Ottawa will welcome back a professional lacrosse team later this year as the National Lacrosse League (NLL) announced the relocation of the New York Riptide to the nation’s capital after the current season.
The team will undergo a transformation, adopting a new name and logo as the Ottawa Black Bears. Ownership will remain with GF Sports and Entertainment, and the Black Bears will call the Canadian Tire Centre their home arena.
Erik Baker, a member of the ownership team, cited several factors for choosing Ottawa, including the strength of the Senators Sports & Entertainment brand, the growing demand for box lacrosse in the region, and the quality of the arena.
“The Ottawa Black Bears name reflects not only the attributes of the region but also the values of this community and our franchise. We will be a community-dedicated team that will be relentless, proud, passionate, and gritty,” said Baker in a news release.
The Black Bears’ inaugural home game is expected to take place in December, marking a significant moment for Ottawa’s lacrosse fans.
The New York Riptide, which debuted in the NLL during the pandemic-shortened 2019-20 season, will make way for the Black Bears in Ottawa. Despite a 5-5 record this season, the Riptide has faced challenges in recent years, including missing the playoffs in 2022 and 2023.
This isn’t Ottawa’s first foray into professional lacrosse, as the city briefly hosted the Ottawa Rebel in the early 2000s before the franchise’s suspension in 2003.
With the addition of the Ottawa Black Bears, the NLL expands its presence to 15 franchises, including teams in Halifax, Toronto, Saskatoon, Calgary, and Vancouver. Nearby cities like Albany, Buffalo, and Rochester also host NLL teams.
It’s worth noting the cultural significance of lacrosse to Indigenous communities, particularly the Haudenosaunee people. Lacrosse holds deep roots in their culture, and the Haudenosaunee Nationals have a credible bid to compete as a separate nation in lacrosse at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
