Devils Offered 10-Year Contract To Relocate From Lowell To Albany

Bob Belber, general manager of Albany's Times Union Center, has offered the New Jersey Devils a ten-year contract to relocate their AHL franchise from Lowell, Massachusetts to his building, according to the aptly-named Albany Times Union.

"What we're looking for is a two-way commitment between us and the team," [Belber] said. "Certainly the terms and conditions of the deal are something that will be beneficial to both sides.

"We will be giving up more than we have in the past. The trade-off in giving this away is obviously to get an AHL team back, but it's also helps in getting a long-term commitment."

"It's not just financially related. It's us committing to making sure they have good ice and good practice time and good locker room space, properly maintained, and a controlled atmosphere from a security standpoint, to protect what they deem as their most vital asset, which is their players and developing those players to get to the NHL."

A deal to bring the Lowell team to Albany could be the last chance officials there have of getting a team in the city for next year. Negotiations with the Portland Pirates fell through, and that team ultimately wound up signing a new two-year lease to stay in Maine. Albany's current team, the River Rats, are moving to Charlotte, North Carolina next season to be closer to their NHL affiliate, the Carolina Hurricanes.