If you could buy the Pittsburgh Penguins, would you move the team? if so, where!?

Question

Many people up here in Canada are saying ether Quebec City, Winnipeg but most of all, Hamilton!

Answer 1

Seattle...
good college hockey market
nice for Vancouver fans to have a true geographical rival

Answer 2

To be honest, it is very disappointing that this situation has come to this point. For the state of PA to turn down the Isle of Capri offer is absolutely foolish, plain and simple. It shows that the leaders of the state have no idea how serious Mario and the Pens ownership were about leaving the city. As far as the fans, it is clear from the numbers that another person posted, the first 15-20 years of the franchise there was very little support, and that is when the city still had most of the steel mills. Now there is support because the team has a lot of young talent. Sadly, the team will struggle again in 3-4 years because Crosby, Malkin and the other young stars will have developed and demand a lot of $$$ in the open market. Plan B, does not even COME CLOSE to what the Kansas City people are offering, and it also affords Mario the one thing he really wants, which is to sell the team, and spend time with his family. Besides, what happens if Barden sells the slot parlor within the first few years, does plan B still exist (Barden promises money over several years). Let's face it folks, the PA government dropped the ball here, and unless they have come up with something that approaches KC's deal, the Pens are gone.... Would I like to see the Pens stay in Pittsburgh...absolutely Do I think it will happen....sadly, no Who's fault is it?...the leadership of the worst government in the US, Rendell and the greedy cronies of his in Harrisburg.

Answer 3

I would definitely move them. Pittsburgh has not really shown that it cares enough about the team to keep them. They won't build an arena. They hardly fill the stands, even with Crosby and Malkin. Had they not tanked in 1983 and had New Jersey won the Lemieux draft, Pittsburgh would have been gone a long time ago. So I am not convinced they deserve them.

To guarantee a successful team, you need to be good. Crosby and Malkin make this a good bet. You also need a town with a good hockey tradition, and a large population.

Quebec City and Winnipeg had their teams, and they could not support them. Salary cap helps, but I would not want to risk it in a town that does not have a proven track record. Besides that, they both have under a million people living in them. I think Hamilton would be the best bet for a new team in Canada, but even it is a bit on the small side. If I own a team, I want to make money. So I'm afraid I'm staying in America. That is where the people are.

The two best bets in the United States are going to be Houston and Seattle. Both of them have a good hockey tradition. Seattle has had hockey since around 1900, and their minor leagues have been well-attended. They also have well over 2 million people. Houston is even bigger, with nearly 5 million people, though its hockey tradition is much more recent. That said, the Houston Aeros are one of the most successful minor league hockey teams in the country. 5 million compared to under a million? Sorry, Canada.

Houston is much more centralized compared to Seattle. That means cheaper travel costs. I also have a good friend that lives there, and I wish I got to see him more. So I am going to have to go with Houston. Sorry, Pittsburgh.

Answer 4

this is a team that has gone bankrupt 2 times in the last 15 years so it would be hard to keep the team there. if i knew the salary cap wouldn't be going up for the next 10 years then yes i would keep them there cause they have been in the NHL for 40 years. but if i would buy a team for $175 million dollars then i think i do have a little say to if i would like to move them if it wasn't looking good for my first couple of seasons, and i don't think Gary Betman can tell me what to do with my money and my team. but if i could i would move them to Canada because not just because its Canada's sport but it truly belongs here. Winnipeg moved to Phoenix and the Coyotes are an even worst team then the Jets where and the Jets had bigger attendance then in Phoenix today so why did the Jets leave town cause they needed an arena and just didn't have the money at the time. they have a new arena now and they can support an NHL team today so bring them back.


AwesomeBi...>>>> i don't know if you realized but the Canadian dollar has gotten higher then it was in the last 5 years and with the new salary cap it would make it allot easier for a Canadian team in the NHL.


GO HABS GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Answer 5

I'd move them to Tuktuyuktuk, where they might appreciate the entertainment on a cold winters night more than in Pittsburgh. I'd also trade that Crosby kid to San Jose for Cheechoo, the russian kid to Nashville for Jordin Tootoo and hire Ted Nolan to coach, thus adding some "native" talent to appeal to the fine citizens of Tuktuyuktuk. They could even still be called the Penguins, because most people don't realize Penguins do not actually live at the North Pole. Just Santa, a few Reindeer and a slew of Elves.

Answer 6

Nope. I would keep them in the Steel City, right where they belong. I'd buy a new arena too because as a Flyers fan, I have enjoyed all the games played between the teams (win or lose) since Mario Lemeiux joined the team. But honestly, I'd want to change the name from Penguins to something different.

Like I've said before, unless an out-of-this-world financial deal is made, there will not be any new teams or relocated teams in Canada for the forseeable future. Even as much as I feel that Winnipeg deserves a team, the population is just too small in Canadian cities to justify it. That's not my reasoning, it's just business especially when you consider the difference in value between the Canadian and American dollars.

As much as I would NOT like to see it happen, if the disparity in dollar values continues to increase, you might see the day when all the Canadian teams go out of business or relocate.

Answer 7

I would buy the team in a heart beat.

I would NEVER move them out of Pittsburgh. I don't think that the fans should have to suffer because of the stupidity of the government officials in charge.

I would also like to take this opportunity to say that Ed Rendell is a big fat stupid liar.

Edit:

Many other cities are well deserving of a hockey team and I believe that they should have them. I do not believe though that they should have my hockey team. The fans and the team have done everything in their power to help keep the team in Pittsburgh and they need to be rewarded for those efforts.

Answer 8

I would love to see more teams in Canada. It sucks to see 2 teams that each get minimal support in Florida and a team in Phoenix (what were they thinking). So far the biggest drawback from relocating any team to a Canadien city is the size of the available arena's. All 3 places you mention would be very nice choices but I am guessing that based on dollars available and potential to make money the next relocated team will end up in Las Vegas. But i would agree that the best possible city in Canada should be Hamilton, the other 2 cities had opportunity in the past so it seems logical that they would look elsewhere (Hamilton) first.

Answer 9

Keep them in Pittsburgh, that town needs them. Mario will save them again and get the new arena, so back off. I think a lot of Canadiens would get a kick out of taking a team out of the States though. You guys love to hate us, and most Americans don't even know where Canada is.

Answer 10

I'm going with Halifax because when they had the world juniors they got a record attendance and the fans seem passionate. The only bad thing is if the city has a arena big enough for the NHL.

Answer 11

Hamilton.........there are millions close at hand who will pay and support a team. Look at the Leafs, have not won a cup in 39yrs yet they are one of the richest organizations in the NHL. Buffalo couldn't exist without Canadians crossing border for every home game.