Panther City Lacrosse Club to Debut Dec. 10

In football-crazy North Texas, the new Panther City Lacrosse Club — Fort Worth’s first major sports franchise — looks to carve out its niche.

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Growing up in Canada meant two things for many young athletes — ice hockey in the winter and lacrosse in the summer. The ice time brought plenty of bumps and bruises, but plenty of big hits came with lacrosse season as well. Growing up in Kitchener, Ontario, Ryan Benesch experienced this firsthand. The 36-year-old first grabbed a lacrosse stick at age 4 and went on to play for his city team for 15 years — he’s currently the second all-time leading scorer for the Kitchener-Waterloo Braves. He eventually graduated to the National Lacrosse League and was named the league’s Rookie of the Year in 2007. The 15-year veteran now brings his 451 career goals to Cowtown and is expected to be a leader for the new Panther City Lacrosse Club when the team debuts in Dickies Arena on Dec. 10.

The NLL’s version of the game is called “box lacrosse” and features six-on-six playing on an ice hockey rink with a turf field over the ice and glass and boards intact. Fans can expect the on-the-fly substitutions of hockey (as well as the penalty box and power plays), the positioning and precision of basketball, and the physical play of football. Also expect high scoring with games averaging about 25 goals. Continuous music, video, and sound effects throughout the game add a bit of a rock concert or video game element to the action on the turf. Benesch believes Panther City brings something new to North Texas, and fans won’t be disappointed.

“It’s going to be interesting; it’s going to be a good opportunity,” he says about heading to a new team in Fort Worth. “Once people in Texas come and watch one box lacrosse game, they’re going to be hooked instantly. So, it’s one of those ‘you’ve got to believe it’ type things. When we can get large crowds in the arena, loud and cheering us on, there’s nothing like it.”

Action and Intensity In football-crazy North Texas, what makes someone decide to start a professional lacrosse team? With the Cowboys, Horned Frogs, Mustangs, and the Friday Night Lights of high school football, options abound for fans looking to get their gridiron fix. While lacrosse has grown in recent years with youth programs around the metroplex, is there really room for a pro team?

Panther City management believes there is. One reason: the fast-paced action. Benesch stresses that those expecting a noncontact evening of competition may be in for a surprise. The NLL brings plenty of big hits, speed, and skill — even with an occasional fight. A quick YouTube search yields plenty of NLL videos highlighting some of the league’s bone-rattling collisions. It’s the sport’s action and athleticism that Panther City management hopes the sport’s action and athleticism keep fans coming back..

Panther City becomes the league’s 14th franchise and will regularly take on teams from across the country, like the Toronto Rock, New York Riptide, Calgary Roughnecks, and Colorado Mammoth. Whether lacrosse can succeed in Texas remains to be seen, but ownership believes the game’s intensity will appeal to fans of the Cowboys, Stars, and Mavericks. The season runs from December through May with Panther City opening on the road against Philadelphia on Dec. 4.

Along with the action, the NLL stresses its family friendly atmosphere with ticket prices much lower than other pro teams. At a time when taking the family to a Cowboys game may run hundreds of dollars, a good seat at a Panther game runs as low as $15. Team president and CEO Greg Bibb says box lacrosse also has the opportunity to appeal to a broad range of fans with the best players in the world. That was key in choosing to bring an NLL team to North Texas.

“We really liked that the game had something for everyone,” Bibb says.

Growing a Fanbase Beyond the action on the field, Bibb believes Panther City has a chance to find a niche as Fort Worth’s only major professional team. The team is the third professional franchise for owner Bill Cameron, who owns the Dallas Wings of the WNBA and has a minority stake in the NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder.

When his company began searching for another local sports opportunity, Bibb says the NLL seemed like the best option. With Fort Worth now the country’s 12th-largest city and seeing significant growth, Bibb believes the team is in the right place at the right time. Transplants from the Northeast who grew up playing lacrosse also offer an opportunity.

“There were a few things about the National Lacrosse League that made it the best choice for us,” he says. “First and foremost is lacrosse. It’s a fast-growing sport across the country. North Texas is one of the fastest-growing youth markets in the country, and we felt like there was an opportunity to jump into that growth market at the right time.”

But Panther City isn’t relying just on the game’s appeal. Bibb knows finding success in the Fort Worth market will require overcoming some obstacles to get butts in seats. The game may be growing among youth, but will Texans embrace the professional version of the game? Also, in a sports-saturated market, can another franchise find some room? Bibb and his team believe there is an opportunity and has been marketing the team since launching last November. That has included grassroots connections with local lacrosse groups to help grow the sport and launching an ad campaign in traditional media. 

Panther City also hosted several community events to help sell season tickets. Benesch and other players even headed to the Stockyards in October to help promote the upcoming season. Playing in the new Dickies Arena also allows the team to showcase its product in a brand-new, state-of-the-art facility. The arena holds 11,000 for lacrosse, and Panther City becomes its first pro sports tenant.

Fans of the league won’t find a fly-by-night organization, Bibb notes. The NLL has been around for 35 years and found stable local ownership groups with experience in the industry. NLL officials have worked to create a more national game than just a Northeastern and Canadian sport. That paid off in October when the league announced a multiyear television deal with ESPN. The network will broadcast at least 10 national games each season, and fans can also watch numerous others on the ESPN+ streaming service, including all Panther City games.

Bibb hopes all of these efforts come together for a successful first season in Fort Worth, engaging those already interested in lacrosse and also finding new fans along the way. The goal isn’t to compete with other area sports per se but to find its own niche.

“You don’t necessarily have to be a hardcore lacrosse fan,” he says. “If we had to rely solely on the lacrosse market, it would be a tough go. By having a much broader audience opportunity, it gives us a great chance to be successful.”

On the Field Building hype and building a team on the field are two different things. That job goes to Bob Hamley, Panther City general manager and vice president of lacrosse operations, and coach Tracey Kelusky, a former No. 1 draft pick and five-time All-Star. Expansion teams aren’t always the most competitive. But through an expansion draft and free agency, Hamley believes Fort Worth can compete.

An NLL team comes with some unique roster management not seen in other leagues. Most players aren’t full time. Benesch works for the City of Kitchener, back in Ontario — a municipal employee by day and pro lacrosse star by night. Like most players in the league, he keeps in shape during the week and discusses strategy with teammates online. He then flies out to play lacrosse on Fridays. The team then practices Friday night and gears up for a game on Saturday night. 

 The league seems to make the system work. Hamley grew up playing lacrosse in Canada before playing in the NLL. He’s now been a coach or general manager since 2004. Launching a new team in Texas brought some challenges, only exacerbated by COVID-19.

“We have a great ownership group here, an incredible building, and an incredible staff, and we’ve been pounding the pavement to get the word out,” he says. “We really feel that we came out of expansion and the entry draft with a team that we’re going to be proud of right away.”

Beyond Benesch, Hamley points to a few other players who should be key to the team’s success. Defenseman Chad Cummings, acquired via trade with Calgary, checks in at 6 foot, 4 inches and has appeared in 61 games and caused 44 turnovers. Forward Patrick Dodds was selected 21st in the 2020 draft and expected to be a major scoring threat. Defenseman Matt Hossack is a five-year league veteran and brings plenty of scoring and hitting from the back.

Hamley believes fans will get their money’s worth when showing up for a game, with plenty of fun in the building and athleticism and action on the field. Talk to a player or someone with the team, and one notion comes across for those who are curious — just get to a game in person. NLL fans love the speed and excitement, and Panther City management and players hope Fort Worth fans experience that firsthand.

“Come to the game; that’s all I can stress,” Benesch says. “Just get to a game, and I guarantee you’ll be hooked for life.” 

---FOO BAR