| Team
(first year*) | Owner(s) | Facility
(lease) | Notes |
| Arizona Sting (2003) | Steve Ellman and Jerry Moyes | Glendale Arena (final year of three-year lease with Glendale Arena, a partnership between Ellmanco and city of Glendale) | Ellman and Moyes also own operating rights to the arena, and the NHL Phoenix Coyotes, the building's anchor tenant. Formerly Columbus Landsharks (2000-03). |
| Buffalo Bandits (1992) | B. Thomas Golisano | HSBC Arena (through 2025-26) | Lease runs in conjunction with the Golisano-owned NHL Buffalo Sabres. Former member of the Major Indoor Lacrosse League (1992-97). |
| Calgary Roughnecks (2001) | Group led by Brad Banister and Scott Smith | Pengrowth Saddledome (three-year deal) | Professional lacrosse's longest-running Canadian team. The NHL Calgary Flames, the arena's anchor tenant, is the leaseholder. |
| Colorado Mammoth (2002) | E. Stanley Kroenke | Pepsi Center (see note) | Kroenke also owns the arena and its anchor tenant NHL Colorado Avalanche. Formerly Baltimore Thunder (1987-99); Pittsburgh CrosseFire (1999-2000); Washington Power (2000-02). |
| Edmonton Rush (2005) | Group led by Bruce Urban and Craig Anstead | Rexall Place (2010) | Formerly the Syracuse Smash (1997-2000) and Ottawa Rebel (2000-03). Inactive from 2003-05. |
| Minnesota Swarm (2004) | Minnesota Sports and Entertainment | Xcel Energy Center (through 2024-25) | Lease runs in conjunction with MS&E-owned NHL Minnesota Wild, the facility's anchor tenant. Formerly Montreal Express (2001-02). Inactive from 2002-04. |
| Philadelphia Wings (1987) | Russ Cline | Wachovia Center (through 2008-09) | Only continuous franchise in indoor lacrosse history. Arena owner Comcast-Spectacor is the leaseholder. |
| Portland LumberJax (2005) | Group led by Angela Batinovich | Rose Garden (through 2007-08) | Batinovich, 26, is the youngest owner of a major league sports franchise. Arena operator Global Spectrum is the leaseholder. |
| Rochester Knighthawks (1995) | Steve Donner and Randall J. Latona | Blue Cross Arena (lease with arena operator SMG runs through 2005-06) | Former member of the MILL (1995-97). |
| San Jose Stealth (2003) | Silicon Valley Sports & Entertainment | HP Pavilion (see note) | SVSE also owns the NHL San Jose Sharks and operating rights to the arena. Formerly Albany (N.Y.) Attack (1999-2003). |
| Toronto Rock (1999) | Group led by Brad and Bill Watters | Air Canada Centre (through 2005-06) | Formerly (Hamilton) Ontario Raiders (1998). Played 1999-2001 seasons in Toronto at Maple Leaf Gardens, before moving to the Air Canada Centre. |
| * The first season listed for each team represents that club's inaugural season as an indoor lacrosse league team. |
| The NLL was formed from the Major Indoor Lacrosse League (MILL), with the decision to move from league ownership of all teams to individual team ownership. The MILL was created in 1987 as the Eagle Pro Box Lacrosse League, and changed its name the following season. The NLL counts the history of its two predecessors as its own. |
| Stadium leases are set to expire this fall for at least six of the seven teams whose owners do not also own operating rights to their respective facility. |
| NLL expansion teams are set to begin play next season in Chicago and New York. |
| Team | Owner(s) | Facility
(lease) | Notes |
| Baltimore Bayhawks | Scott Hiller and Jeffrey Harvey | Towson University's Johnny Unitas Stadium (through 2006) | Played previously at Johns Hopkins University's Homewood Field (2001, 2003); M&T Bank Stadium (2002). |
| Boston Cannons | Group led by Matthew Dwyer | Boston University's Nickerson Field (through 2006) | Played previously at Lowell (Mass.) High School's Cawley Memorial Stadium (2001-03). |
| Chicago Machine* | Chris Brennan, Dave Connolly and Chip Kenyon | Sports Complex of Benedictine University (through 2006) | Original ownership group included new Bayhawks owners Hiller and Harvey. |
| Denver Outlaws* | Pat Bowlen | Invesco Field at Mile High (through 2030) | Owned by, and run as a subsidiary of, the Denver Broncos. Team will operate under the Broncos' 30-year lease. |
| Long Island Lizards | Bill Bishop, Billy Bishop, Chris Bishop, Raymond Suris, Donald Casadonte, George Diffendale, Ralph Pecorale | Mitchel Athletic Complex (through 2006) | |
| Los Angeles Riptide* | Anschutz Entertainment Group | The Home Depot Center (see note) | AEG owns the team and facility. |
| New Jersey Pride | Group led by Robert Turco, Robert Brown and Larry and Marie Green | The Soccer/Lacrosse Stadium at Yurcak Field | Played previously at Montclair State University's Yogi Berra Stadium (2001); Commerce Bank Park (2002-03); and Montclair State University's Sprague Field (2004-05). Current lease is with Rutgers University. |
| Philadelphia Barrage | Gary Holloway Sr. | Villanova Stadium (through 2006) | Only team to change markets, the former Bridgeport (Conn.) Barrage played at Harbor Yard (2001-03). First season in Philadelphia was 2004. Current lease is with Villanova University. |
| Rochester Rattlers | Peter Bourne, Steve Donner and Frank DuRoss | PaeTec Park (through 2050) | New $42 million soccer stadium opens in June. The Rattlers have a 45-year lease with city of Rochester. Played previously at Frontier Field (2001-02); Bishop Kearney High School Field (2003-05). |
| San Francisco Dragons* | Charley Biggs, Chris Bulger and Michael J. Levitt | Kezar Stadium (through 2006) | 11,000-seat stadium was home to the NFL 49ers (1946-70). One-year lease with city of San Francisco. |
| * Expansion team scheduled to begin play this season. |
| Note: All MLL teams have been league members since the league's 2001 inaugural season unless otherwise noted. |
| Source: SportsBusiness Journal research |
National Lacrosse League
