After many months of speculation, the National Lacrosse League announced Tuesday that the first step in its westward expansion is Columbus, Ohio, and that the expansion franchise located there -- owned in part by former commissioner John Livsey -- will be known as the Columbus Landsharks.

Fred Squillante Columbus Dispatch   John Livsey is bringing the Columbus Landsharks to Nationwide Arena.

The Landsharks will play at the brand-new Nationwide Arena in Columbus, a facility built primarily for the expansion Columbus Blue Jackets of the NHL which opened just last week.

Columbus represents the beginning of an expansion push out of the northeastern United States and into areas south and west. The capital and largest city of Ohio is the western-most city for a team in the NLL era (1998-present), and just barely misses being the western-most in league history (Detroit, 1989-1994).

At the announcement, new commissioner Jim Jennings made his first public appearance since inheriting Livsey's former job. Livsey had been the only commissioner of the NLL era, serving since the autumn of 1997.

"I wouldn't be here if I didn't think it would be an overwhelming success," Livsey said.

The Landsharks draw the distinction of having as their first-ever opponent the defending league champion Toronto Rock, on 21 December. Ironically, the only other expansion team to open against the defending champions was the Rock, who, as the Ontario Raiders, lost a 15-14 decision to Rochester in January 1998. Columbus' home opener is tentatively scheduled for 30 December, against an undisclosed opponent.

So, how did Livsey come to select "Landsharks" as his team's name? He often has visited Ohio, for two reasons -- Jimmy Buffett concerts and Sea World.

"There's sharks aplenty in both spots, and Columbus is somewhat landlocked," he said.