The National Lacrosse League on Thursday announced it was cancelling the first 2 weeks of the upcoming 2018-2019 season. The league said the decision was based on its rejection of the latest proposal from the Professional Lacrosse Players Association (PLPA) as the sides attempt to agree to terms for a labor agreement.

NLL's announcement Below.

So much for hopes that the 2018/19 National Lacrosse League season might start on time.

In contrast to most recent signs of hope, the NLL has announced the cancellation of the first two weekends of games, set for Dec. 1 and Dec. 8. That amounts to seven games, and Week 2 included the first-ever home game for the San Diego Seals and the first home game for the Vancouver Warriors under their new ownership by the Vancouver Canucks and in their new arena. The originally scheduled slate included:

Dec. 1 Saskatchewan @ Georgia
Dec. 1 Toronto @ Buffalo
Dec. 1 Calgary @ Colorado
Dec. 8 New England @ Rochester
Dec. 8 Colorado @ Saskatchewan
Dec. 8 Toronto @ Vancouver
Dec. 8 Buffalo @ San Diego
The announcement comes as the league rejected the players' association's most recent counterproposal. See the league statement below.

League Statement:

The League suspended its 5:00 p.m. deadline yesterday to allow the PLPA to provide a new counterproposal. After a thorough review of the PLPA’s counterproposal, it is clear we cannot accept the terms the PLPA has put forward, and therefore, have made a decision to reject it. We believe those terms would have both short and long term negative consequences on our member clubs and the League which we are not willing to accept. Therefore, there is not yet an agreement on a new collective bargaining agreement.

With respect to the upcoming season, the PLPA has instructed its players not to attend training camps or submit to physicals, making the formation of rosters and operation of the opening of the season impossible.

Therefore, and regrettably, because of the PLPA’s current position, the first two weekends of the 2018-19 season, which includes games on December 1 and December 8, 2018, are cancelled.

We will provide further communications on the 2018-19 schedule as updates become available.


Source: NLL.com