Don't count on lacrosse's return to the Sears Centre
Don't count on indoor lacrosse's return to the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates for a while.
The Chicago Shamrox played two seasons, from 2007 to 2008, at the arena before the team ceased operations in the National Lacrosse League. The NLL is popular on the East Coast and has 10 teams in the U.S. and Canada.
There were rumblings that a new team could come back to the Sears Centre, as the Shamrox drew decently. The arena is also keen on sports teams, like the Chicago Express hockey team, to provide a steady diet of events to fill its schedule.
However, the village board on Monday agreed to sell the arena's lacrosse turf to the NLL for $30,000, plus shipping costs. The league plans to install the turf at the Turning Stone casino and resort in upstate New York, host of the NLL's All-Star Game on Feb. 27.
On a personal note, Turning Stone is not too far from Syracuse University. While attending Syracuse, I made a trip to the casino to see Muhammad Ali's daughter, Laila Ali, in a boxing bout. It comes full circle.