Worcester Railers extend lease with DCU for five years

Photo | Courtesy of Worcester Railers HC A Worcester Railers game at the DCU Center in Worcester

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By Timothy Doyle

The Worcester Railers HC signed a five-year lease, with an option for five additional years, with the DCU Center in Worcester to continue playing hockey at the venue.

The Railers are the ECHL affiliate of the New York Islanders. The team is ranked second in the ECHL in corporate partnerships and experiencing a 30% increase in season attendance, according to a Wednesday press release from the Railers.

The Railers were founded in Worcester in 2016 and have played at the DCU Center for five years.

The Railers have received the ECHL Community Service Team of the Year award four consecutive years and have contributed more than $1.2 million to community programs through the Worcester Railers HC Foundation, according to the press release.

“The team was designed to be a community-first organization, and we have made a significant impact,” Railers Owner Cliff Rucker said in the press release. “We are proud to be a part of this community and our ability to drive hundreds of thousands of visitors to downtown Worcester.”

The DCU Center is owned by the City of Worcester and operated by ASM Global. The venue announced in February that it will be replacing all the seating at the venue as part of a $7-million upgrade. Lower-level seating will be blue in honor of the Railers. ASM Global’s North American headquarters is in Los Angeles.