The Keefe Company served as development manager (in partnership with construction manager Gilbane Building Company) for the $28 million Tsongas Arena in downtown Lowell. Our accomplishments included the following:

• developed the overall siting plan for the arena and related developments
  
  
• managed the land acquisition strategy, negotiating agreements or taking strategies for six parcels
  
  
• obtained an unprecedented waiver from the normal environmental review process, allowing final approval of the draft and final environmental impact statements to occur during, rather than before, construction of the arena
  
  
• negotiated the relocation of the post office onto two separate sites, one for retail and one for distribution and maintenance
  
  
• managed a process to secure additional grants for related developments, including $3 million for a canal and river walkway around the arena and $3.5 million for an access road and rotary connecting the arena with an existing parking garage
  
  
• negotiated the $20 million state grant agreement with the Executive Office of Administration and Finance

The Tsongas Arena is home to two hockey teams:

the American Hockey League Lowell Devils, an affiliate of the NHL's Carolina Hurricanes

 

the NCAA Division I UMASS Lowell River Hawks

 

The 7,800-seat arena also hosts concerts, family shows, sporting events, trade shows and conferences.

The arena is adjacent to UMass Lowell, the Lowell National Historical Park, and other downtown attractions. Its construction played a major part in the revitalization of downtown Lowell.

Peter Aucella, former executive director of the Lowell Arena Commission, said that "Frank Keefe's vision gave us the dramatic siting plan that has been so successful for the Tsongas Arena and related projects. His creativity drove the land acquisition and funding strategies that were key to making the project happen."

The arena was named in honor of Lowell native Paul Tsongas, United States Senator and presidential candidate.