Canceled Shamrox season leaves arena with 8 open dates

The cancellation of the Chicago Shamrox lacrosse season continues the spell of bad luck for Hoffman Estates' Sears Centre.

Tuesday's decision by the National Lacrosse League's office cost the Shamrox what would have been the team's second season, as salary negotiations between the players and teams in the 14-team NLL snarled.

Shamrox President Connie Kowal shared the disappointment, saying the team had been building momentum after last season, drawing an average of more than 6,000 fans over eight home games. Capacity for lacrosse at Sears Centre is 9,500.

"We hit some very, very high notes in our first season. We are very proud of our first season," he said. "This is purely a labor situation right now."

The new season was to have started Jan. 5 at home against Buffalo. League officials and Kowal vow indoor lacrosse will return in 2009.

It's another blow to the Sears Centre, which lost the Chicago Hounds hockey team when it folded in June.

The lacrosse players were haggling over raises and whether to institute a salary cap. For most of the players, the game is a part-time job. The average league salary is $14,500.

NLL Deputy Commissioner George Daniel noted most major pro sports leagues have weathered work stoppages, calling them a natural part of the growth of the NLL, which started in 1987. He said the traditionally East Coast sport will continue to grow in Chicago.

John Jiloty, editor-in-chief for Baltimore-based Inside Lacrosse magazine, said the league is on firm ground and will be back.

"A team like Chicago will largely be starting over in many fans' eyes in 2009, but they'll also have two years under their belts as an organization," the Naperville native said.

The Shamrox were the Sears Centre's biggest draw, Kowal said.

The team is entering the second year of a five-year lease with the arena. Kowal said he's scheduled to meet with venue officials today to discuss the franchise's future at the arena.

It began its season last January with a crowd of 8,456 for its inaugural game -- the largest crowd the Sears Centre had drawn in its three months at the time.

Sears Centre spokesman Michael Millar said arena officials look forward to the Shamrox return. But in the meantime there are eight openings in the arena's calendar that need to be filled.

"Some are very attractive dates. We're tying to bring in concerts or family entertainment to the Sears Centre," Millar said.

The $60 million Sears Centre opened last year in the Prairie Stone Business Park, backed by a $50 million loan from the village of Hoffman Estates.

Mayor William McLeod said the Shamrox were better run than the unstable Chicago Hounds, and lauded the Shamrox's ownership, which includes former Bulls coach Kevin Loughery.

McLeod said residents should be patient. The Sears Centre, though drawing a disappointing crowd for last weekend's Diaz-vs.-Diaz boxing match, will be successful, he said.

"Things never happen as quickly as one would like," McLeod said. "That's the way it always is."

Palatine High School lacrosse coach Heath McFaul attended three games last year and was impressed by the game's fast pace. He's encouraged his players to attend Shamrox games and saw students come back to practice trying to emulate the move of pro players.

"It gives them something to shoot for," he said.

The Shamrox have worked with McFaul's players in clinics, which Kowal said will continue, despite the season's cancellation.

"We want to continue to connect with the fans," he said.

If McFaul's players still want to watch pros, they'll have to drive to Toyota Park in Southwest suburban Bridgeview to catch the Chicago Machine, who play in the outdoor Major League Lacrosse league.

"For me personally," McFaul said, "Toyota Park is a long, long way away."