TEAM TO HIT TURF AT WELLS FARGO CENTER BEGINNING WITH 2018-19 SEASON
FANS TO NAME TEAM VIA ON LINE CONTEST AT WWW.PHILLYLAX2018.COM
Philadelphia, PA – September 14, 2017 — Comcast Spectacor, the parent company of the Philadelphia Flyers, the Wells Fargo Center and Spectra, announced today the acquisition of a National Lacrosse League franchise to play at the Wells Fargo Center beginning with the 2018-19 season.
“Comcast Spectacor has been serving Philadelphia’s passionate fan base for decades, and we are thrilled to bring professional lacrosse back to the region,” said Dave Scott, President/CEO, Comcast Spectacor. “ This franchise, which will soon be named by our great fans, is a terrific addition to our portfolio and matches up well with our organization’s strengths.”
“The National Lacrosse League is excited to award the great city of Philadelphia the 11th franchise,” said Nick Sakiewicz, Commissioner, National Lacrosse League. “Philadelphia has long been a hotbed for professional sports with some of the most passionate fans in the world, and we felt the time was right to bring the city another professional franchise. We are delighted to bring in another quality owner in Comcast Spectacor as they are at the forefront of hospitality and quality throughout the sports and entertainment industry. Comcast Spectacor – guided by Dave Scott – is a leader and revolutionary in the industry who consistently pioneer new and innovative ways to cater to their customers worldwide. This expansion not only aligns perfectly with our five-year strategic plan but also brings professional lacrosse back to Philadelphia as so many fans wanted. Lacrosse is no stranger to this part of the nation, and we hope that this expansion team fuels the exponential growth and passion that we already know exists here. We are thrilled to have Philadelphia back!”
Shawn Tilger, Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer of the Philadelphia Flyers, will serve as the Governor of the franchise. Sean Delaney has been appointed as Executive Director, Lacrosse Operations, and will oversee the formation of the team’s roster, coaching staff and relationships throughout the region’s lacrosse community. Lindsey Masciangelo has been appointed Executive Director, Business Operations, for the team and will oversee Sales, Marketing and Sponsorships. The Flyers are the fourth National Hockey League team to partner with an NLL franchise.
Fans are able to place a deposit for season ticket memberships for the nine home games during the team’s inaugural season, 2018-19, by visiting www.phillylax2018.com. Placing a deposit will guarantee fans the best seats in the arena, as seat selection will be determined by date of deposit. Season ticket membership, which begins at $135, includes exclusive benefits such as team access and premium items.
Comcast Spectacor is introducing a “Name the Team” contest and encouraging fans to submit their favorite name to the team’s website, www.phillylax2018.com. Comcast Spectacor will post the top choices on the team’s website and encourage website visitors to vote on their favorite.
The addition of an NLL franchise to Comcast Spectacor’s portfolio of sports and entertainment assets presents an opportunity to leverage the company’s proven expertise in operating professional sports teams, creating unique team-related sponsorships, and hosting exciting events at the company’s premier facility, the Wells Fargo Center. Both Comcast Spectacor and the NLL are committed to growing lacrosse in the Greater Philadelphia Region by establishing a connection to the local lacrosse community and forging strong corporate partnerships.
Comcast Spectacor continues to invest strategically in professional sports. The company recently acquired an ECHL franchise to compete at the Cross Insurance Arena in Portland, ME, where the company’s Spectra division provides Venue Management, Food Services & Hospitality, and Partnerships. The Flyers also run the business operations for the Hartford Wolf Pack, the primary tenant of Hartford’s XL Center, where Spectra also operates. Philadelphia previously had two professional indoor lacrosse teams, both named the Wings, who competed from 1986 through 2014 in the NLL, and from 1974-75 in the Eagle Box Lacrosse League.
The National Lacrosse League (NLL) is North America’s premier professional indoor lacrosse league. Founded in 1986, the NLL ranks third in average attendance for pro indoor sports worldwide, behind only the NHL and NBA. The League is comprised of 11 franchises across the United States and Canada: Buffalo Bandits, Calgary Roughnecks, Colorado Mammoth, Georgia Swarm, New England Black Wolves, Philadelphia NLL, Rochester Knighthawks, San Diego NLL, Saskatchewan Rush, Toronto Rock and Vancouver Stealth. The 2017-18 NLL season, commemorating the League’s 32nd year, begins in December. For more information, visit NLL.com and find the NLL on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Comcast Spectacor is part of Comcast Corporation, a global media and technology company that operates Comcast Cable and NBCUniversal. Headquartered in Philadelphia, Comcast Spectacor’s three core businesses are the National Hockey League’s Philadelphia Flyers, the Wells Fargo Center Complex, and Spectra, a leading hospitality firm that provides Venue Management, Food Services & Hospitality, and Partnerships to more than 300 client properties in the United States, Canada, and Singapore. Visit us at ComcastSpectacor.com for more information.
