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National Lacrosse League Expands to Chicago for 2007

The National Lacrosse League announced it has awarded a franchise to the city of Chicago for the 2007 season. The Chicago team becomes the league's twelfth franchise, and will play its home games at the Sears Centre, a brand new, state-of-the-art, indoor arena in Hoffman Estates, a northwest suburb of Chicago.

"Chicago is a key market for us in the United States as the focal point of the Midwest. We are excited to be placing a franchise here and to have such a strong ownership group," said Commissioner Jim Jennings.

The ownership group will be headed by Kevin Loughery Jr., son of former NBA player and Chicago Bulls coach, Kevin Loughery Sr., who is also a minority partner in the franchise. Loughery Jr. will act as Governor for the Chicago NLL club. Loughery Jr. started his own asset management company, KLM Investments LLC, after spending 15 years in the financial marketplace, previously, working as a stockbroker with Bear Stearns, a currency trader for Thomas Cook, and as an investment banker. The ownership group will also consist of Donald Sallee, former CEO of Invesco Global Strategies and a founding partner of Invesco Capital Management Inc. Sallee has also acted as private investor in numerous and various business ventures. The final piece of the ownership group is Concept Entertainment Group LLC, a sports and entertainment asset development company and KLM holding, run by Doug Schaer. His practice in the sports industry spans over nine years as an agency owner, arbitration consultant, and marketer. Doug, who is a certified player agent with the MLBPA and a member of the California Bar, will have an integral strategic management role with the new franchise.

"On behalf of my family and partners, we are thrilled to be back in the city of Chicago as the newest member of the National Lacrosse League", said co-owner Kevin Loughery Jr. "For those of you who have not yet experienced the indoor lacrosse game, you don't know what you are missing! You will become hooked, just as we now are. By bringing a team to Chicago, we expect to continue to advance the growth of this wonderful sport not only in and around the city but in the entire Midwest."

"This is the best thing I've done for Chicago since drafting Michael Jordan in 1984", said Kevin Loughery Sr., on bringing the NLL to Chicago.

"Our goal is to join the other legendary franchises in Chicago sports, as evidenced by how we support and respect the sport of lacrosse, the community, the media as well as our players, coaches, employees and fans" said Schaer. "In addition, we fully intend to bring an exciting, entertaining and, most importantly, winning team to suburban Chicago in 2007 and beyond. The fans are going to love it!"

Lougherys launch indoor lacrosse team

February 17, 2006

BY LACY J. BANKS Staff Reporter

Kevin Loughery enjoyed a courtside seat for Chicago's pro basketball renaissance when he served as Michael Jordan's first coach with the Bulls. Now he's hoping for similar success with his newest endeavor.

Long a staple of the East Coast sports scene, lacrosse is making major inroads in the Chicago area. On the heels of the Northwestern women's lacrosse team's surprising 2005 NCAA championship, two professional franchises have been awarded to Chicago in the last month.

First came the Chicago Machine, which will begin outdoor play in the Major Lacrosse League this spring. On Thursday, the National Lacrosse League awarded an indoor franchise to an ownership group headed by Loughery's son, Kevin Jr. His father also is a minority partner. The unnamed team will debut in January 2007.

''I was part of the management that drafted Michael Jordan,'' Loughery Sr. said before a news conference at Harry Caray's Restaurant. ''I am now happy to be bringing some new excitement to Chicago sports.''

Franchise rights for the team were purchased for $3 million, a big jump from the initial price of $250,000 per team when the league started 20 years ago. The league has teams in Phoenix, Denver, Philadelphia, Portland, Rochester, San Jose, Denver, Buffalo and Minneapolis in the United States, plus Canadian teams in Toronto, Calgary and Edmonton.

The Chicago team will play its eight home games at the $65 million Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates. Scheduled to be completed in October, the arena will seat 11,000 (the league's average attendance in 2005 was 10,400). The franchise is inviting fans to choose a name for the team through a contest on its Web site, www.ChicagoNLL.com.