Updates a story posted Wednesday at 4:40 p.m.
Springfield appears to be back in the American Hockey League, thanks to a group of local investors who are buying the Portland franchise with plans to bring it to the MassMutual Center.
“I can confirm that a broad-based local investor group has signed a letter of intent to purchase the Portland Pirates,” said Frank Fitzgerald, attorney for the investors’ group.
Fitzgerald said he could not yet identify the investors but said their names would become known in the upcoming weeks. He said more local investors are being sought, but that the group in place has already signed a letter of intent to purchase the Portland franchise.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
The Springfield Falcons’ season ended on April 18. Less than 48 hours after the final game, Falcons owner Charlie Pompea announced he was selling the franchise to the Arizona Coyotes of the National Hockey League, who plan to move it to Tucson, Arizona.
That appeared to leave Springfield without an AHL team for the first time since a brief hiatus in the early 1950s. The city is home to the league offices and has had a team for nearly all of the AHL’s 80-year existence.
Portland Pirates to move to Springfield, replacing Falcons
Springfield’s pro hockey history dates back to the pre-AHL days of the 1920s. Low attendance was Pompea’s reason for selling the team.
Fitzgerald said the new group is in place to do what looked impossible just days ago – bring a franchise to the city in time for the 2016-17 season that begins in October.
“We are currently working on a definitive agreement that would bring the team to Springfield. This contract would be subject to league approval and an agreement with the Florida Panthers, the Pirates’ parent organization,” Fitzgerald said.
“in the coming weeks, this group will continue to identify local investors and raise funds to ensure that professional hockey remains in this great city. If all goes well, the team will be playing in Springfield this fall.”
Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno was elated. The mayor, who was a Falcons season ticket holder, said after Pompea’s announcement that his administration would do all it could to save hockey in the city.
That looked like a hollow hope at the time, but Wednesday was Sarno’s birthday, and he got the best present imaginable.
“It looks like we will be having professional hockey in Springfield for many years to come,” Sarno said.
“While we understand there are still some hurdles to overcome, we are encouraged by this news and hopeful that professional hockey will be back in Springfield this upcoming season. I look forward to sharing more information on this announcement in the very near future. I am very thankful to the broad-based local investor group for once again stepping up for our Springfield.”
Falcons to be sold, AHL team expected to leave Western Mass.
League approval is still to come, but AHL President Dave Andrews has always supported efforts to keep a team in Springfield. His office has offered behind-the-scenes help in locating NHL partners for the Falcons, which won’t be necessary if the Panthers agree with the shift.
Former Falcons owner and president Bruce Landon said on Wednesday that he could not comment. Last week, Landon announced his retirement after 47 years as a player and executive for Springfield hockey, but kept the door open if a team would locate in the city.
It is not known if he is involved with the investment group negotiating with Portland.
Springfield did not make the 2016 Calder Cup playoffs. Portland’s last game was a 2-1 defeat at Hershey on Sunday in the deciding Game 5 of the first playoff round.
