UMass Lowell and City to Announce Tsongas Arena Agreement

* M E D I A  A D V I S O R Y *

Officials to Detail Transfer to University at Special Event Prior to Hockey Game

Friday, Oct. 30, 2009
6 p.m.

WHAT:  UMass Lowell and the city of Lowell will make the formal announcement of plans for the university to acquire the Tsongas Arena. 

Chancellor Marty Meehan, Lowell City Manager Bernard Lynch and state Sen. Steven Panagiotakos are scheduled to attend and discuss the transfer of the arena, as well as the future of the facility and the vision for how this important public venue will be used to enhance student life as well as benefit the region.

The announcement will be at 6 p.m., just prior to when the nationally ranked UMass Lowell River Hawks and Boston University Terriers take to the rink at the arena for a rematch of last season’s Hockey East championship. An on-ice ceremony marking the official signing of the purchase-and-sale agreement between UMass Lowell and the city is expected between the first and second periods of the game at approximately 7:30 p.m.

The 6,500-seat arena is already home to UMass Lowell’s hockey games, Commencement exercises and the annual Open House for prospective students and their families. The facility is located near UMass Lowell’s East Campus, which includes the Campus Recreation Center, student residence halls, parking garage and adjacent LeLacheur Park. The $24 million Tsongas Arena opened in January 1998.

WHERE:   Tsongas Arena, Talon Room, 300 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Lowell. Contact the Office of Public Affairs for directions and parking information.