The 2019-20 Swarm regular season schedule was released a few days ago, and after running through a few brick walls due to excitement and working hard on the 2019 NLL Entry Draft, we’ve managed to cool off and really take a deep dive into the Swarm’s schedule to see what we liked (there are games!) and didn’t like (there are weeks without games…).
All 18 games have their merits – particularly the Season Opener since it kicks the whole shebang off – but after some consideration, there are certain parts of this schedule that have us slightly – just slightly! – more excited than the rest of it.
The biggest thing going into each new season is how do you keep a product from going stale and stay exciting. The Swarm should have no problem this season keeping things…
FRESH
Give us all the new.
The Swarm are now part of the shrunken four-team East Division, taking on the New England Black Wolves, New York Riptide, and Philadelphia Wings three times each.
These guys again… | Photo Credit: Kyle Hess
The Riptide are the newest expansion team in the NLL, and getting to visit their barn and vice versa for the first time will be a good adventure.
Speaking of expansion, there’s also the Rochester Knighthawks, who are considered an expansion team as the previous iteration went to Halifax to become the Thunderbirds. The Swarm open the season against the Knighthawks on Nov. 30.
The arena will be the same, but the color scheme and roster completely different. The Thunderbirds trip down south to cap off the season will have the Swarm face familiar foes in different uniforms.
That regular season finale is the back end of a doubleheader, which is normally a problem. But the Swarm are fortunate this year because whenever they have a doubleheader…
SO DO THEIR OPPONENTS
Just two doubleheader weekends this season for the Swarm: March 7 and 8 at New York and versus Philadelphia and April 18 and 19 at New England and versus Halifax, all respectively.
Historically, the Swarm’s doubleheaders have not been beneficial to the team. They’ll usually face one opponent before turning around to travel and face a foe that didn’t have a game the night before of their own.
Not this year!
In March, the Wings will play New England at Wells Fargo Center on March 7 before making a similar trip as the Swarm to Atlanta for that contest.
In April, the Thunderbirds play in Philadelphia on April 18, then head south to close out the season with the Swarm that next day.
That’s huge as it means teams will be on a more even playing ground. We’re big fans of the format, but we’re even bigger fans for the Swarm’s…
WEST COAST ROAD TRIPS
Like this, only the Warriors will probably be in white | Photo Credit: Kyle Hess
The Swarm welcomed the re-branded Vancouver Warriors and expansion San Diego Seals to Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Field at Infinite Energy Arena in 2018-19, but the Swarm didn’t get to go visit them in their new homes.
Things are different this season as the Swarm will get to visit both cities when they play against their West Division foes. It’ll be another fresh experience for the men in blue and yellow, and frankly, the more the merrier.
But sometimes you need comfort, feeling like you’ve been there before and are doing familiar actions…
UNLESS ITS THE TORONTO ROCK
These matchups have always been phenomenal and some of the best lacrosse games you will ever see.
Granted, the Swarm fell to the Rock in the East Division Semifinals 16-14 (that comeback by the Swarm was electric, if stymied) after the Swarm held the Rock to just five goals on March 22, 2019.
But before that, the two former division rivals had met 11 times – including two postseason contests – since 2016. The Swarm had won nine of those games, and an incredible five of them were decided by just one goal.
And as unbelievably competitive as those games are, they’re guaranteed to shave years off your life from excitement. It makes for great TV (all on B/R Live), but we’re trying to live past 70.
The Swarm have a long season ahead of them, and they need to divert that excitement across…
NINE HOME GAMES
Cause for celebration | Photo Credit: Kyle Hess
Dec. 14 and 28, Jan. 11, Feb. 15 and 22, March 8 and 27, April 11 and 19.
There are nine Swarm home games, and the best box lacrosse is when you’re there to watch it in person.
In their fifth year in Georgia, the Swarm have a ton of awesome stuff planned for the upcoming season at Sting City. Playing against the best talent in the world is exciting enough, but filling the arena with energy from fans is incomparable.
There’s no more excuses now that the schedule’s out – get those Sting City Memberships and be a part of the best kept secret in Atlanta.
Dec. 14 can’t get here fast enough.
Sting City Memberships for the 2019-20 Swarm season are on sale now. Fans can join the most exclusive club in the South by visiting StingCity.com or by calling 844-4-GASWARM.
