The National Lacrosse League (NLL) opened its fourth
season last night in Toronto and drew 13,333 fans to Air
Canada Centre for the Rebel-Rock, according to Mary Ormsby
of the TORONTO STAR, who writes that the Rock "did deliver
what their fans crave: Spectacular goals and lots of them."
Ormsby describes the game as "tooth-rattling hits and cat-
quick action." Ormsby writes, "The fans fit rather
comfortably in the [Air Canada Centre] and weren't swallowed
up by a building that seats 18,819 for hockey. They were
appropriately loud." The Rock have sold 6,200 season
tickets, up 2,000 over last season (TORONTO STAR, 12/22).
The game was the first lacrosse game played at Air Canada
Centre (CP, 12/22).
ON THE HORIZON: In Ottawa, Barre Campbell reports NLL
Commissioner Jim Jennings "is looking west for Canadian
expansion." The NLL has nine teams, but Jennings said that
he has "been contacted by potential owners in Montreal,
Vancouver, Edmonton and Winnipeg." Jennings: "We're waiting
to see what happens with Ottawa right now. If we can do it
all right, even average 6,000 or 7,000 a game, I would
consider that very successful" (OTTAWA SUN, 12/22).
