The Bruins yesterday announced that they will "build a practice facility for the team in Brighton, relocating from the aging and outdated Ristuccia Arena" in Wilmington, Mass., with construction "slated to begin next spring and be completed" in fall '16, according to Benjamin & Reidy of the BOSTON GLOBE. The Bruins have held their preseason camp and practiced in Wilmington since the '87-88 season, and the rink has been "surpassed by practice facilities around the league." It was something that "frustrated players and could eventually have become a factor in free agent signings." The new practice facility will "have a pro shop"and give the Bruins "more opportunities to take advantage of corporate sponsorships." Bruins President Cam Neely said that because TD Garden is "getting busier," it has "gotten 'more challenging' to host corporate events there." He added that a "modern facility in the city will give the team more flexibility in booking such events" (BOSTON GLOBE, 7/9). In Boston, Donna Goodison notes a first-class training facility "has been a goal" of Neely since he joined the front office in '07. He said, “There’s so much more need for space than what we had up in Wilmington with regards to being able to train and treat players better and differently.” Goodison notes the Boston Landing rink is still under design but will "include about 600 seats and 25,000 square feet of dedicated Bruins locker room, training and office space." The pending switch currently leaves the Bruins "without a training facility" for the '15-16 season, as its Ristuccia lease ends in '15. But Neely said, “We’ll be able to figure out where we’re going to practice” (BOSTON HERALD, 7/9).
THE HUB OF ACTIVITY: In Boston, Thomas Grillo reported Massachusetts-based Elkus Manfredi Architects has been "hired to complete the design" of the practice arena and John Moriarty & Associates will "handle the construction." HYM Investment Group Founder Thomas O'Brien, who is co-developing the project, said, “The most interesting part of this is that the Bruins have never had a practice facility in the city of Boston, they play at the TD Garden and practice in Wilmington." O'Brien added that the rink will be "available for area schools" when it is "not used by the Bruins" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 7/8).
