Arizona Sting Suspend Operations for 2008 Season

[Sonny]

GLENDALE, ARIZONA -- Arizona Sting Governor Douglas Moss announced today that the Sting has suspended its operations and will not participate in the 2008 National Lacrosse League (NLL) season.

The NLL announced the cancellation of its 2008 season on Oct. 16 after the Professional Lacrosse Players Association rejected a proposal from the league on a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

"The lack of negotiations between the NLL and the Professional Lacrosse Players Association this summer and subsequent uncertainty negatively impacted our planning for the 2008 season," said Moss. "When the NLL Board of Governors cancelled the season on Oct. 16, we ceased our Arizona Sting business operations.

On Oct. 25, when the two sides came to an agreement on a new seven-year CBA, the league announced that there would be a season in 2008. The NLL then gave all clubs an option to be placed on voluntary inactive status, whereby the team's players could be subject to a dispersal draft. Dispersed players may be loaned to other NLL clubs for the 2008 season and returned to their original clubs in 2009.

At that time we reviewed our organization and the challenges we faced with fielding and operating a championship-caliber club both on and off the field in a reduced time frame. After our review we made a very difficult decision to declare inactive status for the 2008 season.

"We apologize to our loyal fans, partners and players, and look forward to our players returning to our roster for the 2009 season."