NLL Rush's Seeing Increased Attendance Figures With Move From Edmonton To Saskatoon

The NLL Saskatchewan Rush are in their first season at SaskTel Centre after moving from Edmonton following last season, and the fan base is "taking an organic-growth trajectory, which has suddenly erupted into red-hot love," according to Kevin Mitchell of the Saskatoon STARPHOENIX. The team is averaging 11,326 fans per game through eight of its nine home games in Saskatoon after averaging 6,578 fans last season at Rexall Place. The team drew a "sellout throng of 14,941 fans Saturday night" against the Calgary Roughnecks. The SaskTel Centre had not "seen a sports gathering like that since Canada played the USA for gold" at the '10 World Junior Hockey Championship. NLL games have brought a "steady stream of jumping up and cheering, which turns ever more electric as the arena fills." Mitchell: "It's about the packaging -- the party atmosphere; the DJ playing non-stop music." Lacrosse knowledge "isn't necessary to enjoy the spectacle" (Saskatoon STARPHOENIX, 4/6).