The Buffalo Bandits will soon have some new competition out on the floor, as the National Lacrosse League announced today they will be awarding an expansion franchise to Fort Worth, Texas starting in the 2021-2022 season.
The Fort Worth team will bring the NLL up to 14 teams across the United States and Canada. Bill Cameron will be the majority owner while Greg Bibb will serve as managing partner of the yet to be named team. Cameron is CEO and Chairman of the Board of Cameron Enterprises, partial owner and board member of the NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder, and lead owner and chairman of the Dallas Wings of the WNBA, while Bibb is Chief Executive Officer and Partner of the WNBA’s Dallas Wings.
NLL Commissioner Nick Sakiewicz said the group’s proven success in ownership of other successful sports teams, should carry over to the lacrosse world.
“Greg’s accomplishments with the WNBA’s Dallas Wings, one of the greatest business success stories in professional sports in North America, and a Fort Worth fan base who craves what we provide — fun-filled nonstop action — will make this franchise a must see and must follow,” said Sakiewicz. “Not only for fans in the area around Fort Worth, but for the global sports business community, and all those with a passion for lacrosse.”
The expansion team will call the newly-built Dickies Arena in Fort Worth home, with the pro lacrosse team being the first permanent franchise tenant of the building.
“Dickies Arena is excited to add the NLL to its event list,” said arena management group president and GM Matt Homan, “We believe there is a solid ownership team along with the strength of the NLL. We are looking forward to working with Bill and Greg’s team locally to make sure that the Fort Worth community has a long term franchise.”
This won’t be the first lacrosse team to call the Lone Star state home, as the Dallas Rattlers of the outdoor Major League Lacrosse played out of Frisco, TX for two years before ceasing operations in February of 2020. Owner Bill Cameron said Fort Worth, and box lacrosse, will be different.
“Field lacrosse is a fun game, but the NLL is the same but on steroids," Cameron said.
Fort Worth marks one of several expansive moves made by the league since 2018, when they added Long Island, Halifax, and a new team in Rochester under ownership of Pegula Sports & Entertainment.
