Bruins Announce Plans to Move Practice Facility Out of Wilmington

The days of Ristuccia Arena being the practice facility of the Boston Bruins are officially numbered.

On Tuesday, team officials announced that they signed a letter of intent for a long-term lease with Boston Landing, which is a mixed-use development in the Allston-Brighton neighborhood of Boston.

The agreement will allow the Bruins to build a new practice facility, and means that upon completion of its new rink, the team will no longer skate in Wilmington. Ristuccia Arena has been the team's practice facility since the 1987-88 season.

“I am thrilled that we have found the Bruins a new practice home within the Boston city limits,” said Bruins Principal Charlie Jacobs in a press release. “Our goal is to set the industry standard in everything that we do, and we are confident that our new practice facility will do just that. As we enter the design phase of the project, we look forward to sharing details as they become available.”

The Boston Landing agreement includes approximately 25,000 square feet of locker room, training and office space for the team.

Team officials estimate the construction will begin in the spring of 2015, with an estimated completion date of the fall of 2016.

In addition to the Bruins facility, the Boston Landing complex will include the New Balance world headquarters, office buildings, retail and restaurant space, a hotel and a sports complex.

“Since joining the Bruins in a front office capacity, a goal of mine has been to move the Bruins into a first-class practice facility and this agreement moves us closer to accomplishing that goal,” said Boston Bruins President Cam Neely in announcing the agreement. “The vision that New Balance has for the Boston Landing project is exactly what we were looking for, and we are confident that through this partnership, we will build a facility that our entire organization will be proud of.”