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BUF at SD - Sat. 10pm ET on ESPNews Schedule

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WK
1
Fri, Dec 2
FINAL
Philadelphia
8
Halifax
18
Sat, Dec 3
FINAL
Vancouver
8
Toronto
19
Sat, Dec 3
FINAL
San Diego
15
New York
14
Sat, Dec 3
FINAL
Albany
11
Buffalo
10
Sat, Dec 3
FINAL
Rochester
16
Georgia
11
Sat, Dec 3
FINAL
Colorado
6
Saskatchewan
18
WK
2
Fri, Dec 9
FINAL
Las Vegas
11
Panther City
13
Fri, Dec 9
FINAL/OT
Saskatchewan
12
San Diego
13
Sat, Dec 10
FINAL
Toronto
7
Rochester
11
Sat, Dec 10
FINAL
Vancouver
9
Calgary
11
WK
3
Fri, Dec 16
FINAL
Calgary
14
Vancouver
5
Fri, Dec 16
FINAL
Panther City
9
Las Vegas
3
Sat, Dec 17
FINAL
Buffalo
11
Toronto
8
Sat, Dec 17
FINAL
Rochester
14
Albany
13
Sat, Dec 17
FINAL
Philadelphia
13
Georgia
12
Sat, Dec 17
FINAL
Halifax
20
New York
11
Sat, Dec 17
FINAL
Colorado
12
Panther City
9
WK
5
Fri, Dec 30
FINAL
Halifax
13
Buffalo
18
Fri, Dec 30
FINAL
San Diego
17
Calgary
14
Sat, Dec 31
FINAL
Panther City
9
Saskatchewan
11
WK
6
Fri, Jan 6
FINAL
Philadelphia
14
Las Vegas
9
Sat, Jan 7
FINAL
Panther City
9
Rochester
17
Sat, Jan 7
FINAL
Halifax
14
Albany
11
Sat, Jan 7
FINAL
Buffalo
18
Georgia
9
Sat, Jan 7
FINAL
Toronto
15
New York
7
Sat, Jan 7
FINAL
Calgary
8
Colorado
9
Sat, Jan 7
FINAL
Vancouver
11
San Diego
16
WK
7
Fri, Jan 13
FINAL/OT
Albany
11
Halifax
10
Fri, Jan 13
FINAL/OT
Saskatchewan
10
Colorado
11
Sat, Jan 14
FINAL
Halifax
8
Toronto
17
Sat, Jan 14
FINAL
Panther City
12
Philadelphia
10
Sat, Jan 14
FINAL
Georgia
9
Buffalo
11
Sat, Jan 14
FINAL
San Diego
10
Calgary
14
Sat, Jan 14
FINAL
Las Vegas
16
Vancouver
19
Sun, Jan 15
FINAL
Rochester
11
New York
8
WK
8
Fri, Jan 20
FINAL
Buffalo
12
Rochester
15
Fri, Jan 20
FINAL
Vancouver
14
Las Vegas
15
Sat, Jan 21
FINAL
Toronto
14
Philadelphia
5
Sat, Jan 21
FINAL
New York
16
Albany
10
WK
9
Fri, Jan 27
FINAL
Rochester
7
Halifax
17
Fri, Jan 27
FINAL
Buffalo
13
Philadelphia
9
Sat, Jan 28
FINAL
Buffalo
16
New York
10
Sat, Jan 28
FINAL
Las Vegas
10
Saskatchewan
15
Sat, Jan 28
FINAL/OT
Toronto
11
Calgary
10
Sat, Jan 28
FINAL
San Diego
13
Colorado
9
Sat, Jan 28
FINAL
Panther City
20
Vancouver
7
WK
10
Fri, Feb 3
FINAL
Georgia
10
Colorado
13
Sat, Feb 4
FINAL/OT
Calgary
12
Halifax
11
Sat, Feb 4
FINAL
New York
14
Toronto
22
Sat, Feb 4
FINAL
Albany
5
Philadelphia
13
Sat, Feb 4
FINAL
Rochester
10
Buffalo
13
Sat, Feb 4
FINAL
Panther City
10
San Diego
12
Sat, Feb 4
FINAL
Saskatchewan
14
Vancouver
8
Sat, Feb 4
FINAL
Colorado
8
Las Vegas
13
WK
11
Fri, Feb 10
FINAL
Toronto
11
Georgia
10
Fri, Feb 10
FINAL
Saskatchewan
6
Calgary
13
Sat, Feb 11
FINAL
Halifax
14
Rochester
16
Sat, Feb 11
FINAL
Albany
12
New York
14
Sat, Feb 11
FINAL
Vancouver
13
Panther City
14
Sat, Feb 11
FINAL
Colorado
9
Calgary
13
WK
12
Fri, Feb 17
FINAL
Calgary
14
Vancouver
9
Fri, Feb 17
FINAL
Saskatchewan
16
San Diego
11
Sat, Feb 18
FINAL
Georgia
7
Toronto
16
Sat, Feb 18
FINAL
Las Vegas
12
Albany
10
Sat, Feb 18
FINAL/OT
Philadelphia
12
Buffalo
13
Sat, Feb 18
FINAL
Colorado
7
Panther City
13
Sun, Feb 19
FINAL
New York
12
Halifax
13
WK
13
Fri, Feb 24
FINAL
Panther City
12
Colorado
14
Fri, Feb 24
FINAL
Calgary
9
Las Vegas
11
Sat, Feb 25
FINAL/OT
New York
10
Rochester
11
Sat, Feb 25
FINAL
Albany
4
Georgia
20
Sat, Feb 25
FINAL
Vancouver
16
Saskatchewan
12
WK
14
Fri, Mar 3
FINAL
Buffalo
10
Halifax
9
Sat, Mar 4
FINAL
New York
12
Philadelphia
19
Sat, Mar 4
FINAL
Las Vegas
12
San Diego
15
Sat, Mar 4
FINAL
Rochester
8
Toronto
9
Sat, Mar 4
FINAL/OT
Georgia
9
Albany
8
Sat, Mar 4
FINAL
Saskatchewan
10
Panther City
16
Mon, Mar 6
FINAL
Toronto
10
Philadelphia
11
WK
15
Fri, Mar 10
FINAL/OT
Halifax
9
Buffalo
10
Fri, Mar 10
FINAL
Calgary
16
Colorado
10
Sat, Mar 11
FINAL
Albany
6
Toronto
12
Sat, Mar 11
FINAL
Philadelphia
10
New York
13
Sat, Mar 11
FINAL
San Diego
12
Saskatchewan
11
Sat, Mar 11
FINAL
Vancouver
14
Las Vegas
5
Sun, Mar 12
FINAL
Rochester
19
Georgia
18
WK
16
Fri, Mar 17
FINAL
Saskatchewan
6
Calgary
11
Fri, Mar 17
FINAL
San Diego
16
Vancouver
9
Sat, Mar 18
FINAL
Georgia
13
Philadelphia
12
Sat, Mar 18
FINAL
Toronto
12
Halifax
14
Sat, Mar 18
FINAL
Albany
10
New York
13
Sat, Mar 18
FINAL
Colorado
13
Buffalo
8
Sat, Mar 18
FINAL
Las Vegas
8
Panther City
11
Sun, Mar 19
FINAL/OT
Philadelphia
9
Rochester
8
WK
17
Fri, Mar 24
20:30:00
San Diego
Panther City
Sat, Mar 25
19:00:00
Toronto
Albany
Sat, Mar 25
19:00:00
Halifax
Philadelphia
Sat, Mar 25
19:30:00
Georgia
New York
Sat, Mar 25
21:30:00
Calgary
Saskatchewan
Sat, Mar 25
22:00:00
Buffalo
San Diego
Sat, Mar 25
22:00:00
Colorado
Vancouver
Sat, Mar 25
22:30:00
Rochester
Las Vegas
WK
18
Fri, Mar 31
19:00:00
New York
Georgia
Fri, Mar 31
21:00:00
Las Vegas
Colorado
Fri, Mar 31
22:00:00
Calgary
San Diego
Sat, Apr 1
19:00:00
Buffalo
Toronto
Sat, Apr 1
20:00:00
Albany
Panther City
Sat, Apr 1
21:30:00
Vancouver
Saskatchewan
Sun, Apr 2
13:00:00
Georgia
Halifax
Sun, Apr 2
18:00:00
Rochester
Philadelphia
WK
19
Sat, Apr 8
19:00:00
Albany
Rochester
Sat, Apr 8
19:00:00
Saskatchewan
Georgia
Sat, Apr 8
21:00:00
Panther City
Calgary
Sat, Apr 8
21:00:00
Vancouver
Colorado
Sat, Apr 8
22:30:00
San Diego
Las Vegas
WK
20
Fri, Apr 14
21:00:00
Las Vegas
Calgary
Fri, Apr 14
21:00:00
San Diego
Colorado
Sat, Apr 15
19:00:00
Philadelphia
Toronto
Sat, Apr 15
19:00:00
Georgia
Albany
Sat, Apr 15
19:30:00
New York
Buffalo
Sat, Apr 15
21:30:00
Halifax
Saskatchewan
Sat, Apr 15
22:00:00
Panther City
Vancouver
WK
21
Fri, Apr 21
20:30:00
Calgary
Panther City
Sat, Apr 22
18:00:00
New York
Halifax
Sat, Apr 22
19:00:00
Georgia
Rochester
Sat, Apr 22
20:00:00
Toronto
Buffalo
Sat, Apr 22
21:30:00
Colorado
Saskatchewan
Sat, Apr 22
22:00:00
Las Vegas
San Diego
Sun, Apr 23
15:00:00
Philadelphia
Albany
WK
22
Sat, Apr 29
19:00:00
Philadelphia
Rochester
Sat, Apr 29
19:00:00
Buffalo
Albany
Sat, Apr 29
19:00:00
Halifax
Georgia
Sat, Apr 29
22:00:00
Colorado
San Diego
Sat, Apr 29
22:00:00
New York
Vancouver
Sat, Apr 29
22:30:00
Saskatchewan
Las Vegas
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Stories/Op-Ed

Panther City Has Big Plans Both Off and On The Field

Panther City Lacrosse Club (PCLC) has firmly established itself as a National Lacrosse League franchise to be taken seriously. Operating in its second season, the Fort Worth-based club stands at 4-4, after a close 12-10 loss over the weekend to San Diego. The week prior, Panther City had an impressive 20-7 thrashing of the Vancouver Warriors.

As is often the case with expansion teams in professional sports, tremendous efforts need to be undertaken in order to grow a brand within a local market. But what about those rare times when an organization is tasked with introducing a bustling metropolitan area to not only a new business, but also the very sport that business is built around?

With this unique scenario in mind, NLL.com spoke to PCLC managing partner Greg Bibb, general manager/VP of lacrosse operations Bob Hamley, head coach Tracey Kelusky and defenseman/front office account executive Patrick Foley, with the goal of charting the progress that has been achieved in North Texas, both off and on the field.

“Growth In terms of awareness is a fan-by-fan process. There is a lot of education that goes into cultivating fandom,” explained Bibb, who also serves as president and CEO of the WNBA’s Dallas Wings. “The challenge is that Dallas/Fort Worth is nearing an 8-million-person marketplace. It’s extraordinary large population-wise, and even more so, geographically, and it’s very saturated. Every professional sport calls this area home due to the vibrancy of the region. And after that, you have countless numbers of collegiate programs, division one, two and three. So, there is no shortage of disposable income opportunities for the citizens of the region and we’re competing in that marketplace.”

PCLC’s efforts to grow the team and lacrosse’s profile include partnerships with the Fort Worth and Arlington (TX) school districts, where players and coaches introduce the game to both physical education teachers and students, with lacrosse instruction then implemented into the PE curriculum.

In addition, PCLC and the Fort Worth Public Library have teamed up to offer youth-oriented lacrosse books and equipment, while creating a program where kids are provided complementary game tickets, once an established number of books have been read.

PCLC’s need to introduce and grow lacrosse in the Dallas/Fort Worth market has parallels to the marketing and education that took place when the NHL’s Dallas Stars migrated from Minnesota in 1993.

“Dallas was a non-traditional hockey market when the Stars arrived. And they’ve done a good job, as hockey is played throughout the state now,” noted Hamley.

The longtime player, coach and NLL executive also hopes to follow in the footsteps of Denver, an example of a once non-traditional market that has become perhaps the most prolific Western US lacrosse hotbed. The former Colorado Mammoth head coach and director of player personnel believes that Dallas can emulate Denver, due in large part to ongoing growth of lacrosse in the north DFW suburbs and the presence of club teams at several local universities. Hamley credits the historic success of the University of Denver lacrosse program for the game growing exponentially throughout the Mile High City.

Patrick Foley later added, “It’s not the same as being in Boston (Foley’s hometown). There’s a lot less youth programming and coaches with experience. The talent is here, and the market is growing rapidly, and Panther City is really helping.”

The Texas High School Lacrosse League oversees boy’s high school lacrosse in the state since the sport is still not sanctioned as a varsity sport as of 2022. They currently have 88 member programs and over 3,000 students playing. Collegiately, Texas has six schools in Division I in the MCLA, six in DII, and three in DIII. Only two schools have DIII accreditation with the NCAA for their men’s and women’s lacrosse programs

One of the ways in which PCLC has activity worked to distinguish itself amid the very crowded Dallas/Fort Worth marketplace involves holding its home games in downtown Fort Worth, at three-year-old and stunning Dickies Arena.

While the Mavericks and Stars play near downtown Dallas about 35 miles away, and the Cowboys, Rangers and Wings take the field/court in Arlington less then 20 miles away, Panther City only shares the western metroplex city with the Big 12’s Texas Christian Horned Frogs.

On the subject of Fort Worth, the feeling of satisfaction is present up and down the organization.

“Not one professional sports team occupied the city and called it home. When you combine that with the fact that there was a brand new, state-of-the-art 14,000-seat arena coming online, it just seemed like a great opportunity,” said Bibb.

“It’s really about introducing people to the game and getting them into the best arena in the National Lacrosse League. It’s about butts in seats and getting people to see this game,” exclaimed Kelusky.

“This is Fort Worth’s team. It’s their only professional team. We are playing in the best arena in North America from an aesthetic and acoustics point of view and its right downtown,” conveyed Hamley.

While gaining traction in Fort Worth and the surrounding DFW metro is paramount, PCLC believes they can cultivate a fan-base throughout Texas and the surrounding states. Foley spoke to this idea when sharing his perspective as a salesman for the team.

“I have been on the phones talking with a lot of fans of the league. Working to get butts in seats and trying to build those relationships within the community. I get to speak with people from Oklahoma, Arkansas, four hours south of the DFW area in Houston and have people traveling from all those areas to watch us play,” illuminated Foley.

While the business side of the operation still has many benchmarks to achieve, on the field at Dickies Arena, the franchise’s three-year plan to contend for championships appears to be ahead of schedule.

“I think we’re right in the thick of it and have as good a chance as anybody of being a West Conference champion in year two,” articulated Kelusky.

The defending NLL coach of the year added, “I’m ecstatic about the group of men we have on board and they know that status quo is unacceptable.”

“Our 2021-2022 group raised the bar for what they did in the back half of the season,” said Hamley, the man responsible for assembling the roster.

With a bright present and a potentially brighter future on the horizon for Panther City Lacrosse Club, the powers that be have set their sights on establishing a lacrosse franchise chockful of success and possibilities.

“I’m a Canadian and am enjoying the weather, no shoveling of snow. We have five guys who live in-market now and they wanted to be here because of the weather, the city itself, and the culture that we’re building down here. We think we have a lot of advantages that some other cities and markets don’t,” uttered Hamley.

Greg Bibb put a bow on this notion when summing it up like this, “I think the ceiling is as high here as anywhere.”

Panther City hosts their first home game since December 17 this weekend when they welcome the Vancouver Warriors on Saturday at 8pm ET (ESPN+/TSN+).

NLL