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Landon lauds Pompea’s commitment with new affiliation

Date: 4/23/2015

SPRINGFIELD – With an outward display of passion rarely seen by the usually composed director of Hockey Operations, Bruce Landon waved his arms and pounded his fist on the podium during an fervent plea to the community to mirror the commitment made by Falcons owner Charlie Pompea.

With its team full of Columbus Blue Jackets prospects battling for a playoff spot, the Springfield Falcons announced on April 17 the signing of a new three-year affiliation agreement with the Arizona Coyotes that will commence with the 2015-16 season.

Landon said the deal was stuck after Pompea directed him to seek a multi-year affiliation after Columbus and Springfield reached an agreement to part ways with one year remaining on their affiliation agreement.

“Look around the American Hockey League; look what has happened. There are four cities that had better attendance than Springfield that have lost their American Hockey League team,” Landon said, referring to a league-wide shake-up in which teams in Worcester, Manchester, N.H., Glens Falls, N.Y., and Norfolk, VA, were relocated, the result of West Coast NHL teams’ desires to have their affiliates in closer proximity.

Landon added Pompea has been working with the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority, which operates the MassMutual Center, and the Falcons had written confirmation that the team’s lease would be extended.

“The big part of this announcement is that Mr. Pompea has stepped up and committed to this community for three more years,” he continued. “So folks, let’s not worry about what’s going to happen in year four as some people want to ... It’s time, folks; it’s time for this community to understand the kind of commitment and money that Mr. Pompea is putting into this team.”

Speaking with Reminder Publications after the press conference, Landon said he “didn’t want to be the guy pounding his shoe on the table,”?but with attendance down nearly 25 percent over last year, fans need to realize the team “has to become sustainable one way or another or it won’t be here.”

Springfield averaged 3,273 fans during 38 home games this season, third worst in the league, ahead of only Oklahoma City and Portland. During the 2013-14 season, the Falcons drew 3,787. In 2012-13, more than 3,900 came to the MassMutual Center for a home game.

The need for a new affiliate came to pass when Columbus and Springfield came to the mutual agreement to sever the affiliation agreement so the Blue Jackets could move their developmental players to the Lake Erie Monsters in Cleveland.

Falcons President Sarah Pompea and Landon said the Columbus and Springfield will part on good terms after a positive five-year relationship.

[Blue Jackets President] John [Davidson] made it very clear [when he approached Landon about severing the affiliation], as he did yesterday when he called me, that they’re perhaps going to Cleveland for the wrong reasons; they love it in Springfield,” Landon added, explaining the franchise’s desire to have players closer and to “brand Ohio” were among the driving forces.

Arizona is about to wrap up the final year of its current affiliation agreement with the Portland Pirates, who won their final regular season game on April 19 to edge out the Falcons for the final spot in this year’s Calder Cup Playoffs.

The announcement was made prior to the end of the season in order to be in concert with other affiliation changes league-wide linked with this deal. In addition to Columbus and Arizona announcing new affiliates, the Colorado Avalanche needed to unveil a new deal with San Antonio. Colorado was previously partnered with Lake Erie.

“The deal unraveled from January on quite quickly,” Sarah Pompea said. “[The Coyotes] have been wonderful to work with; they’re obviously a class organization and we’re looking forward to having them here in Springfield.”

She added a long-term agreement would help maintain a healthy working environment for her staff as they look to improve the team’s attendance as well as community outreach and marketing efforts.

The Falcons will retain their current logo and red, white and blue color scheme.

With the new deal, Landon pointed out he and Springfield are reconnecting with Darcy Regier, the vice president and assistant general manager in Arizona. Legier was assistant general manager for the New York Islanders in 1990 when the Springfield Indians won the Calder Cup.

“I think it’s a huge bonus because we have the benefit of knowing each other,” Regier said. “I have the benefit of having a high level of trust in Bruce as a person first and as a hockey person second. I think what it allows us to do is get to work right away. When you have that level of trust like that and you’re honest and transparent, you can get down to the things that matter.”

Regier said he and the Coyotes would be receptive to the concerns and desires of the Falcons and their fans.

“Those conversations have already started and it’s important for me to understand the needs of this community and what Bruce feels is important from a hockey standpoint and how we can help,” he said.

Regier promised a pipeline of young talent as Arizona, which finished 24-50-8, last in the NHL’s Pacific Division, has a long-range strategy for reversing its fortunes through strong player development.

“As an organization, we’re rebuilding and we have a lot of good young forwards coming and we have multiple first-round picks this year and next year as well, so you’re going to see a lot of good young players starting next year that are going to be learning how to play in the NHL right here in Springfield,” Regier said.

The Coyotes have six picks in the first three rounds of this year’s NHL Entry Draft. In the recent draft lottery, the Coyotes received the No. 3 overall pick. They also have the Chicago Blackhawks’ first-round pick, received as part of a trade that sent Antoine Vermette to Chicago.

In addition, the Coyotes possess the second pick of the second round, 32nd overall, as well as the New York Rangers’ pick, acquired when Arizona traded Keith Yandle to New York.

Arizona also has the second pick in the third round, 63rd overall, and the Minnesota Wild’s selection, which it received in a trade that sent former Falcon Devin Dunbyk to the Wild.