City officials remain silent on the potential relocation of an American Hockey League franchise to Belleville.
A report in the Intelligencer says officials in Broome County New York confirm the Binghamton Senators would move to Belleville for the 2017 season. Binghamton is home to the Ottawa Senators top farm team.
Speculation of such a move has been rampant since Mayor Taso Christopher announced in the spring the City was engaged in ongoing negotiations with an unnamed franchise. It was expected that an announcement would be made earlier this week however the Mayor said little following a special “In Camera” meeting of City Council on Monday. He acknowledged that talks were continuing. Christopher was not available for comment Friday night.
Sources told The Intelligencer that it would not be up to Belleville to make the announcement. Officials with the American Hockey League say there is nothing to report on franchise movements.
The Ottawa Senators do not have ownership of the Binghamton franchise.
The Yardmen Arena would require significant upgrades in seating and other amenities to meet current standards in the AHL as well as the Ontario Hockey League. About 1000 seats would have to be added to the Yardmen’s current total of 3200. That is above and beyond the $7 million dollar replacement of the ice plant, floor, boards and glass which are near the end of their life cycle. That work is scheduled for next spring.
