Looks like no Chicago Rush after all. 16 teams in four divisions:
EAST
Albany Firebirds
Minnesota Myth
Nashville Kats
Philadelphia Soul
SOUTH
Georgia Force
Louisiana Voodoo
Orlando Predators
West Texas Desert Hawks
CENTRAL
Iowa Rampage
Salina Liberty
Southwest Kansas Storm
Wichita Regulators
WEST
Billings Outlaws
Oregon Blackbears
Rapid City Marshals
Washington Wolfpack
Looks like the Arizona Bandits are a thing:
Their Twitter bio says they will launch in 2025. I believe that's the first team that has announced they won't play in '24.
This one came a bit out of left field -- I don't recall Georgia being part of any rumors I've read over the last few months. At least this press release lists a venue!
That'd be interesting. I know they had a semi-pro indoor football team there in the late '90s. That building is incredibly old as well, I hope it's still in good shape. Personally haven't been in there since they stopped hosting HS hockey games about a decade ago.
I loathe that name -- but as a Twin Cities resident, if they actually take the field, I'll be there.
Now I'm wondering where they'll play. I can't imagine they've managed to make a deal with the big arenas in town.
Ah I see, I must have missed that. I've seen both 16 and 20 teams floating around, didn't realize 20 came directly from the commish.
I'm hopeful the remaining announcements will be more like Nashville and Orlando, and less like Dodge City and Council Bluffs.
This tweet would seem to confirm Chicago and Philadelphia as well, bringing us to 14 teams confirmed by the league. If they are aiming for 16, I wonder who the last two would be? I've seen reports about the VooDoo in Lake Charles and the Florida Cyclones in Lakeland, FL.
The NLL announced a new schedule format today, along with getting rid of conferences altogether.
I personally love the change. It's been long overdue for each team to play each opponent once each season. I do wonder how it will impact some of the smaller franchises though, like Panther City or Albany.