As Ottawa welcomes back pro lacrosse, questions are raised about its chance of success

As a professional lacrosse team returns to Ottawa later this year, a local league and the owner of the city's last pro team are confident it will succeed — but questions about the team's long-term viability remain.

The National Lacrosse League (NLL) announced Wednesday that the New York Riptide will be moving to Ottawa and will debut as the Ottawa Black Bears next season.

The move comes about two decades after Ottawa's previous NLL team, the Ottawa Rebel, was sold to Edmonton after two seasons. 

Brad Watters, who was president of the Rebel during its ill-fated run from 2001 to 2003, said he's confident constraints that held back his team won't hinder the Black Bears.

"The market has really improved since we were there," Watters said. "Our teams were never really competitive. I know that's not going to be the case."

The new team is a partnership between the NLL, owners GF Sports and Entertainment and the Ottawa Senators. 

For Watters, that tie to the Senators is key.

Placing them in the same building is an opportunity for cross-promotion and creates an incentive to establish a dedicated fan base, he said.

"I think this is the perfect fit," Watters said. "You can advertise at the Sens games. There's no disinterest in seeing this team succeed."

The vice-president of the Nepean Knights Lacrosse Association is upbeat about the team's arrival.

Jon Zywicki's league, which at least one Riptide played in, is planning to take in 550 children for its upcoming summer season.

He said a professional team to foster local interest in the sport will snowball into higher attendance.   

"Ottawa is a big lacrosse hotbed in the province," he said.

"It's going to be a grassroots, planned exposure to get more and more families and kids engaged in the sport, and I think that will take care of the Ottawa Black Bears."

Obstacles for the franchise

Establishing a new professional sports franchise in Ottawa remains challenging, according to Moshe Lander, a sports economics lecturer at Concordia University.

Lander said the Black Bears are facing several structural issues. For instance, the NLL's regular season coincides with the Senators, Ottawa 67's and Gatineau Olympiques, which will compete for fan attention.

"Everyone's disposable income is finite," he said. "It's unlikely that the Sens are going to be the ones thrown overboard."

The Black Bears' financial arrangement is also a red flag, Lander added.

"It's interesting that they're partnering with them and not selling it to them," he said of GF Sports and Entertainment. "I think the Sens know something that the GF management doesn't know, which is it's not exactly a great investment."

Lander noted that there will be a limited number of games. This NLL season has 18 of them split between home and away.

"When the average attendance is around say 10,000 fans, you're not exactly moving the needle in terms of ticket sales."

"We've got to make sure that we brand this team like there's no tomorrow," he continued. "TSN is not broadcasting every one of those games, which they easily could be when they're starved for content."