‘It’s a hard pill to swallow for a lot of the fans’: Edmonton Rush player on move to Saskatoon

EDMONTON – Days after several sources told Global News the Edmonton Rush would be moving to Saskatchewan, the team’s owner has confirmed the news.

In an email to a Global Edmonton reporter on Saturday, Bruce Urban said the professional lacrosse team will be leaving the city it’s called home for the last 10 seasons.

On Monday afternoon, the Rush announced it will immediately relocate to Saskatoon. The lacrosse club says it has received approval from the National Lacrosse League (NLL) board of governors. The team will be known as the Saskatchewan Rush.

Urban said it was a difficult decision and pointed the finger at the city and Mayor Don Iveson specifically.

“Tough decision to make as we all love Edmonton, however no future offered for us by the city for a venue to play,” Urban wrote. “Lacrosse means zero in the eyes of Mayor Iveson so we had to be proactive. Rush Nation will be alive and well however.”

Local product John Lintz, who has played with the Edmonton Rush for six seasons, said he has mixed emotions about the move.

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“I’m a little disappointed, being an Edmontonian and having been a fan of the team before I was ever a player,” he said Monday. “I think it’s tough to see the team leave the city because so many people have put so much hard work into making the franchise successful, and that includes a lot of volunteers.

“When the Rush have put in so much work to finally get a team where we’re successful, we’re coming off a championship, we have a whole lot of names that the fan base here in Edmonton know, and then to kind of hit the reset button and take that team away, it’s a hard pill to swallow for a lot of the fans.”

READ MORE: Long-time fans react to Rush leaving Edmonton 

While tough to move, Lintz said Saskatoon provides an exciting new opportunity for the team.

“For a lot of guys on the team, because they don’t live in the city, it’s not as personal for them,” he said. “They’re interested to see how it’ll all work out in a new city.”

The news comes just six weeks after the team won its first NLL championship against the Toronto Rock.

Despite success on the floor, the Rush has been plagued with problems, including low attendance and an inability to find a home with the future of Rexall Place in doubt.

Urban released a statement in May complaining the team had not been offered a solution by the city or Mayor Don Iveson.

“I sincerely hope the great fans of Rush Nation will continue to follow the team into Saskatchewan for 2016 and help join in the celebration of the Champion’s Cup season,” said Urban in a press release on Monday.

The Saskatchewan Rush are expected to be part of the 2016 NLL season and play at the SaskTel Centre. A news conference is expected to be held Tuesday in Saskatoon.

*Editor’s Note: This story was originally published on Saturday, July 18, 2015. It was updated at 3:30 p.m. MT Monday, July 20, 2015.