What kind of timelines are we looking at for next year's schedule to be released? I never paid attention before so I don't know. Apparently I'm wanting the season to start already... I've got a long ways to go still...

The league has generally released the schedule around Labor Day. About a month after the NBA and NHL announce theirs, so the NLL can grab what remains.

So about three months of waiting still to wait for it.

Plus now we have to wait and see what happens to San Jose, Portland and New York. If they all move, what division will they be in. There's some questions that still need to be answered. Hopefully they will all figure that out sooner than later so we don't have another Chicago episode.

Did I miss something about San Jose and New York or is that just rumor mill speculation?

San Jose announced they were almost definitely moving. There was some speculation they'd move to Stockton, which is about halfway between Jan jose and Sacremento.

http://www.nllinsider.com/2009/05/13/sourc...in-in-san-jose/
http://www.nllinsider.com/2009/05/20/a-clo...plus-the-links/

So far New York is just rumors, but the fact they never answer a phone call, haven't announced anything about 2010 season tickets and stuff like that... Who knows. Right now they're "Persuing options"

http://www.nypost.com/seven/05252009/sport...imbo_170913.htm

Edit: Found a new article about New York, looks like Newark or bust... At least they decided not to sell and have the team moved to Orlando to die according to some poeple. Hopefully that's true.
http://www.nllinsider.com/2009/05/28/it-co...moving-forward/

Newark huh... that seems like a terrible place to have a team.

You could have just stopped at "that seems like a terrible place".

Basically, if a team wants to relcocate for next season, they have to submit their request to the league by June 1. The league will then review and make a decision, probably at the board of governors meeting in Philly in June when all the teams get together to talk about 2010, play golf, chase skirts and drink at the bar.

Portland , San Jose and New York are the teams that appear to have issues. Each may relocate or just fold. I figure it will be a combination of both.

New York played most of their games in Newark this past season along with MSG and a game in Florida. I think it is a matter of making a deal to make Newark their permanent home with solid financial backing. If they do that and commit to play all their games in Newark instead of the musical arenas they have done in the past, they should be able to grow that team. The league wants to keep a team in the NYC area, so I would guess they would put the extra effort into it to keep it viable.

Portland can't seem to find sponsors to help them out which has put them in a hole financially. They have the best fan base of the three teams but the owners don't think it is enough. Their best option to remain in the league maybe Everett, WA which is just north of Seattle and south of Vancouver. The arena is smaller, they would need to find new sponsors and they would have to rebuild their fan base. This team in my opinion is the most likely to go away in my opinion.

San Jose is looking to play in Stockton, CA. Their problem is they couldn't draw in San Jose and the owners of their arena, the Sharks really don't want them there. The Stealth would often get crappy dates like Saturday afternoons and Sunday nights which are tough draws. What San Jose does have are dedicated and financially solid owners. These owners have been in business for two years after buying the team from the Sharks and this year they were able to grow the attendance even with the many obstacles. A fresh start in Stockton maybe what they need.

So my guess is New York will be in Newark, Stockton will have the Stealth and the LumberJax will fold. However, don't be surprised if all three fold, this is the NLL which means that every year is a struggle to keep going to the next year. The thing is they keep going and I know it will pay off big in the future.

If any of these teams do fold, Marty will have a chance to pick up the lefthanded big time scorer the Swarm desperately need. If he will, is another question. Right now if a dispersal draft would occur the Swarm would draft third unless an expansion team comes around. The Swarm would love Colin Doyle if the Stealth folded but would definitely have to trade up to get him. Good luck especially with two Canadian teams ahead of the Swarm, Edmonton and Toronto.

1. Edmonton
2. Toronto
3. SWARM
4. Philadelphia
5. Colorado
6. Rochester
7. San Jose
8. Portland
9. Boston
10. Buffalo
11. New York
12. Calgary

If San Jose, Portland or New York folded, the Swarm should easily get at least one starter out of one or all three of these teams.

San Jose - Colin Doyle (F-L), Jeff Zywicki (F-R), Eric Martin (D-L), Cam Sedgwick (F-L), Tom Johnson (F-L), Tyler Richards (G), Rhys Duch (F-R), Paul Rabil (T-R)

Portland - Brodie Merrill (D-L), Peter Jacobs (F-L), Scott Stewart (T-R), Ryan Powell (F-R), Cory Conway (F-R), Tyler Codron (T-R), Tim Campeau (F-L), Matt Disher (G)

New York - Casey Powell (F-R), Brendan Mundorf (F-L), Jordan Hall (F-L), Pat Maddalena (F-L), Jarett Park (T-R), Matt Vinc (G), Stephen Peyser (D-R), Ryan Boyle (F-R)

Projected starting date of the 2010 season is January 2, 2010.

Click on Countdown to see the time melt away, way to slowly.

It probably wouldn't be so bad. That arena is basically new and it's where the Devils (NHL) and I believe the Nets (NBA) play. they jsut need to settle in at one place or they'll never be able to build a fan base.

Who knows about teams folding, could make things interesting. One thing to keep in mind for any dispersal, is that I beleive the Point/Hill/Wilson trade also netted the Swarm a conditional draft pick, which if I heard right is for any dispersal draft. So we'd get and extra pick because of that... possibly.

I have heard that... really polluted isn't it?

We'd get additional firepower that we need, but so would the other teams so it's quite possible we wouldn't be any better in the long run from a dispersal draft. The league is going to be in danger of getting too small if any of these teams fold IMHO.

if those 3 teams leave and we win the championship, it just wouldnt be the same. Big deal! we won a league with 9 teams in the league YAY!!

i would take a championship from a league of only 9 teams. It would still mean that we beat the other teams no matter what the count. Start of the Minnesota Lacrosse Dynasty has to start sometime.

The playoffs could shrink to a semifinal game and a championship game.... that would be kinda lame.