ALBANY — The New Jersey Devils are one step closer to returning its American Hockey League franchise to downtown Albany.
The Albany County Legislature approved improvements to be made to the Times Union Center, including a new video scoreboard and LED ribbon-board advertising along the lower rim of the upper deck of the arena.
These improvements were required by New Jersey in order to secure a deal with the TUC where it would move its AHL team from Lowell, Mass. to Albany.
The 17-year-old Albany River Rats franchise, which was sold by owner Walter Robb, is moving to Charlotte, N.C. to become the Charlotte Checkers for next season.
Albany housed the Devils’ top AHL affiliate for 13 years (1993-94 to 2005-06) and the Carolina Hurricanes farm team resided here for the past four seasons.
Other improvements to be made under the $1.6 million bond are: new lighting on the outside of the arena as well as new LED video boards on the basketball scoring and media tables. The bond will be paid back by SMG, which will pay the money back via its arena profits.