Philadelphia Wings (1987–2014)
The Philadelphia Wings were a professional box lacrosse team in the National Lacrosse League (NLL). They were based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and played at the Spectrum from 1987–1996 and then at the Wells Fargo Center. Their colors were red, black, and white. They were one of the four original teams in the Eagle Pro Box Lacrosse League that started in 1987. The league later became the Major Indoor Lacrosse League in 1989 and finally the National Lacrosse League in 1998. The Wings are the only franchise to have played all 24 seasons in the same city.
The Wings won six league titles: 1989, 1990, 1994, 1995, 1998, and 2001. They also earned division titles in 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, and 1998. They were a big draw for fans, drawing about 12,000 fans for many games in the late 1980s and 1990s. The team had fierce rivals, especially the Buffalo Bandits, and played in several memorable finals against them and the Rochester Knighthawks. Dallas Eliuk, the Wings’ goaltender, was the MVP of the 1998 championship.
Early stars included Mike French, John Grant Sr., Brad Kotz, coach Tony Resch, and John Tucker. In 1997 the Wings moved from the Spectrum to the CoreStates Center (now the Xfinity Mobile Arena).
On July 11, 2014, the Wings announced they would relocate from Philadelphia after 28 years. They became the New England Black Wolves and played at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. In September 2017, the NLL announced an expansion team owned by Comcast Spectacor for the 2018–19 season. On November 29, 2017, it was revealed the new franchise would use the Wings name again.
Philadelphia fans were known for their passion and distinctive traditions, including loud chants and some colorful game-day rituals. The Wings’ “W-I-N-G-S” chant was a staple, and fans created a lively, sometimes infamous, atmosphere that made Wings games memorable for players and fans alike.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 16:17 (CET).