The Portland Pirates will leave Maine and move to Springfield, replacing the Springfield Falcons, according to a report from Portland-based WCSH.

The Pirates are the AHL affiliate of the Florida Panthers. The Portland Press Herald also reported the news on Wednesday, with Mitch Berkowitz, chair of the board of trustees for the team's arena - Cross Insurance Arena - confirming the report that the team would be moving to Springfield.

The team had been based in Portland since 1993.

The Falcons have been sold to their parent club, the Arizona Coyotes, and are expected to move to Tucson, Ariz. to be closer to the Coyotes this coming season.

For the 2015-16 season, the Falcons ranked 30th in the league in attendance, with an average of 3,108 per game. The Pirates ranked 29th, averaging 3,363 per game.