New England Public Radio

AHL’s Portland Pirates Headed For Springfield

A group of Springfield area investors plan to purchase the American Hockey League’s Portland Pirates, and move the team to Springfield. That’s according to Mayor Domenic Sarno.  The Pirates would replace the Springfield Falcons, who are bound for Arizona.

In a statement announcing the move, Sarno thanked the investors for  “once again stepping up for our Springfield.”

The Pirates are affiliated with the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League and have played their games in Maine since 1993. The move would still need to be approved by the AHL.

While the former Springfield Falcons were at the bottom of the league in attendance last season, Portland struggled as well, finishing next to last

Springfield, Worcester Have Found Themselves With Similar Hockey Problems

Springfield officials say they are looking for a hockey team to replace the Falcons of the American Hockey League, who appear headed for Arizona next year. Worcester found itself in a similar situation last year, but has managed to get back on its skates.

Worcester lost its AHL team, the Sharks, to San Jose last year. Worcester’s Chief Development Officer Michael Traynor says the city wasn’t actively pursuing a new hockey team, but was approached by an investor and reached a deal. The Worcester Railers of the ECHL, a notch below the AHL, will begin play in 2017.

In the meantime, Traynor says the city-owned DCU Center booked some events this winter to fill the void.

“The multiple dates of hockey games, you’re bringing a lot of people through the turnstiles, in the seats and selling concessions, so that’s something we don’t want to lose out on,” Traynor says.

Traynor says he believes the ECHL might expand again, and that Springfield would be a good fit for the league.

 

Following Falcons’ Sale To Arizona, What’s Next For Springfield Hockey?

In a move that could mark the end of professional hockey in the city, the Springfield Falcons are selling the American Hockey League franchise to the NHL’s Arizona Coyotes.

Confirmation of the sale comes two days after the Falcons concluded their regular season. In a statement, the Coyotes say the deal, if approved by the AHL, would relocate the team to Tucson. Bruce Landon, a former owner who helped establish the Falcons in 1994, says conversations are underway to field another team in Springfield, possibly in time for next season. But he adds nothing is guaranteed.

“These things take time to put together. But every effort’s being made not just by myself but by the mayor and others as well, to see what we can do make sure hockey stays here. We’re up for the challenge, but some things may be out of our control,” he says.

Landon says he believes professional hockey can survive in Springfield which, despite being a charter member of the AHL, has had trouble attracting fans. That’s in apparent contrast to the rest of the league, which set an attendance record this season. Mayor Domenic Sarno says he’s looking at ways to keep professional hockey in Springfield. Sarno says he will use his office to facilitate potential partnerships that will continue and expand hockey’s legacy in the city.

“We want to thank all the Falcons fans, many of them who have followed the Indians and Kings from over at the Coliseum at the Big E. And they’ve been very faithful. It’s about growing the ticket base now,” says Sarno.

Current Falcons owner Charlie Pompea has cited low ticket sales as contributing to his decision to sell the team.

Click the audio player above to hear New England Public Radio’s Susan Kaplan interview Ron Chimelis, the Springfield Republican reporter who broke the news.

The Falcons Might Migrate West

Rumors That The Team Might Relocate To Arizona Are Flying

Springfield, Massachusetts, may be the birthplace of basketball, and home to the Basketball Hall of Fame, but it’s another sport that’s getting a lot of attention this week. Hockey has nearly a century of history in the city, and is home to the American Hockey League’s Front Office. But the Springfield Falcons could be moving West. To find out what that would mean for fans, New England Public Radio’s Carrie Healy turned to Tim Culverhouse, who covers hockey for the Republican newspaper, to find out.

 

To hear Tim Culverhouse discuss the Springfield Falcons with New England Public Radio host Carrie Healy, click on the audio player, above.