Lowell – The Massachusetts Pirates of the Indoor Football League today announced a multi-year agreement with OVG360, managers and operators of the Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell, which will keep them in the Bay State for the foreseeable future.
The facility, which is owned by the University of Massachusetts Lowell, will play host to all Massachusetts Pirates home games beginning with the 2024 season.
“First off, I would like to thank OVG360’s Keith Vaske, general manager of the Tsongas Center, and the University of Massachusetts Lowell for all their efforts throughout this endeavor”, said Pirates Founder, Co-Owner, President and General Manager Jawad Yatim.
“The receptiveness and enthusiasm surrounding our organization relocating to the Tsongas Center and Middlesex County is why we are here today, and we certainly appreciate it.”
“The process of moving an organization from one market to another and the decisions behind it take time and we thank everyone for their patience. As much as we would have liked to continuously touch upon this transaction, our primary focus was making the right decision, handling everything in the correct manner as best we could and respecting all parties involved. We are truly excited to immerse ourselves within the Lowell and Greater Merrimack Valley community and continue to provide the people of the Bay State with an entertaining, family affordable product. It’s business as usual for the Pirates and we will be competing for another championship in 2024. Stay tuned for roster, staff and ticketing announcements as we begin compiling the 2024 edition of the Pirates and present our great fans with some exciting ticketing options and gameday enhancements. Yet again thank you for your continued support during these exciting times and Go Pirates!”
The Pirates are slated to play eight home games, kicking off in March 2024. The Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell is a multi-purpose venue that opened on January 27, 1998, and bears the name of the late Senator Paul E. Tsongas, a Lowell native.
“On behalf of UMass Lowell, we’re excited to welcome indoor football to Tsongas Center, the City of Lowell and the Greater Merrimack Valley Region,” said Vaske. “The facility will be a terrific home to the Pirates with indoor football fans able to get close to the action and enjoy the electrifying atmosphere inside Tsongas Center.”
“The Greater Merrimack Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau is thrilled to be partnering with the Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell and the Massachusetts Pirates organizations, both groups share our vision of promoting the Greater Merrimack Valley,” said Rick Lofria “By working together, we can harness our collective expertise and resources to create memorable experiences for both visitors and residents alike.”
The arena is home to the NCAA Division I UMass Lowell River Hawks Hockey and Basketball teams. The Center, which can seat 6,500 for indoor football and hockey, hosts family shows, sporting events, trade shows and conferences. The University’s facility can also hold up to 7,800 for concerts.
The Pirates had called the DCU Center in Worcester, home since its inception in 2018 bringing a United Bowl Championship to the city in 2021, as well as boasting a 32-9 all-time record at home.
2024 season and multi-game ticket packages will be going on sale Thursday, November 9th. For more information on tickets email contact@masspiratesfootball.com, call 508-452-6277, or visit masspiratesfootball.com.
