Mayor Jeff Cheney in the press conference at the future home for the Dallas Rattlers.

The group unveiled the new franchise, standing at a podium in front of the new, yet familiar Dallas Rattlers logo.

BREAKING NEWS: The Rattlers will relocate to Frisco, TX for the 2018 @MLL_Lacrosse season. Full release: https://t.co/OBcLHJdwwo pic.twitter.com/eBOKEFe6IZ

— Dallas Rattlers (@RattlersLax) November 16, 2017

“We have been interested in the North Texas area for quite some time and we are thrilled that our dream of bringing an MLL team to Dallas has come to fruition,” Gross said. “We would like to thank the city of Rochester, the Dworkin family and everyone who has supported the Rattlers for their devotion to the team. We believe this relocation will make the franchise stronger than ever and will bring the highest level of lacrosse to a rapidly growing hotbed for the sport.”

Goren, a Texas native, already has experience with professional franchises in the Frisco area. He served as the Chief Technology Officer for the Frisco Roughriders minor league baseball team. 

“This isn’t a job,” Goren said of being named team president. “This is an opportunity to leave something with this city.”

Goren announced the appointment of a new head coach in Billy Warder, who spent years as a Rattlers assistant while the team was in Rochester. He was an assistant during the 2008 season — one in which the Rattlers won the MLL title. 

Warder played college lacrosse at Hobart and later returned to serve as an assistant. He played in the MLL in 2001. Warder replaces former Rattlers coach Tim Soudan, who had led the team since 2011, but decided to step down instead of relocating to Dallas.

“Bill brings incredible passion and knowledge of MLL and will be a strong asset for the club,” Gross said of Warder in a press release.

As for the where the team will play its home games, the Ford Center at the Star provided a fitting location for lacrosse. The MLL explored the 12,000-seat stadium just months ago when it hosted the MLL Championship Game, where over 7,000 fans attended. The Star, branded as the World Headquarters for the Dallas Cowboys, open in August of 2016.

The Rattlers will now be the only MLL franchise to play indoors, and in the Central Time Zone.

“When we set out to build Ford Center and The Star we envisioned finding new and innovative ways to engage our youth and community specifically,” Stephen Jones, Chief Operating Officer of the Dallas Cowboys, said in a release. “We believe bringing the Dallas Rattlers here does that and also grants us new opportunities to give people the Cowboys experience.”

The reactions poured in swiftly after the announcement, which was rumored for weeks, was made on Thursday morning.

Tough news with the relocation of the #Ratz players and coaches were part of the fabric of the community w great pride in.Rochester sad day

— Joe Spallina (@JoeSpallina) November 16, 2017

Let’s goooo https://t.co/I5BwEzDLhZ

— HP Boys Lacrosse (@hplax) November 16, 2017

Congrats to Billy Warder pumped for u

— Thomas Mariano (@TomMariano81) November 16, 2017

When you realize you should have stuck it out one more season so you could play a game in the star. pic.twitter.com/prrOIUOtFz

— Greg Gurenlian (@GregBeast32) November 16, 2017

Well it's official: Goodbye Rochester Rattlers, hello Texas Rattlesnakes. pic.twitter.com/Db43v1AuLe

— Chris Rosenthall (@ChrisRosie22) November 16, 2017