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Arlotta purchased the franchise from Minnesota Sports & Entertainment(MSE), owners of the franchise for its first four seasons in the NLL. MSEowns and operates the NHL's Minnesota Wild and Xcel Energy Center in St. Paulamong its properties. The sale price was not disclosed. Last month, theleague's franchise in Rochester, New York (Rochester Knighthawks) waspurchased by Canadian businessman Curt Styres for $5.575 million USD.
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Arlotta is the former Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer ofDenver-based Coram Inc., a privately held provider of home infusion andspecialty pharmacy services. Prior to Coram, he served as Chairman, Presidentand CEO of NeighborCare Inc. Arlotta joined NeighborCare in July 2003, andtook the company public in December of that year. From 1995 to 2000, he wasPresident and Chief Operating Officer of Caremark Rx as well as the Presidentof Caremark's specialty biotech drug distribution business. He started hishealth care career in 1971 at Chicago-based Baxter International.
"I am truly excited to officially take over the ownership of the MinnesotaSwarm franchise, and I want to thank my good friend (MSE majority owner) CraigLeipold for giving me this opportunity," said Arlotta. "The Swarm has madegreat strides both on and off the field in its first four seasons in theNational Lacrosse League and I look forward to helping the organizationachieve the ultimate goal of bringing a championship team to Minnesota."
"We are pleased to introduce John Arlotta as our newest team owner in theNational Lacrosse League," said NLL Commissioner Jim Jennings. "John is anincredibly successful businessman and has a great passion for lacrosse. Wecould not ask for a better combination in a new owner, and we welcome John andhis family to the NLL."
Arlotta is a 1971 graduate of the University of Notre Dame who majored inmarketing. Arlotta and his wife, Bobbie, pledged the lead gift toward a new$5 million lacrosse stadium to be built for the University of Notre Dame'smen's and women's lacrosse teams in June of 2007. Groundbreaking ceremoniesfor Arlotta Stadium were held on April 18, 2008.
Arlotta's son, Andy, will be a part owner and will join the Swarm on afull-time basis. He will be involved in a number of aspects of the business,including sales and sponsor relations. He has spent the last 10 years workingin the healthcare industry, most recently as National Account Manager atManaged Healthcare Associates, a group purchasing organization for specialtypharmacies.
MSE purchased an NLL franchise on August 10, 2004 and the Swarm began playin the 2005 season at the Xcel Energy Center. Minnesota recently completed itsfourth campaign and set franchise records with 10 wins and an averageattendance of 11,405 fans per game while advancing to the playoffs for thethird straight time.
MSE announced on May 14 that a letter of intent was signed to sell theteam to John J. Arlotta. The Minnesota Swarm will continue to play its homegames at the Xcel Energy Center and MSE will also continue to support andprovide certain business services. The Swarm will begin their fifth season inthe NLL in January 2009.
About the National Lacrosse League:
The National Lacrosse League (NLL) is North America's professional indoorlacrosse league, featuring the best lacrosse players in the world. Founded in1987, the league recently completed its 22nd season of pro indoor lacrosse.Average attendance for the 2008 season was over 10,000 fans per game, withseveral ga
