PORTLAND — The Portland Pirates are leaving Maine.

The team sent out a news release Wednesday evening confirming earlier media reports that the team has been sold.

According to the release, the AHL franchise that has called the city home since 1993 will relocate to Springfield, Mass., beginning next season.

Team CEO Ron Cain was unavailable for comment.

The details of the agreement were not disclosed, according to the team, and final sale is pending approval of the AHL Board of Governors and the Florida Panthers.

All previously purchased season tickets for the 2016-2017 season will be refunded, the team said in the release.

The Pirates have changed affiliations four times since coming to Maine in 1993 from Baltimore.

The former Baltimore Skipjacks began in Portland as an affiliate of the Washington Capitals, and remained with them through 2004-05. From 2005-08, the team was affiliated with the Anaheim Ducks; from 2008-11 with the Buffalo Sabres; from 2011-2015 with the Arizona Coyotes; and most recently with the Florida Panthers.

The team recently bowed out of the first round of the AHL playoffs against the Hershey Bears, losing in five games.