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Pride and Tradition In 1984, Chris Fritz, a concert promoter, and Russ Cline, a former Kansas City Chiefs Executive, became partners to develop entertainment and sports events. Always looking for cutting edge opportunities, the two had a mission from the start to develop and debut a new sport for the 21st century. In 1986, Fritz happened upon a playground game of rollercrosse, lacrosse on roller skates, in his hometown of Kansas City. After watching the game, Fritz shared his enthusiasm for what he saw with Cline. Both agreed this sport was compelling and decided to consider pursuing it further.
After speaking with Ira Blumenthal, owner of the then Kansas City Comets soccer team, Fritz went on to meet with the staff of US Lacrosse in Baltimore, MD. He attended the US Lacrosse Coaches Convention in Cherry Hill, NJ, where he continued to pursue a version of the sport that integrated skates. At the convention he met Orin Lyons who showed him a video of the 1974-1975 Philadelphia Wings indoor lacrosse team. Fritz brought the tape back to share with Cline, who was equally impressed with this sport that neither of them had played or actually seen in person. Both agreed that indoor lacrosse didn’t need skates and the basis for the Eagle Pro Box Lacrosse League was born.
Cline and Fritz owned the four team Eagle League, which included among its teams, the Philadelphia Wings. The league changed its name to the Major Indoor Lacrosse League in 1988, then to the National Lacrosse League in 1997 when Cline and Fritz sold the MILL properties to franchisees. The partners continued as the owners of the Philadelphia Wings, who they considered the pillar of the league. The Wings would go on to capture six world Championships from 1989 through 2001, more than any other NLL team.
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