Springfield Thunderbirds Economic Impact
Springfield Thunderbirds hockey franchise brings $126 million impact to area, create community jobs
October 2023
In April 2016, the City of Springfield received devastating news: The Springfield Falcons hockey team was moving, leaving the city without an American Hockey League franchise for the first time since the 1950s. Local residents and business owners braced for a major hit to the downtown economy, with the MassMutual Center going dark for nearly 40 nights per year and downtown businesses losing out on game-going customers. Within weeks of that announcement, however, a group of local businesspeople and community leaders joined forces to purchase another AHL franchise and save professional hockey in Springfield. The ensuing seven years have seen success both on and off the ice.
Recently, the franchise engaged the institute to quantify this impact and utilize economic data to bring this success story to life.
Click on the publication link for a colorful display of our report.
