VANCOUVER (Thursday, March 8, 2001) - Starlight Sports & Entertainment, the parent company of the Vancouver Whitecaps and Vancouver Breakers soccer clubs, plans to apply to the National Lacrosse League for a Vancouver expansion franchise for the 2001-2002 season.
The bid, backed by Vancouver's David Stadnyk, the Chair of Starlight Sports & Entertainment, will call for home games to be played at General Motors Place in downtown Vancouver.
"We're committed to professional sport that is synonymous with high-value family entertainment and strong community connections," said Stadnyk, who serves as Governor of the Vancouver Whitecaps of the North American A-League and Vancouver Breakers of the North American W-League. "We believe that the National Lacrosse League would represent that for Vancouver and for British Columbia."
Stadnyk, a Vancouver financier who is a former tennis teaching professional and B.C. coach, said his group is convinced the National Lacrosse League is a perfect fit for the west coast, given its strong tradition of lacrosse.
"We're impressed by the current membership of the National Lacrosse League and by the vision of NLL Commissioner Jim Jennings and we believe Vancouver deserves to be part of it," said Stadnyk. "This sport has its roots in Canada's aboriginal heritage and it's going into the new millennium as an exciting new package of sports entertainment for families and young people. That combination of heritage and modern entertainment appeal will, we believe, be a winner for the community."
Starlight has had preliminary discussions with the British Columbia Lacrosse Association about partnership programs that will help the game grow further as a youth sport option for young Canadians. He said BC Lacrosse is reporting a growth of 14% in overall registrations, attributed to the hard work of the BCLA membership and, in large part, to the arrival of the NLL in Canada and the success of the Toronto Rock, the reigning league champions.
"We would look forward to the opportunity to work with the BC Lacrosse Association and the Western Lacrosse Association on approaches to promoting the NLL in Vancouver that would be in the best interests of the sport and the existing leagues here in British Columbia," said Stadnyk. "If we can showcase lacrosse in a way that's good for families and for the sport, then that would be ideal."
The NLL has made a strong debut in Canada with the Toronto Rock, which plays its home games at the 18,800-seat Air Canada Centre and the Ottawa Rebel, based at the 18,500-seat Corel Centre.
"We can learn a lot from the successes of the Toronto Rock and Ottawa Rebel and they've indicated they'll join forces with the league in working with us to ensure that we make a strong debut in Vancouver," said Stadnyk. "One of the most obvious teachings is their decisions to play at the Air Canada Centre and Corel Centre, the homes of the National Hockey League's Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators."
Stadnyk said the Vancouver franchise plans to play its home games at General Motors Place, which has a capacity for 18,422 and which his group believes is one of the finest buildings in North America.
"Our plan is to be hosted by Orca Bay Sports & Entertainment and to play our home games at General Motors Place, home of the Vancouver Canucks of the NHL," said Stadnyk. "Orca Bay has been very supportive and they have indicated they look forward to helping us bring this opportunity to the community."
The other existing teams in the National Lacrosse League include the Albany Attack, Buffalo Bandits, Columbus Landsharks, New York Saints, Philadelphia Wings, Rochester Knighthawks and Washington Power (Washington, D.C.). Among those cities vying to receive expansion franchises for the 2001-2002 season are Montreal and Calgary.
CONTACT:
David Stadnyk, Chair, Starlight Sports & Entertainment (604) 669-1040
Tom Mayenknecht, Vice-Chair (604) 921-1711
Bob Smart, Vice-Chair (604) 669-1040
