Vancouver Warriors lacrosse season officially cancelled

Maybe next year.

After having to halt play and ultimately cancel its season last March, the National Lacrosse League has announced it won’t be playing a 2020-21 season either due to the pandemic. The NLL, which includes the Vancouver Warriors, will instead focus on playing again for the 2021-22 season, beginning next fall.

Plans for an abbreviated season this spring fell through, as too much uncertainty about the ability to host fans at games — not to mention the ability to travel between Canada and the United States– remains. The NLL is, of course, a gate-driven league without a lucrative television contract.

“We have gone through many scenarios, including playing a bubble season in Canada in April, but the logistical challenges, including the recently announced tighter travel and quarantine restrictions across the Canadian border, have required us to pivot,” said NLL Commissioner Nick Sakiewicz. “We have decided to focus on playing a full season in our markets, starting in the fall of this year.

“While many of the factors we can control were moving along well, those outside of our control, especially pertaining to obtaining government approval as far in advance as we would have needed, are no longer feasible.”

Vancouver’s top professional lacrosse team moved from Langley to Rogers Arena in 2018, when it was bought by the Vancouver Canucks and renamed the Vancouver Warriors.