The National Lacrosse League has scheduled a media conference call for Thursday afternoon, to announce "the relocation of a current member club" to the Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim.

Although the league did not specify a franchise for its noon Pacific (3:00 PM Eastern) announcement, the team in question is the New Jersey Storm.

Since joining the NLL in November 2001, the Storm has struggled to draw spectators to Continental Airlines Arena, playing to announced crowds averaging about 5000. Actual crowd size, though, was typically much lower.

Arrowhead Pond is expected to partner with the National Hockey League's Anaheim Mighty Ducks to operate and promote the team. The Storm did not team up with other professional sports teams in New Jersey.

NLL commissioner Jim Jennings and Arrowhead Pond general manager Tim Ryan will speak during the conference call. Since the league has not identified the Storm as the franchise on the move, no team representatives were listed in today's media advisory.

Jayson Williams is expected to retain majority ownership (if not sole ownership) of the Anaheim team, which will become the NLL's second California franchise. A month ago, the Albany Attack relocated to San Jose, several hundred miles to the north.

Another two franchises might shift to new cities before the 2004 season. The Columbus Landsharks reportedly are close to moving to Phoenix, while the Ottawa Rebel has been interested in London, Ontario. Like the Storm, the 'Sharks and Rebel have each failed to draw satisfactory crowds.