The Pittsburgh Penguins and the state and local leaders of the Pittsburgh area still have not met on agreements for new arena. Once again, the possibility of a move for the Penguins seems to be increasingly close, and Kansas City might once again play host to an NHL team.
For months now owners Mario Lemieux and Ron Burkle have been trying to work an agreement out with government officials to keep the team in Pittsburgh, but have failed to close any deal. At first they made an agreement with the Isle of Capri Casinos to build the arena if they were given a license to build slots, but they were shut down by the state board. They would need $290 million to cover the construction costs and have come close in the past with government officials, offering them $120 million over the next 30 years, but still they have not reached a deal.
The move seems even more foreseeable now that Kansas City has completed their brand new Sprint Center. The pens would be playing in the newest arena in the NHL as opposed to Mellon Arena, the oldest in the NHL, where they play now.
This news is unfortunate, especially for the young team that seems so promising fir the future of the franchise. Young stars such as Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Jordan Stall have all put up extraordinary numbers this season even though they only average the age of 19. For the first time in six years the team is contending for a spot in the playoffs and they hold the top points leader in the NHL, Sidney Crosby, with 98.
It is predicted that the Penguins will sell out the final eight home games this year and there is already orders for season tickets for the 2007-08 season. They are one of the top teams in the NHL for overall attendance and TV ratings for the year. How can the Pens leave one of the strongest U.S. markets for hockey and go to one that’s smaller. None of this makes any sense to me.
For months now owners Mario Lemieux and Ron Burkle have been trying to work an agreement out with government officials to keep the team in Pittsburgh, but have failed to close any deal. At first they made an agreement with the Isle of Capri Casinos to build the arena if they were given a license to build slots, but they were shut down by the state board. They would need $290 million to cover the construction costs and have come close in the past with government officials, offering them $120 million over the next 30 years, but still they have not reached a deal.
"We have made a single-minded effort to bring this new arena to a successful
conclusion and keep the team in Pittsburgh," owners Mario Lemieux and Ron Burkle
said in a letter to Rendell and local government officials. "... Our good-faith
efforts have not produced a deal, however, and have only added more anxiety to
what we thought at best was a risky proposition for us moving forward."
The move seems even more foreseeable now that Kansas City has completed their brand new Sprint Center. The pens would be playing in the newest arena in the NHL as opposed to Mellon Arena, the oldest in the NHL, where they play now.
This news is unfortunate, especially for the young team that seems so promising fir the future of the franchise. Young stars such as Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Jordan Stall have all put up extraordinary numbers this season even though they only average the age of 19. For the first time in six years the team is contending for a spot in the playoffs and they hold the top points leader in the NHL, Sidney Crosby, with 98.
It is predicted that the Penguins will sell out the final eight home games this year and there is already orders for season tickets for the 2007-08 season. They are one of the top teams in the NHL for overall attendance and TV ratings for the year. How can the Pens leave one of the strongest U.S. markets for hockey and go to one that’s smaller. None of this makes any sense to me.
"Scratch my back with a hacksaw!!" - Mike Lange
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