ALBANY, NY – MARCH 18: Seneca Nation of Indians President J. Conrad Seneca announces that Gov. Kathy Hochul will travel to the Seneca Nation to apologize on behalf of the state for historical abuses on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, during a news conference at Empire State Plaza in Albany, N.Y. (Will Waldron/Times Union)
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The Seneca Nation, a federally recognized Indian tribe based in western New York, has acquired the Rochester Knighthawks, a National Lacrosse League franchise. Seneca bought the franchise from the Pegula family, which announced in June that it would sell the team team after owning it since 2019.
The Seneca Nation is believed to be just the second Indian tribe to own a professional sports franchise outright, joining the Mohegan Tribe, which has owned the WNBA’s Connecticut Sun since 2003. The Boston Globe reported on Saturday that a group led by Boston Celtics minority owner Steve Pagliuca had agreed to acquire the Sun for $325 million and move the team to Boston, but Pagliuca said a day later that the WNBA Board of Governors still needed to approve the transaction. The Hartford Courant reported on Monday that another investment group offered more than $300 million and would move the franchise to Hartford, Conn. The Mohegan Tribe also owned a stake in the New England Black Wolves of the NLL before selling the franchise in 2021.
Terms of the Rochester deal were not disclosed, but NLL commissioner Brett Frood said “from a league perspective, we are pleased with the trajectory of the enterprise value of our member properties.” The NLL consists of 14 franchises (eight in the U.S. and six in Canada) that play so-called box lacrosse, an indoor version of the sport that has different rules than the outdoor version.
The Seneca Nation purchased the professional franchise through Seneca Holdings, LLC, a subsidiary formed in 2009 that invests in non-gaming businesses. Seneca Holdings’ largest business focuses on federal government contracting. It also recently acquired CI Azumano, a travel agency, and operates Seneca Environmental, a renewable energy project company.
The Seneca Nation also owns the Seneca Allegany Resort & Casino in Salamanca, N.Y., the Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino in Niagara Falls, N.Y., and the Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino in Buffalo through its Seneca Gaming Corp. subsidiary.
J. Conrad Seneca, president of the Seneca Nation, said in an interview that the Knighthawks are the tribe’s first sports investment. However, he added that the Nation has deep roots in lacrosse and has numerous leagues for its more than 8,600 enrolled members, ranging from youth organizations to competitions for older adults. Several members of the Seneca Nation have gone on to play in college, including Zed Williams, a former University of Virginia star who now plays in the NLL for the Color