Wings go out with a victory in their last home game in Philly: ‘We’re going to miss them’
Comcast Spectacor is ending its ownership of the National Lacrosse League team. A crowd of 9,913 turned out to give the Wings a good send-off.
As the horn blared at Xfinity Mobile Arena at the end of the Wings’ 11-5 win against the Las Vegas Desert Dogs, the host players rushed the floor to celebrate. They would not leave for another hour.
Saturday’s win marked the National Lacrosse League team’s final home game in South Philadelphia. On March 30, Comcast Spectacor announced the company would be pulling its ownership of the Wings, noting that the team no longer aligned with its “strategic direction.” The rights to the box lacrosse franchise now belong to the NLL until the league finds a suitable owner.
The team is expected to move outside of the city as the Wings have not been included in Comcast Spectacor and Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment’s plans for a new arena in the stadium complex. An arena that will house the Flyers, 76ers, and Philadelphia’s new WNBA team is set to be completed in 2031.
The Wings (5-12) have the worst record in the NLL and have been eliminated from playoff contention. The team’s final game of the season is Saturday (10 p.m., ESPN+) at the Vancouver Warriors (12-5).
“I’m grateful for Philly for giving me an opportunity to play here for as long as I have,” said defender Isaiah Davis-Allen, who played all seven of his NLL seasons with the Wings. “I remember when I first came in, I was pretty much just like fresh out of college. And now I have my wife and my two kids on the field.”
The Wings’ final game drew one of the team’s largest crowds (9,913) in recent memory, selling out the arena’s lower bowl. At the end of the night, all 19 Wings players made their way around the outskirts of the floor, thanking their fans.
“Thanks to all the fans that came out here tonight. They showed what it was all about,” said Wings coach Ian Rubel. “I was hoping that they were going to do the ‘W-I-N-G-S, Wings, Wings, Wings [chant].’ I remember that as a player. It was great.”
The Wings, one of the original four teams of the NLL, were established in Philadelphia in 1987. Playing at the Spectrum, they quickly gained an audience as box lacrosse, a Canadian variant of the sport, began to garner popularity in the States. Philadelphia’s location also helped the team gain fans as the East Coast is known for being a hotbed for youth lacrosse. In 2014, the Wings relocated to Connecticut and were renamed the New England Black Wolves, but in 2017, the Wings were reestablished as an expansion team under the umbrella of Comcast Spectacor. The company gave fans the option to choose a new name, but voting overwhelmingly favored bringing the Wings moniker back.
“It’s so affordable to come out,” said Paul Spencer, a fan from Morrisville. “I’m a transplant here and just really developing that part of the relationship with the city of Philadelphia was great, but it’s unfortunate now that they’re gone.”
Added Dena Mahoney, a Wings fan from Williamstown: “I’ve been going since I was probably 8 years old and I’m in my 30s now. It was kind of like a second home to me, so I’m a little sad to see them go, but I hope they end up going somewhere local so we can still go.”
» READ MORE: Comcast Spectacor to cease operations of Wings, Philly’s pro lacrosse team
The 14-team league has an equal number of teams in the United States and Canada. If the NLL is looking to keep this 50/50 split, there are a few local options that have been floated by Wings fans and analysts, alike. Most notably, Allentown has garnered support online. The city hosts the American Hockey League’s Lehigh Valley Phantoms along with the IronPigs, the Phillies’ triple-A affiliate.
One group that is hoping the team does not go far is Damude’s Dudes, the Wings’ unofficial supporters section. The group, named after goaltender Nick Damude, has been a mainstay at games for the last six seasons. Fittingly, in the team’s last home game, Damude notched a franchise-record 60 saves, propelling the Wings to the victory.
“It was our thing to do in the wintertime. Sun’s setting early, but the Wings are coming on,” said Will Bruno, a member of Damude’s Dudes. “It really meant a lot to us boys. You know, coming out, doing a little dance, getting a little wild, a little crazy. We’re going to miss them.”