Hamilton Nationals

Major League Lacrosse (2011-2013)

Tombstone

Born: February 3, 2011 – The Toronto Nationals relocate to Hamilton, Ontario
Folded: November 21, 2013

First Game: May 14, 2011 (L 18-10 @ Denver Outlaws)
Last Game: August 24, 2013 (L 13-12 vs. Chesapeake Bayhawks @ Chester, PA)

Steinfield Trophy Championships: None

Stadium

Ron Joyce Stadium (6,000)

Marketing

Team Colors:

Ownership

Owner: Curt Styres

Background

The Hamilton Nationals were a short-lived and unloved franchise in Major League Lacrosse. The club originated as the Toronto Nationals (2009-2010), which was MLL’s first team in Canada. After two years of poor attendance in Toronto, the Nationals relocated to Hamilton in February 2011, but fared no better there.

On the field, the situation was better. During their first season in Hamilton, the Nationals advanced to the Steinfeld Cup championship game, losing to the Boston Cannons 10-9. After missing the playoffs with a 4-10 season in 2012, the Nationals returned as semi-finalists in 2013, losing to the eventual champion Chesapeake Bayhawks. During the 2013 season, Hamilton’s Kevin Crowley won the MLL’s Most Valuable Player award.

Nationals owner Curt Styres grew up on and still lives in the Six Nations of the Grand River Reserve in Southern Ontario. He made his fortune as a partner in the Grand River Enterprises cigarette conglomerate. Styres is also the owner of the Rochester Knighthawks of the indoor National Lacrosse League and the former owner of the Rochester Americans of the American Hockey League.

Move To Florida

The Nationals suffered from abysmal attendance throughout their three-year stay at Ron Joyce Stadium on the campus of McMaster University. In 2011, the Nationals averaged 1,214 fans for six home matches. The club’s published figures climbed slightly to 1,539 in 2012 and 1,837 in 2013, but a source close to the team told Fun While It Lasted that the Nationals sold fewer than 4,000 tickets for the entire 2013 season. (By contrast, the league’s flagship Denver Outlaws claimed a league record 31,109 fans for their July 4th home game alone in 2013).

On November 21, 2013, Major League Lacrosse announced that the Nationals were out of business. On the same day, the league introduced the Florida Launch as an expansion club to replace Hamilton on the 2014 schedule. The rights to the Nationals’ 23-man roster were assigned to the new Florida club.

The Florida Launch folded in April 2019.