can apply for such a grant. In January 2018, the IDA was still trying to get professional or college hockey into First Arena, focusing on Elmira College, located a few blocks from the arena, whose team was using the Murray Athletic Center, eight miles from campus. On June 25, 2018, the IDA reopened negotiations with Robbie Nichols to bring a Federal Hockey League team to Elmira with Nichols leasing the arena, not purchasing it. On July 17, Nichols and the IDA announced that Nichols would lease the arena for a year with renewals for the following two years and an option to purchase. Nichols brought in a Federal Hockey League (FHL) franchise and intends to hold other events. The new FHL team was announced as the Elmira Enforcers and began play in the 2018–19 season. Nichols, and his ownership group CAN-USA, operated and paid for the upkeep of the arena during the initial three-year lease agreement. In July 2021, the IDA took over operations of the arena again when the county and CAN-USA failed to reach a lease extension in time. On July 29, the IDA reported the arena needed $6–8 million in repairs and upgrades in order to continue operations and was considering the option of demolishing the building instead. The Enforcers were then forced to go dormant for the 2021–22 season citing lack of communication from the IDA. Nichols hopes to bring the team back in 2022 if the two sides continue negotiations. The initial bid to demolish the building was made at $1.2 million. In November 2021, the county had a second assessment made on the arena and was found to have no critical issues in order to keep the building with a minimum of about $500,000 in Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) upgrades needed to re-open. There were several recommendations made that would significantly increase the cost of repairs, such as $1.5 million for new ice rink equipment. Later that month, the county made a lease agreement with Tadross Donner Sports and Entertainment, LLC. (TDSE) to operate the arena effective immediately and planned to re-open. On April 27, 2022, TDSE's Steve Donner announced that a new FPHL franchise will be occupying the arena beginning with the 2022–2023 hockey season. The team will be known as the Elmira Mammoth, taking its namesake from the rich history of the Chemung River. The team's colors will be orange, purple,