As is the case with the rest of the world during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, sports organizations have had to adapt. Unfortunately, the St. Louis Blues are not immune. Just days into the 2021 NHL season the team’s new AHL affiliate—The Springfield Thunderbirds (Mass.)—announced they will not participate in the upcoming AHL season.
On January 4 the Thunderbirds released a statement saying the decision was due to both safety and logistical concerns related to COVID-19. Read the full statement here. The decision to opt out was voluntary.
Thunderbirds President Nate Costa said“As an independently-owned franchise, our foremost obligation is to ensure that our team is financially viable for the long term, something that is not possible without gameday revenue.