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Is a National Lacrosse League team on the verge of returning to Edmonton?

Preston Hodgkinson
Preston Hodgkinson
|
Oct 22 2025, 6:23 pm
Is a National Lacrosse League team on the verge of returning to Edmonton?
@NLLHistory/X

The National Lacrosse League (NLL) is returning to Edmonton this season, but not in a permanent way…yet.

On Wednesday morning, the NLL announced that it would be hosting a regular-season match at Rogers Place between the Calgary Roughnecks and the Georgia Swarm on January 16. This is part of the NLL’s unBOXed event that aims to bring box lacrosse to different markets across North America.

It will be the first official NLL game to be played in the Alberta capital since the Edmonton Rush relocated to Saskatchewan following the 2015 season.

Similar to the PWHL’s Takeover Tour, many believe this is an event testing the waters for a future Edmonton-based lacrosse team. Daily Hive was able to secure an exclusive interview with NLL commissioner Brett Frood, where he said that the league is very interested in bringing a team back to the city.

“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.”

Georgia has been designated as the home team for the matchup, which is strange considering Calgary is much, much closer to Edmonton. According to Frood, this is because the league couldn’t fathom the Edmonton faithful cheering for a Calgary-based team.

“I am certain that all the fans there would never allow Calgary to be the home team in Rogers Place,” Frood said. “We did think they’d be a good opponent, they are a fun opponent, and one that carries a pretty intense rivalry in that building.”

The choice of including Georgia is a curious one. That franchise was near the bottom in NLL attendance last season, while Calgary was near the top. Perhaps the idea is to see if the league can potentially strike gold in Alberta with a second franchise down the road.

Frood did not comment on that possibility, but said that the sport should appeal to Edmonton sports fans.

“It still is a lacrosse town. It has the strong indigenous roots that are important to us,” Frood said. “I’m confident Edmonton sports fans love speed, physicality, and finesse… Our league provides another elite entertainment option for those diehard sports fans at price points that are a little different.”

The Rush previously called the Alberta capital home from 2006 to 2015, but relocated to Saskatchewan following a bevy of issues regarding leases and not being able to play in the newly built Rogers Place.

There was also a rocky relationship between the Rush and Oilers Entertainment Group (OEG), one that has seemingly been repaired with the NLL. Frood commented on where things stand between the league and OEG.

“My experience with OEG has been phenomenal,” Frood said. “First class experience and extremely collaborative. I’ve had the privilege of interacting with them for over a year now; this isn’t something we pulled out of the hat a couple of weeks ago.

“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.”

Nothing is guaranteed, but it certainly sounds like the NLL has Edmonton on the radar for a future team. If this neutral-site game is indeed a first step into gauging interest, fans will need to pack the rink to show their passion for the sport is still there.

Tickets go on sale this Friday.

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