For those of you that have been following Goonblog for a while now, you know I follow hockey pretty closely. That is to say, I am slightly obsessed with it. OK, fine, it’s my reason for being. Having said that, there are two teams I follow with closer attention than others. The Boston Bruins in the NHL, and the AHL Lowell Devils. I haven’t followed the Devils as much in the last couple of years because I hate the Devils, and they seemed to have sucked the fun out of the Tsongas Center in a manner that would make most porn stars proud.
In the American League the theme song should be Roadhouse Blues by the Doors as a lot of the teams have a future uncertain, and the end is always near. In Lowell, things are no different. Depending on what you read, the Devils are either re-re-locating to Albany after being offered an alleged 10 year lease, or they are staying in Lowell provided they can work out a lease in which the arena doesn’t subsidize the Devils’ existence there. I heard a very interesting third option last weekend that makes no sense in the world, but makes all the sense at the same time.
From what I heard, and I can’t reveal sources here, was the possible relocation of the Providence Bruins to Lowell. My first reaction was probably very similar to what you are thinking now gentle reader, no fucking way. The Dunkin Donuts center has just been remodeled (nicely I might add. Although the seats are too narrow. Picture the wooden seats at Fenway. Yeah, that narrow) and the P Bruins owner just signed an 8 year lease with the Dunk in 2008. By my math, that isn’t up for another.carry the 2.divide for Pi..6 years. So, there are a couple of reasons why it wouldn’t make any sense.
Now, onto why it might make sense, or at least give me food for thought on why it might. From what I heard, Mr. Renfroe (P Bruins owner) wasn’t happy with the way the building got a face lift, and apparently none of the team facilities, you know, locker rooms and the like, are still old and antiquated. I understand Marty Meehan, former Massachusetts Representative, current UMass Lowell President, and seemingly the cruise director as well, has given Mr. Renfroe three guided tours of the Tsongas, and I can’t help but think Mr. Renfroe would like what he saw from a facility standpoint. I have been in the home dressing room, and it is modern and spacious. The ice is the best in the league according to several players I have talked to about the building in Lowell, and I would have to imagine it would cost much less money to operate the Tsongas than it would the Dunk in Providence.
I think one of the reasons AHL hockey hasn’t worked in Lowell from an attendance standpoint, has been the affiliate. One needs look no further than across the street as an excellent example. Do you think the Lowell Spinners would sell out every game if they were the proud Single A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers, as opposed to the Boston Red Sox? Not on your life. The only time the Devils draw more than flies, is when Providence is in town. It might also make sense for the parent Boston Bruins, as the time from when a call up is called, to when he arrives in Boston is cut in half. Also, the Bruins could make a case to practice both the NHL Club, and AHL club out of the Tsongas making game day callus even easier.
When you stop and think of it, there are a myriad of reasons why it might work to have the Bruins in Lowell, and another dozen on why it wouldn’t. I am sure Mr. Renfroe is a very shrewd business man, and has an out clause in Providence. I also know he has several other hockey interests. Perhaps he wants to own an ECHL team and have them play there. Maybe a new Junior team? Then there are all his youth hockey dealings. Maybe he wants to have a huge tournament there or something, or maybe, and this is the one I believe, he was in the building because Providence was in town, and someone told someone, and they told someone, and the next thing you know, there is a giant game of telephone happening. My gut tells me the Devils are going back to Albany, and the end of hockey at the AHL level in Lowell is near. Let it roll, baby, roll. Oh yeah, purple monkey underpants.