By Kevin Mills,Staff Writer

PORTLAND – The Portland Pirates made it abundantly clear Thursday that they are not going anywhere.

The American Hockey League team announced it has agreed to a new five-year lease agreement with the Cumberland County Civic Center.

The Pirates also have a renewed affiliation agreement in place with an NHL team, but it may not be with the Washington Capitals.

“It’s amazing what we accomplished in a short period of time, but we did it in a spirit of cooperation that we frankly haven’t seen since we’ve been here in the last five years,” said Brian Petrovek, the managing owner and CEO for the Pirates. “We’re thrilled with the approach, attitude and the point of view that this entire group took with (Pirates President) Brian (Williams) and I to get us where we are today.”

Since the Pirates’ last lease agreement, signed in November 2003, speculation has been rampant about the team’s future in Portland. The organization recently looked at Worcester, Mass., which is losing its AHL team, as a possible alternative if terms with the Civic Center couldn’t be reached.

“The Worcester thing was real,” said Petrovek. “It wasn’t just a tactic or a wedge. It was an opportunity that was a real one for us, but we never wanted to exercise it.”

Another possibility was that an East Coast Hockey League team or even a Quebec Major Junior Hockey League organization might be interested in Portland if the Pirates left.

“You hear a lot of talk about how an East Coast team would be better here or this team would be better here or a lower league,” said Steve Crane, the Civic Center’s general manager. “We felt, all of us, that our effort should be focused on keeping the highest level of hockey in Portland. That level is the American Hockey League.”

A Washington Post story last month reported that the Washington Capitals were looking to move its AHL affiliate from Portland to Hershey, which had severed ties with the Colorado Avalanche. According to the Post, The Anaheim Mighty Ducks were considering moving its minor league operations from Cincinnati to Portland. Petrovek said the Pirates had a deal in place with an NHL team but would not comment further.

“We’re armed with a five-year term with the building and we’re also armed with a five-year relationship with a NHL affiliate. We’ll have more to say about that when it’s appropriate,” said Petrovek.

In 2003, the Pirates agreed to a two-year lease, which included an option year. After some cantankerous negotiations, Petrovek issued a terse statement that the Pirates would not extend the lease without improved amenities for the team and fans, and a more fair and reasonable set of economic terms.

The new lease, starting for the 2005-06 season, will add state-of-the-art scoreboard and video board technology to the building and renovations to the locker room. There are also rent rebate incentives based on attendance.

Petrovek says a push for a new arena in Portland is ongoing. The new lease includes a clause that allows the Pirates to opt out of the agreement to move into the new arena.

The Pirates have averaged 4,287 this season, which ranks 22nd out of 28 teams in the AHL. The rebate incentives provide more credits for the Pirates based on attendance .

“If we get our job done and get more people in the building, we’ll be rewarded for that,” said Petrovek. “We think that’s a very fair and reasonable approach to improving our economics. The ball is in our court on that, and we expect to deliver on it.”