The National Lacrosse League's deadline for declaring an intention to move and for submitting an expansion franchise bit the dust today, when the Montreal Express requested an additional three weeks to determine its future.

Team president Brad Watters sought an extension of the deadline, which required teams to decide by tomorrow where they would play in the 2002-2003 season.

Several investors have shown interest in buying, and possibly relocating, the Express. Bids have come in recently from Edmonton and Winnipeg, the latter of which is reportedly the closest to a deal. Additionally, Watters has been in talks recently with the EFFIX publicity firm of Montreal, which is considering the idea of managing the team for two years instead of buying it outright.

While the involvement of EFFIX in the team would keep the Express at Bell Centre (formerly Molson Centre) next season, the Winnipeg and Edmonton bidders would take the team with them.

That complicates the league's planned expansion to Edmonton. A new franchise awaits Calgary businessman R. Bruce Stewart if he simply applies for it; NLL commissioner Jim Jennings is set to rubber-stamp any bid Stewart hands in. However, it appears that Stewart is either struggling to finalize his ownership group or he can't decide between the expansion franchise and the existing team.

If the problem is in the decision, it gets far more interesting very soon. By waiting until tomorrow to apply for the expansion franchise, the price of the team rises from one million to three million dollars (US), an increase decided upon by the NLL's Board of Governors in March.

The Express' price tag is $1.2 million (US), as reported in the Canadian media at almost the exact same time the expansion fee was tripled.

San Jose and Tampa, reported earlier as contenders, apparently have fallen out of the race, although San Jose remains in the expansion rumor mill.