Rochester Knighthawks

Rochester Knighthawks
The Rochester Knighthawks are a professional lacrosse team in the National Lacrosse League. The Rochester Knighthawks have been one of the league's most successful franchises since its formation in the 1995 season despite playing in the leagues oldest arena and smallest market.

Even with these limitations the Knighthawks have been consistently near the top of the league standings every season.They play in Rochester, New York at the Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial.

They are also abbreviated as the K-Hawks. They have been members of the NLL since the league's inaugural 1998 season.

Inaugural Season
In their inaugural season they finished 3rd during the regular season and dispatched the Boston Blazers in the playoff semifinals to get to the finals as an expansion team.

Way to the Top
Just two seasons later, the Knighthawks would find their way to the top of the MILL heap, claiming the final North American Cup before the merger with the National Lacrosse League prior to the 1998 season.

It would be ten years before the Knighthawks claimed their second title.The Knighthawks were a perfect 8-0 at home, becoming the first team since the 2003 Bandits to post a perfect record at home.

Season 2007
During the 2007 season, a dispute over concession revenues between owner Steve Donner and the Sports Management Group, operators of the Blue Cross Arena, jeopardized the continued play of the Knighthawks in Rochester.

Donner claimed that the Knighthawks and the Rochester Americans of the American Hockey League had lost over $500,000 the previous two seasons, and without concession revenue sharing, he would be unable to continue to operate the teams in Rochester.

An agreement was reached between the Amerks/Knighthawks SMG, and the City of Rochester on a one-year lease extension on May 11, 2007 that will allow for long-term negotiations to continue through both teams' 2008 season.

Under the extension, the Amerks/Knighthawks have agreed to an independent audit of their finances and the city agreed to forgo additional luxury suite revenue from the arena and to loan the Amerks an additional $100,000, added on to a $500,000 loan that is now past-due.

All parties involved will now work diligently to reach a long-term agreement by the start of the 2007-08 AHL season in October 2007. However on June 16th 2008 the Knighthawks and Americans announced a new five year lease with the Blue Cross Arena.

Season 2008
The winning streak continued during the 2008 season, as the Knighthawks defeated the Buffalo Bandits in the opening game on January 11, 2008. However, the next night in Rochester, the streak was halted at 16 games as they were defeated by the Bandits 14-9.

Trade and Traditions
Throughout the Knighthawks tenure at the Blue Cross Arena, several traditions amongs the fans have developed. These tend to be lead by the fans sitting in the, Hawks' Nest, an area of elevated seating behind the Court Street goal.

Several times during a quarter where the Knighthawks are defending the opposite goal, it is common for the fans sitting there to chant the visiting team's goaltender's name three times, followed by a very loud, You Suck!.

Much like the fans of the Philadelphia Wings, Knighthawks fans shout, Sucks, after each of the opposing teams' players are announced via loudspeakers.

Field Records
The Knighthawks reached the playoffs in each of their first 13 seasons, from 1995 to 2007. This is a league record. The previous record was 11 straight years, held by the Philadelphia Wings.

Since May, 2008 the players have been paid at a rate of $5,575,000. This makes them the highest price paid for a team in league history.