Stung: Arizona NLL Team Suspending Operations For '08 Season

NLL Arizona Sting Governor Doug Moss announced the team is suspending operations and will not participate in the ’08 NLL season. The league and the Professional Lacrosse Players Association canceled the ’08 season on October 16, then agreed to a labor deal nine days later. Moss said, “The lack of negotiations between the NLL and the [PLPA] this summer and subsequent uncertainty negatively impacted our planning for the 2008 season.” After a CBA was reached, Moss noted the league “gave all clubs an option to be placed on voluntary inactive status, whereby the team’s players could be subject to a dispersal draft” (Sting). The Sting, which are operated by the Coyotes, played for the NLL title last season, but the Coyotes have “struggled financially and ended the 2006-07 NHL season about $30[M] in the hole.” Moss noted that the Sting were responsible for around $5M of the figure. Moss last month said, “There is a major impact (in canceling the season). We will have our best financial season with the Sting by not playing.” The expansion NLL Boston Blaze also will not play this season as expected (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 11/3).