will happen? KC just gave them an offer that, in my opinion, is almost impossible to refuse. However, how much will keeping the pens in PGh influence the decision
2007-01-04 07:48:58 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Sports ➔ Hockey
HA, HA, Ha, Ha, ha, lmao rotf
I cannot believe someone just said that the Royals are established. That's a good one.
Pittsburgh struggled. Apparently you haven't check attendance and media records since Pittsburgh is leading both categories while the rest of the league is down in those categories.
Good one I'm guessing you are from Hamilton. You are so biased.
And yeah I'm from Pittsburgh and biased but at least I'm going on statistics rather than speculation and favoritism.
What you also have to remember is that when the Pens were winning the two cups it was still in the height of the mucking and grabbing of the late 80s through the 90s. With the new product on the ice Pittsburgh has been pulling in big crowds.
Yeah Mario was given a great offer as far as the arena goes but the Pittsburgh fan base is proven. Paul Coffey once said that the best kept secret in Pittsburgh was their great hockey fans. Wasn't he born in Malton, Ontario??
Going down to Kansas City the only thing the Lemieux will know is the arena everything else will be unknown. The only unknown right now is the arena and if the politicians (and yes all of us in Pittsburgh know they are a bunch of poop heads especially not given a license to a company willing to put 1 billion dollars into the Hill District of Pittsburgh that the Civic Arena construction destroyed) get there heads out of their arses, and they will, they will understand that the team needs a great deal so they can stay here and be solvent.
Canada does deserve to have their teams that were taken away put back. Winnipeg and Quebec should get teams. Let's start with the Islanders who are averaging 12,609 fans per game which is lowest in the NHL and far below their capacity even with the fewest amount of seats. Then after the Isles let's take Phoenix, Atlanta, and Anaheim North to Canada and/or northern US cities.
I'm talking to a KC resident right now on the phone and she said that hockey is not real popular in Kansas City. Remember they have a big Blues following not to far away and they are more into football.
2007-01-04 08:00:10 · answer #1 · answered by playmkr278 4 · 4⤊ 2⤋
It is so hard to say what the people in charge of that team will do. Chances are they are looking at a short term solution (4-8 years) and refuse to consider the longer term. In my opinion if the Penguins move to KC it will be a huge mistake. I'm not sure where playmkr got his stats but Pittsburgh is not leading the league in attendance. They are 20th overall in home att. avg. and although they are selling nearly 94% of seats, there are 15 other teams bettering that. Check the link - http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/attendance?year=2007 Does anyone remember the Kansas City Scouts?? They folded after only 2 NHL seasons. 2 seasons and they were nearly down $1 million. This was in the mid 70s and with higher salaries and expenses today? Consider it worse. Even when they tried to save the Scouts (who had pretty poor records in their 2 seasons) by selling 8000 season tickets, the city got behind them and bought 2000 of them. No support from the fans even when they knew the possible consequences. Kansas City has not supported the Royals very well for ages. Announced attendances of 12000-14000 per game, but in actuality there may be 7500-9000 there. Why no support for a somewhat longstanding team with championships in its past? For the fact they are not a winning team. The Pens this year are holding their own with the young talents leading the way. With the new NHL, free agency can be there at age 26. What happens when Crosby (the most marketable player in the NHL) turns 26? He leaves. The franchise will be without their top player, top scorer and top marketing point. No question he leaves. Optimists say no way, hockey realists know otherwise. The team may make the playoffs but without that Cup win? Hard to see him stay. Maybe he would just rather play for another team. I am sure he does not hate Pittsburgh but when the opportunities come calling? He is gone from the mid-market team he is playing for. Whether it be in Pitt or in KC. Teams like NJ, Wash., Atl., Fla., and NYI (city of 10 mil and only draw less than 12000 fans?) will soon feel pressured to look elsewhere if they do not pick up their attendance. And the hockey pioneer cities of Boston and Chicago too. Cities of possibilty, (in my opinion, no particular order)..... Winnipeg, Houston, Hamilton, Quebec and Minnesota (Yes, a second team in the city)
2007-01-04 17:21:21 · answer #2 · answered by Now I'm Wondering 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They meet with The Pennsylvania/Pittsburgh contingent today. If "Plan B" falls through, this team will be in Kansas City next season.
It's interesting that Bettman was putting his nose into this and saying "We want to keep the Penguiins in Pittsburgh" when the team was about to be sold to someone who would have moved the team to Ontario. Now, all of a sudden, an American city with a shiny new arena shows up and he's been struck mute?
Bettman is determined to expand the NHL in the United States when the United States has already spoken and for the most part aren't interested. The NHL is below the NFL, NASCAR, NCAA football & basketball, MLB and the NBA in the pecking order. That's never going to change.
How brilliant is the NHL's marketing plan when they plan to move Sidney Crosby to a second-tier media market in the U.S.?
2007-01-04 16:00:12 · answer #3 · answered by jpspencer1966 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That deal with K.C. is insane. Lemieux would be nutz not to jump on that deal. The owners of the arena in K.C. are the losers in that offer. They arent going to make any money. The Kansas City Penguins will make a ton and Mario can get his money back the Pens owe him. This deal is like me building a house and letting you live in it for free. Oh yeah, and let me pay your bills too.
2007-01-04 21:18:20 · answer #4 · answered by giddiupj 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I say they stay in Pittsburgh. I don't think the government is that stupid to not realize what is going on. If they helped out the Steelers and Pirates, how can they not help out the Penguins?
If any team should relocate, I say the Ducks, Thrashers, Panthers, Capitals, Coyotes, and Predators should leave their current homes. Those six teams have poor fan bases. I say they should relocate to Winnipeg, Quebec City, Hamiton, and Hartford (while contracting two of those six teams).
2007-01-04 18:09:15 · answer #5 · answered by alwang92581 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
With the dynasty in the making the Pens have with those young stars....Pittsburgh has been insane for taking their sweet time in planning the new arena. I think Mario has been patient long enough.... move them to a city that's willing to do something for this franchise. Maybe Ballisie can jump up and bring them to Canada. lol
2007-01-04 15:55:28 · answer #6 · answered by jakester 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
really its all up in the air right now..it can go either way...have to wait and see what the meeting with rendell and other state officials brings to the table..i seriously hope they stay...they are showing so much improvement with the young players and the vets.....we need the pens in pittsburgh...
im a pirates fan..but they still suck after getting a new stadium..at least with the pens you know they are and will continue to improve with time..they deserve a new arena....
2007-01-04 16:13:32 · answer #7 · answered by Kelly 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Barry Melrose said it best Mario and the other owners are just showing that they are not scared to move the team to light a fire under Gov. Rendell and the boards a.s.ses.
2007-01-04 18:18:37 · answer #8 · answered by Boondocksaint 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I sincerely hope they move. PGH has always suffered there, even when they won Cups!
Move them to Winnipeg or Hamilton would be my best choice.
But, KC would be a good test market for them. They are already established with the Chiefs and Royals.
2007-01-04 15:52:43 · answer #9 · answered by Brad NotPitt 4 · 1⤊ 3⤋
Yanks can't keep em........... they should move to canada forever where they will get good respect and good fans...
Thier being in Pittsburgh is horrible already. KC will mess the deal as Pittsburgh did...
We are looking forward to hearing from Pengs the news to move to Canada....a hockey country........
2007-01-04 16:00:11 · answer #10 · answered by ▒GO FLAMЄS▒ 3 · 0⤊ 3⤋