Editor's Note: Paragraphs 1 and 2 amended to correct the roles of arena and hockey team in Storm's relocation, as reported in newspaper. [19 July 2003: 15:15]

The Vancouver Sun reported today that the Arrowhead Pond in Anaheim has purchased an interest in the New Jersey Storm and that the struggling lacrosse team's move to southern California will be announced next week.

However, league sources tell the Outsider's Guide that it is only an operational deal between the Storm and Arrowhead Pond, and that while the arena and the NHL's Anaheim Mighty Ducks will operate the team, Jayson Williams will continue to maintain sole ownership.

Either way, the Storm will be relocating to the Los Angeles metro area for the 2004 season, following two years of horrible attendance at Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Based on announced attendance, the Storm drew an average crowd of 5300 fans in 2003, eighth-best among the NLL's twelve teams. However, the club's actual attendance was often much lower, sometimes estimated by off by several thousand.

Anaheim is the second reported destination for the Storm, which recently discussed relocation with the NHL's Phoenix Coyotes. The Coyotes have a new arena opening in suburban Glendale this December, and are looking for a secondary tenant.

This time, though, it appears to be a done deal. The Sun article states that the NLL's relocation committee approved the move yesterday and that the Board of Governors' approval is expected next week.

The Storm would become California's second NLL franchise, joining the former Albany Attack, which moved to San Jose a month ago.

As for Phoenix, the desert city remains in the mix for an NLL team in 2004. Columbus Landsharks owners Mike Gongas and Charlie Russo are looking to unload the team and effectively end their involvement in the league. (They are in the process of selling their other team, the New York Saints, to a local buyer.)

It's unknown, however, if the Coyotes would be interested in owning a team outright. Previous reports have indicated a preference towards minority ownership or simply an operational partnership.

If the Anaheim and Phoenix moves go through, half of the league's twelve teams would be located in the Mountain and Pacific time zones, joining the Calgary Roughnecks, Colorado Mammoth, Vancouver Ravens, and the unnamed San Jose franchise. Until 2001, there had never been a franchise located outside the Eastern time zone.