Portland Pirates jump ship to Massachusetts
After approximately 23 years of calling the Cross Insurance Arena home, the American Hockey League’s Portland Pirates are reportedly leaving Portland for Springfield, Mass.
The catalyst came last month when the Springfield Falcons, an affiliate of the Arizona Coyotes, made the announcement that the team would be moving to Tucson, Ariz., leaving the city that is home to the AHL league offices without an actual AHL team for the first time since the 1950s, according to the Bangor Daily News.
The news of the Pirates’ departure was even a surprise to Portland Mayor Ethan Strimling, who told the BDN that he first heard of the move at 4 p.m. Wednesday.
“I would have hoped somebody would have let us know something like this was being talked about earlier so we could have brought it to the table [and tried to keep them here],” Strimling told the BDN.
The economic impact of the Pirates leaving the largest city in the state was also recognized by Strimling, who told the BDN that the loss of the Pirates will be detrimental to many businesses, including restaurants near the downtown arena.
“I talked to a local businessman and this will cost him thousands and thousands of dollars,” Strimling told the BDN.
The contract for the Pirate's move to Springfield is still subject to approval from both the AHL and the team's parent organization, the Florida Panthers.
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