Founders of the National Lacrosse League (NLL) were in
Washington, DC, yesterday to meet with officials of the
Major Indoor Lacrosse League (MILL) to discuss a merger,
according to Sal Maiorana of the ROCHESTER DEMOCRAT &
CHRONICLE. Merger talks began last week between NLL co-
Founder/AHL Providence Bruins President Frank DuRoss and
MILL CEO Chris Fritz, although the MILL initially had
"steadfastly refused to consider a merger." But when the
"powerful" Buffalo Bandits -- one of the MILL's "cornerstone
franchises" -- announced that they would join fellow MILL
teams from Rochester, NY, and Boston in moving to the NLL,
"it became obvious that the MILL was not going to be able to
continue normal operations." Maiorana: "That point was
further hammered last week when [Rochester Owner Steve]
Donner announced he had signed the two most famous indoor
lacrosse players ... Paul and Gary Gait -- to five-year NLL
contracts." Also, the MILLPA "was clearly leaning" toward
signing a CBA with the NLL. Fritz: "Hopefully together we
can build some kind of super league." Maiorana added that
if a merger occurs, the MILL's teams "are expected to keep"
their logos and nicknames. There will also be an expansion
team in Syracuse, owned by AHL Crunch Owner Howard Dolgon,
as well as possible teams in Ottawa, Montreal, Miami and
Hamilton, Ontario (ROCHESTER DEMOCRAT & CHRONICLE, 7/16).
