It's Official: AHL Approves Binghamton Devils Franchise Relocatio

The American Hockey League board of governors has authorized the New Jersey Devils to move the franchise it owns from Binghamton to Utica.

The board's approval of the relocation was announced Thursday afternoon.

The action came about three weeks after Tom Mitchell, Binghamton's executive vice president of operations, was informed by New Jersey that it planned to move the franchise.

The Binghamton Devils have been playing their home games in New Jersey during the current Covid-19 pandemic-shortened season.

Mitchell indicated New Jersey had been making unreasonable demands but he didn't specify what would have been needed to keep the Devils in Binghamton.

Binghamton Senators executive vice president Tom Mitchell announced the deal with the Devils on January 31, 2017. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)

The Binghamton Devils made their debut in the 2017-18 season. The New Jersey affiliation deal was reached after the Ottawa Senators decided to move their AHL affiliate to Belleville, Ontario.

Broome County executive Jason Garnar earlier Thursday had said the chances of an American Hockey League team playing in Binghamton this fall were "almost zero."

On WNBF Radio's Binghamton Now program, Garnar indicated efforts were being made to have hockey played at the Visions Federal Credit Union Veterans Memorial Arena. But he didn't offer any predictions about when that might happen.