Rochester Knighthawks

The Rochester Knighthawks are Rochester's professional lacrosse team, playing in the National Lacrosse League. From August 2025 the owner of the Hawks is Seneca Holdings, LLC, business arm of the Seneca Nation.

The Knighthawks played their first three seasons (1995-1997) in the Major Indoor Lacross League, winning the championship in 1997. The league then was renamed to National Lacross League; in subsequent seasons the Knighthawks would win four additional titles, including three in a row (2012-2014). During this period they were often highly successful, reaching the playoffs in their first 13 NLL seasons (a league record).

In 2008 Curt Styres (recent purchaser of the Rochester Americans) became majority owner of the franchise, replacing original owner Steve Donner. In late 2018 Styres announced he would be moving the team to Halifax, Nova Scotia and renaming them the Thunderbirds beginning in 2019.

For the 2019-2020 season Terry Pegula (owner of the Buffalo Sabres and the Rochester Americans) obtained an NLL expansion franchise and purchased the Knighthawks intellectual property from Styres. The new franchise adopted a new logo, colors, and mascot.

On August 5 2025 sale of the team to the Seneca Nation was announced.

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2010-01-02 14:22:08   What's their average attendance? —TimRoy