Pro Hockey Team Sells Tickets; Confident of Rink Deal With DCR
 Berkshire Battalion officials are confident they'll reach an agreement with DCR before their first scheduled game on Oct. 17. |
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Berkshire Battalion of the Federal Hockey League says it is full steam ahead for the team's planned Friday, Oct. 17, home opener at the Peter W. Foote Vietnam Veterans Memorial Rink.
The team is putting together a roster. It is showing off its new uniforms. And it is selling tickets and apparel.
But local hockey fans may want to hold onto their receipts from those purchases.
The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, which manages the rink, said Friday that it still is in discussions with the city regarding the team's use of the Church Street facility.
"DCR is reviewing the proposal to ensure consistency with our existing agreement with the city, including insurance provisions and ice time allocation," according to a Friday morning email from the DCR's acting press secretary.
The state owns the skating rink and the city took over its operations a number of years ago to ensure it would continue to be open to the public.
Battalion Managing Partner Herm Sorcher said on Friday that "everything is business as usual" for the FHL, which expects no hang-ups with the DCR that could prevent the team from playing its opener in two weeks.
"We're just waiting for paperwork," Sorcher said in a telephone interview from his Connecticut office.
"We're working with the city. We have their full support."
Sorcher went on to say that the league decided to announce its schedule and sell tickets for the Battalion's games after getting the green light from the city.
On Friday afternoon, Mayor Richard Alcombright said the city was "extremely close" to getting the go-ahead from the DCR, but he could not specifically speak to whether the city gave its blessing to start selling tickets.
Alcombright referred that question to city's administrative officer, who said the city did not tell the league to start selling tickets, but North Adams remains optimistic that DCR will give its approval.
"I do not have final approval from DCR," Michael Canales said. "Anything [the FHL does] at this point is a business decision on their part.
"We don't see any issue [with the state], but we have told [the FHL] all along that it's contingent on DCR approval."
Sorcher said the league would refund any ticket purchases if the team does not play the games as scheduled. But he said the FHL does not foresee that happening.
"If [the season] does not happen for some reason, we have a Plan B," Sorcher said.
On Sept. 17, a representative of the FHL's Danbury Whalers said the league would not take money from any fan or sponsor until the FHL had the DCR's approval to use the rink.
The Whalers franchise is supporting the Battalion, which hopes to become the sixth FHL team and would be the Danbury, Conn., team's geographic rival.
On Friday, Sorcher, who is a part owner of the Whalers, said the Sept. 17 comment from Whalers Director of Sales and Marketing Jed Wilson was not correct.
"He may not have understood the question," Sorcher said.
A call and email to Peter W. Foote Rink manager Darin Lane this week were not returned. Friday emails to the FHL's commissioner and the Battalion's coach also were not returned.
The team plans to open its training camp on Oct. 9 or 10, Sorcher said.
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