Comcast Spectacor to ditch Philadelphia Wings lacrosse team
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Nick Damude of the Philadelphia Wings. Photo: Dan Squicciarini/NurPhoto via Getty
Philly sports titan Comcast Spectacor is dropping ownership of the Philadelphia Wings lacrosse team next month.
Why it matters: America's sportiest sports city will likely lose its only indoor box lacrosse team.
State of play: Comcast Spectacor — which owns the Flyers and Xfinity Mobile Arena — will cease operations of the Wings after the team's April 18 season finale in Vancouver.
- The team began playing in the South Philly arena in 2018, a year after Spectacor purchased a National Lacrosse League expansion team.
- Worth noting: Spectacor is a subsidiary of media and tech giant Comcast Corp.
What they're saying: "As part of our ongoing evaluation of long-term business priorities, the Wings franchise no longer aligns with our strategic direction," Spectacor said in a statement to Axios.
The big picture: Participation in lacrosse is growing rapidly, especially at the high school and college level — and the sport returns to the Olympic Games in 2028.
- But viewership and mainstream attention are still small compared to major sports.
The intrigue: The Wings could live on, but likely elsewhere.
- The NLL is shopping the franchise around to prospective ownership groups, per a released statement.
- The league is prioritizing markets and venues that offer enhanced flexibility, fan engagement opportunities, and long-term growth, per the statement.
Between the lines: Spectacor has several other big priorities on its plate.
- 🏀 A new WNBA team will arrive in Philly in 2030. Spectacor is a minority owner.
- 🏟️ Spectacor has partnered with the Sixers to build a new arena to replace Xfinity Mobile Arena by 2031.
- 🏗️ Spectacor is also planning a massive $2.5 billion redevelopment of the South Philly sports complex.
Flashback: The Wings have a long history in the city.
- They were an original member of the NLL, dating back to 1974, playing two seasons before going dormant.
- The Wings returned in 1987 under new ownership and went on to win six championships.
- But the franchise was relocated in 2014.
What else: With the Wings likely to depart, Philly's only professional lacrosse team will be the Waterdogs.
- The team is part of the Premier Lacrosse League, which opens for the regular season in May. But the Waterdogs won't play in the region until August at Subaru Park in Chester.
What's next: The Wings are in last place in the league with a record of 4-12, so they'll miss the playoffs.
- The Wings' final home game at Xfinity Mobile Arena is April 11 at 7pm.
- Tickets: $35.75+