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Senator Collins releases statement on Portland Pirates relocation rumors
By Chris Roy Published: 17th February 2010Portland, ME – One of Maine’s senators have spoken on the issue of the Portland Pirates possible relocation to Albany, NY.
Earlier today, Sen. Susan Collins’ office released a statement regarding the situation in response to a recent letter that Sen. Chuck Schumer wrote to Buffalo Sabres Managing Owner Larry Quinn.
“It is outrageous that Senator Schumer is attempting to take the beloved Portland Pirates away from Maine, especially while contract negotiations are still underway between the team owners and the Civic Center,” said in the statement from Collins. “Portland has been home to the Pirates since 1993, and the team enjoys strong support from its many devoted fans in the greater Portland community and across the state.”
On Tuesday, Sen. Schumer sent a letter to Quinn indicating that the Sabres should relocate the Pirates organization to Albany for the 2010-’11 season.
The letter was poorly written and filled with inaccuracies as Schumer looks to restore hockey to the Capital District of NY after the Albany River Rats were sold to a North Carolina businessman, who intends to relocate to Charlotte, NC next season.
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I am a Pirates fan, and the only way Portland stays is if the union get’s out of the civic center. It costs the Pirates $1,500 per game if they want to turn the lights off and use spotlights for player introductions, due to the union rules that are enforced. Talk about running a team out of town.
I am a Albany River Rats season ticket holder, and I hope we have a team next year, whether it be Portland, Hartford, Lowell, or someone else. With that said, Chuckie Schumer is my senator, and he is an a**hole.
we’ve also taken the franchise for granted, too, Mike, and tht got us as Chris stated in an earlier story, not always were the negotiations between the Pirates and the Civic Center Trustees have been adversarial in the past… recently, though if all efforts are indeed true, as it appears they’re working together to fix some of the issues w/ the building…..
that article was weird as to how it suddenly went from a Northeast based affiliate & team, to Portland.
You should be happy that in Maine, you have a Senator who is somewhat independent and not a mindless shill.