LEWISTON – Why put off until April what you can do today?

The new operators of the Androscoggin Bank Colisee on Tuesday signed paperwork to begin the process of officially buying the arena.

Jim Cain of Firland Management got the process under way now instead of waiting up to a year as allowed by his agreement with the city, according to a memo from city hall.

Under the original deal, Cain could have waited until April 2009 to purchase the Colisee. His firm has been managing the arena pending completion of the sale.

Instead, the closing will take place as soon as the title work is complete. That will happen within the next 60 days, though city officials predict it will more likely happen within a month.

“On behalf of the city of Lewiston,” Mayor Larry Gilbert wrote in a release, “I wish Mr. Cain much success.”

The city hopes the sale of the Colisee will help eliminate financial losses while giving new owners a chance to keep the rink thriving.

The city hired Global Spectrum to manage the ice arena in 2005, hoping that the company’s connection to media conglomerate Comcast would help increase the number of scheduled acts there from about 10 to 36 per year. That didn’t happen, however, and city leaders began advertising the Colisee for sale last summer.

Firland’s group took over earlier this month.

One thing seems clear: There will still be hockey at the building that was revitalized by the sport.

“In light of new owner Jim Cain’s goal to continue usage as a sports venue for the community,” Gilbert wrote, “I am confident that the services to both the Lewiston Maineiacs and Lewiston area youth hockey will be enhanced.”