Edmonton could soon be getting its own NLL team again: report
Edmonton may be getting another professional sports franchise soon.
The Alberta capital already houses both the NHL’s Oilers, the CFL’s Elks, and the CEBL’s Stingers, but they could soon be joined by a professional NLL lacrosse team as well.
A report from NLL insider Dawson J. Neilsen on Thursday says that a prospective Edmonton ownership group has been showing “serious” interest in bringing a team back to the city.
“Hearing from multiple sources that there’s another serious ownership group in Edmonton looking to purchase an NLL franchise,” Nielsen reported. “With both the Philadelphia and Ottawa situations still up in the air, this is something to watch very closely.”
Hearing from multiple sources that thereās another SERIOUS ownership group in Edmonton looking to purchase an NLL franchise.
With both the Philadelphia and Ottawa situations still up in the air, this is something to watch very closely.#NLL #Lacrosse #Edmonton pic.twitter.com/DyevtDzyj9
— Dawson J Nielsen (@DawsonJNielsen) May 21, 2026
The Philadelphia Wings are set to cease operation this summer, and there is uncertainty around the Ottawa Black Bears heading into the 2026-27 NLL season.
Edmonton has been on the NLL’s radar recently. The city hosted a regular-season game at Rogers Place back in January as part of the NLL’s unBOXed event, drawing 6,941 fans.
NLL commissioner Brett Frood told Daily Hive in October that they would love for a team to play in the city one day.
“Edmonton is a highly attractive, potential future market for us,” Frood said. “Right now, what is most important is for us to grow our game in markets like Edmonton and grow our fanbase.
“Heck yes, we’d eventually love to see a team in Edmonton in the future.”
The NLL worked closely with Oilers Entertainment Group (OEG) to organize that January game, and they would make sense as a potential ownership group. OEG operates the city’s largest indoor arena with Rogers Place, and the organization cozied up to the NLL over the past year.
Frood had nothing but great things to say about OEG in the lead-up to the unBOXed game.
“My experience with OEG has been phenomenal,” Frood said at the time. “First class experience and extremely collaborative.
“Every conversation I’ve had, I leave thoroughly impressed by their attention to detail, their excitement, and overall their emphasis on collaboration and putting on a product that is best-in-class for their fans.”
A new Edmonton team would end an 11-year NLL absence in the city. The Edmonton Rush previously called the city home between 2006 and 2015, before relocating to Saskatchewan.
The Rush won the NLL championship in their final season in Edmonton, but leasing issues and not being able to play in the newly built Rogers Place forced them to relocate.