National Lacrosse League (NLL) Cancels 2008 Season

The National Lacrosse League (NLL) - an indoor, men's lacrosse league - has announced the cancellation of the 2008 season due to collective bargaining issues with the players association. Two major issues appear to be the length of the collective bargaining agreement, or "CBA," and a player salary cap. The previous agreement expired on July 1.

The Leagues' statement on the matter specifically states that this is the fourth time in seven years the league and union have gone to the table to negotiate a new contract and the league was particularly interested in a longer term deal for the stability of the game. The league's final proposal included 3 percent salary increases and a 5-year deal. The union was offering a 1-year agreement without a salary cap.

According to Business First of Buffalo, the average player salary is about $14,500. Most of the players also hold full time jobs and commute to the games over the weekends.

One proposal of note by the Players' association was the lifting of the salary cap. While the NLL says they could not agree to play in an uncapped system, the players' association accused the league of attempting to break the union. The players negotiating team refused to allow a vote of the final proposal from the league.

The league's stated intention is to return in 2009 and to use the next year to "improve not only our relationship with our players, but to improve our overall business model."

The league had issued an ultimatum that if a contract was not reached by midnight on Monday, October 15, the 2008 season would be cancelled. In 2004, the league had issued a similar ultimatum, but an agreement was reached by that deadline and the 2005 season was played. At that time, the agreement created revenue sharing and provided for better than 4 percent salary increases for the players. In 2003, an agreement was reached only after a 12-day player strike.

The league averaged just over 10,200 fans per game last year. The NLL is comprised of 14 teams and their salary structure ranges from $6880 to a maximum of just over $25,500. The regular season is 16 games. While the League's television contracts expired at the end of the last season, the league had reached a deal with YouTube to run a content channel. The NLL was founded in 1986 and began play in 1987.

REFERENCES:

National Lacrosse League statement, URL: http://www.nll.com/article.php?id=3127

Business First of Buffalo, "New labor agreement for National Lacrosse League, players" October 4, 2004 retrieved October 16, 2007, URL: http://www.bizjournals.com/buffalo/
stories/2004/10/04/daily3.html

Business First of Buffalo, NLL says season is cancelled," October 16, 2007,
URL: http://www.bizjournals.com/buffalo/
stories/2007/10/15/daily13.html?jst=s_cn_hl

Associated Press on Yahoo.com, "National Lacrosse League cancels 2008 season after failing to reach labor agreement,"
URL: http://sports.yahoo.com/top/news?s
lug=ap-lacrosse-seasoncanceled&prov=ap&type=lgns

CTV Toronto, "National Lacrosse League cancels 2008 season,"
URL: http://toronto.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20071016/
lacrosse_league_cancelled_071016/20071016?hub=TorontoHome

United Press International, "National Lacrosse League Calls off Season,"
URL: http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Sports/2007/10/16/
national_lacrosse_league_calls_off_season/1637/

Nicole, Kristin, "National Lacrosse League Launches YouTube Channel,"
URL: http://mashable.com/2007/04/26/nll-youtube/