Pirates sue civic center in lease dispute
The Portland Pirates hockey team filed a lawsuit against the Cumberland County Civic Center Friday, seeking a judge’s ruling on whether an unsigned, one-page resolution outlining terms of a five-year lease for the team constitutes a legally binding contract.
The Portland Press Herald reported the lawsuit seeks an expedited hearing and an injunction against the civic center that would prevent it from scheduling events on dates already slated for home hockey games in the 2013-2014 season. The team, which has been the civic center’s anchor tenant, has requested a court ruling by Sept. 13.
Civic center officials told the paper they dispute that an agreement reached in April — giving the hockey team a portion of concession sales, advertising revenue and beverage sales — constitutes a legally binding agreement.
In order to receive an injunction, the American Hockey League team must establish the likelihood of its arguments’ success and also prove that the team would suffer irreparable harm that outweighs any harm to the civic center.
Harold Friedman, an attorney with Verrill Dana representing the team, told the paper that the Pirates’ affiliation with the National Hockey League’s Phoenix Coyotes could be at stake if the team does not return to its home arena during the next season. That, he said, would put the team out of business.
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