Here's how the New York Riptide and the National Lacrosse League have maintained a presence while being shut down:
“My goal,” Lisk said, “wasn’t to have the last thing people remembered about the Riptide was us being a 1-12 team.”
Despite the hiatus forced upon the NLL, the league is bullish on its future. That’s one reason the league, which has been in existence since 1987, recently added a 14th franchise, the expansion Panther City Lacrosse Club, which will play in Fort Worth, Tex. As for the league, Berman pointed to its digital channel, which has allowed the league to continue to “grow our engagement and followers even without playing games. … We're thankful for those opportunities, despite the fact that our primary business absolutely is playing live events in front of live fans.” The NLL also has its own podcast, called Hot Mics.
“I think it’s great to get out there in the grassroots,” team captain Dan MacRae said. “That’s really how you grow a fan base. Rich has really been trying to do that, even though it’s not ideal timing.” Roughnecks before the 2019-20 season, and had chosen to stay because he likes the direction in which the franchise is going.
“The average salary in our league is about $20,000,” Lisk said. “When I say it’s for the love of the game, it truly is.” But now, Berman said, ““I feel like we’ve turned a corner recently, emotionally,” she said, “because there’s a light at the end of the tunnel for all of us. … Our spirits are high. We’re all focused on next season.