Massachusetts Pirates leaving Worcester following lackluster attendance

Photo | Courtesy The Massachusetts Pirates of the Indoor Football League.

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By Timothy Doyle

The Massachusetts Pirates of the Indoor Football League are leaving Worcester, likely for Lowell, after playing at the DCU Center in Worcester since 2018.

The team held a press conference at Plainridge Park Casino in Plainville on Tuesday to announce its home venue. An official announcement was not made, but the Lowell Sun reported the Pirates are likely moving to Lowell, waiting to clear an unforeseen hurdle to finalizing the deal.

The Pirates did not return requests from WBJ to confirm this information.

The team informed DCU management in October the Pirates would not be returning to the DCU. The parties entered into negotiations to extend their contract in February, but the Pirates owners, the Yatim family, decided to go in a different direction, said DCU Center Director of Marketing John LaHair.

“The Yatim family were great to work with. We were proud of the quality of the event for our facility and the City of Worcester,” LaHair said in a Wednesday email to WBJ. “Jawad [Yatim] did an excellent job fielding a high-quality team year after year. Unfortunately, the number of fans attending the games was well below expectations.”

LaHair was optimistic about filling the gaps in programming left by the Pirates.

“DCU Center is always working with a variety of live entertainment producers to expand the roster of events we host at the facility,” he added.

The Pirates were originally part of the National Arena League before switching in 2021 to the Indoor Football League.

“At this moment we are evaluating all options in terms of where we will call home in 2024. We've participated in conversations with various arenas including the DCU Center, other venues within the Bay State and outside of New England,” Pirates Owner and General Manager Jawad Yatim wrote in an Aug. 9 post on the Pirates’ website. “As we commit to a home venue in the near future, I can confirm that this will be strictly a business decision and our ultimate goal is to put the franchise in the best possible position to succeed.”

The Pirates leave the DCU with a 21-4 home record.