Arizona Sting

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Arizona Sting
SportBox lacrosse
First season2004
Disbanded2008
Last season2007
LeagueNational Lacrosse League
DivisionWestern
Team historyColumbus Landsharks (2001–2003)
Based inGlendale, Arizona
ArenaGila River Arena
ColorsBrick, Black, Sand
     
Head coachBob Hamley
General managerBob Hamley
Championships0
Finals appearances2 (2005, 2007)
Local mediaCOX 7
Websitewww.arizonasting.com

The Arizona Sting was a professional American box lacrosse team and a member of the National Lacrosse League from 2004 to 2007. They played at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, from 2001 to 2003 as the Columbus Landsharks, and in 2003 moved to Glendale, Arizona. The team adopted the name Sting in November 2003 and began playing in the Glendale Arena (now Desert Diamond Arena).

In 2005, the Sting defeated the 2004 NLL champion Calgary Roughnecks to win the franchise's first-ever West Division title. The Sting fell 19–13 to the East Division champion Toronto Rock in the league championships.

Team history[edit]

On October 16, 2007, the NLL announced that the 2008 season had been cancelled due to the failure of the league and the Professional Lacrosse Players' Association to reach a new collective bargaining agreement.[1] However, the negotiations continued and, on October 25, the league announced that a new seven-year agreement had been reached, and that the season would be played.[2] A new schedule was announced on November 2, 2007, but only included 12 of the expected 14 teams; the Sting and Boston Blazers had been removed.[3] According to a news article posted on the Sting website,

When the NLL Board of Governors cancelled the season on Oct. 16, we ceased our Arizona Sting business operations. On Oct. 25, when the two sides came to an agreement on a new seven-year CBA, the league announced that there would be a season in 2008. The NLL then gave all clubs an option to be placed on voluntary inactive status, whereby the team’s players could be subject to a dispersal draft. Dispersed players may be loaned to other NLL clubs for the 2008 season and returned to their original clubs in 2009. At that time we reviewed our organization and the challenges we faced with fielding and operating a championship-caliber club both on and off the field in a reduced time frame. After our review we made a very difficult decision to declare inactive status for the 2008 season.[4]

Prior to the 2009 NLL season, the Arizona Sting ceased operations and its players were put in a dispersal draft.[5]

All time record[edit]

Season Division W-L Finish Home Road GF GA Coach Playoffs
2004 Western 7–9 4th 6–2 1–7 200 208 Bob Hamley Missed playoffs
2005 Western 9–7 2nd 5–3 4–4 209 209 Bob Hamley Lost Champions Cup Final
2006 Western 8–8 4th 4–4 4–4 198 199 Bob Hamley Lost division finals
2007 Western 9–7 3rd 6–2 3–5 188 181 Bob Hamley Lost Champions Cup Final
Total 4 seasons 33–31 21–11 12–20 795 797
Playoff Totals 5–3 2–1 3–2 107 100

Playoff results[edit]

Season Game Visiting Home
2005 Division Semifinal Colorado 13 Arizona 16
Division Final Arizona 19 Calgary 15
Championship Arizona 13 Toronto 19
2006 Division Semifinal Arizona 14 Portland 11
Division Final Arizona 12 Colorado 13
2007 Division Semifinal Arizona 13 Calgary 9
Division Final San Jose 7 Arizona 9
Championship* Arizona 11 Rochester 13

* the Arizona Sting hosted the Champion's Cup Finals at Jobing.com Arena. The Knighthawks had the overall top seed in the playoffs, but were unable to host the Championship game due to a scheduling conflict at the Blue Cross Arena.[6]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "2008 Season Cancelled". NLL.com. 2007-10-16. Archived from the original on 17 October 2007. Retrieved 2007-10-16.
  2. ^ "NLL, PLPA Reach Seven-Year Deal". NLL.com. October 25, 2007. Archived from the original on 31 October 2007. Retrieved 2007-11-02.
  3. ^ "League Releases New 2008 Schedule". NLL.com. November 2, 2007. Archived from the original on 6 November 2007. Retrieved 2007-11-02.
  4. ^ "News Release". November 2, 2007. Archived from the original on 13 November 2007. Retrieved 2007-11-02.
  5. ^ "Dawon & Conn among available players". NLL.com. Archived from the original on 4 July 2008. Retrieved 2008-06-30.
  6. ^ "Arizona To Host Championship Game". NLL.com. April 30, 2007. Archived from the original on 2008-04-16. Retrieved 2007-04-30.

See also[edit]