The Buffalo Bandits are a team in the National Lacrosse League (NLL). They play at the First Niagara Center in Buffalo, New York. The Bandits played in the Major Indoor Lacrosse League from 1992 to 1997, until the MILL turned into the NLL in 1998.
The Bandits are owned by Hockey Western New York LLC, the consortium led by Terrence Pegula that also owns the Buffalo Sabres.
The Bandits played their first season in 1992. They played home games at Buffalo Memorial Auditorium sharing with the Buffalo Sabres until its closure in 1996.
The Bandits became the first expansion franchise in MILL/NLL history to win a championship in its first season. The Bandits repeated as champions in their second season (compiling the league's only perfect season to date that year), lost the Championship game their third season and captured their third Championship in 1996, their fifth season. It was not until 1999, their eighth season, that the Bandits did not make the playoffs.
Since their 1996 Championship-winning season, the Bandits returned to the NLL Championship game on three separate occasions (1997, 2004, 2006) only to lose each time (including twice at home). It wouldn't be until 2008 that the Bandits would win their elusive fourth Championship, a 14-13 triumph over Portland.
As of 2012, Buffalo is the second-longest tenured franchise in the NLL, behind only the Philadelphia Wings. The Wings are the league's only remaining charter member.
Read more about Buffalo Bandits: Awards & Honors, Current Roster, All Time Record, Playoff Results, Head Coaching History, Retired Numbers, Game Broadcasts, Third Jersey
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