Are the Pittsburgh Penguins going to stay in or are they going to get moved somewhere else?

Answer 1

GOI'N TO KANSAS CITY & HERES WHY


PITTSBURGH PENGUINS FACTS:

Expansion team when the NHL doubled in size for the start of 1967-68 Season

The Penguins almost folded in 1975 when their creditors demanded payment of back debts. A group that included Wren Blair stepped in and prevented the Penguins from folding. Pittsburgh had the league's worst record in both the 1983 and 1984 seasons and it looked as though the Penguins would fold. The reward for such pitiful hockey was the right to draft French Canadian phenomenon Mario Lemieux. Other teams offered substantial trade packages for the draft choice, but the Penguins kept the pick and a legend was born. The Penguins suffered small-market syndrome for most of their existence, and cost-cutting prevented another collapse into insolvency. Financially, the team was one of the better-managed NHL franchises between its 1998 bankruptcy and the 2004-05 NHL lockout. Thanks to significant post-season runs, the Penguins broke even in 2000 and turned a small profit in 2001. Failure to make the playoffs in the next three seasons hurt the team's bottom line, but the shedding of contracts kept the team afloat as other franchises, like the Ottawa Senators, faced significant losses or declared bankruptcy.

BUT KANSAS CITY HAD THE NHL & FAILED:

Kansas City was awarded an NHL franchise on June 8, 1972. The Scouts were an expansion team with no star players the NHL wasn't as popular in the 70s as it is today and both the NHL and NBA's attendance in the 70s were hurt by a sluggish economy. They played their home games at Kemper Arena. The team was not a particular success either at the gate or on the ice. Rising oil prices and a falling commodity market made for hard going in the Midwest during the 1970s. After two seasons, with its owners $900,000 in debt, the franchise was sold & relocated to Denver where it became the Colorado Rockies, who in turn became the New Jersey Devils after 1982. The NHL has also failed in ATLANTA & DENVER but both are back in the NHL & the Avalanche are one of the most sucesful NHL teams in north america.


ARENA COSTS:

The Pittsburgh Penguins could play rent-free and be equal managing partners in the new Sprint Center if they move to Kansas City. The Penguins would not have to buy into the management agreement for the $276 million Sprint Center. Aditional Options to pay $27 million(THIS COST WILL BE TAKEN OUT OF FUTURE PROFITS NOTHING UPFRONT ) to AEG the company who manages Sprint Center and share management and revenue equally with AEG from concerts or other events at the Sprint Center

COST TO STAY IN PITTSBURGH:

Current Plan B for new arena in Pittsburgh being proposed by local politicians Requires $8.5 million be paid upfront. Pay $4 million annually for 30 years. Total out of pocket expense required by Penguins ownership over 30 years = $128.5 million.

IS PITTSBURGH DEAL POSSABLE:

EST. Cost of Construction $225 million
Heinz Field, cost $281 million
PNC Park, cost $216 Million
(YOU DO THE MATH)


OTHER FACTS:

Dission due within 30 days
pittsburgh Plan B offer is a starting point says Gov. Ed Rendell (1-5-2007) the state could do better than that
"We're going to assess the Penguins' position, but there can't be a free arena,"
No additional meetings with pittsburgh officials are planed as to date



Attendance Figures in Pittsburgh:

2001-02: 15,649 (Ranked 22nd in NHL)
2002-03: 14,749 (Ranked 25th in NHL)
2003-04: 11,877 (Ranked 30th in NHL)
2004-05: SEASON CANCELLED
2005-06: 15,804 (Ranked 20th in NHL)
2006-07: 15,888 (Ranks 20th in NHL)


Year-by-year attendance figures for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League.

Team Year G Total Average
Pittsburgh Penguins 1967-68 37 274,049 7,407
Pittsburgh Penguins 1968-69 38 228,285 6,008
Pittsburgh Penguins 1969-70 38 265,936 6,998
Pittsburgh Penguins 1970-71 39 377,182 9,671
Pittsburgh Penguins 1971-72 39 375,711 9,634
Pittsburgh Penguins 1972-73 39 436,601 11,195
Pittsburgh Penguins 1973-74 39 396,197 10,159
Pittsburgh Penguins 1974-75 40 448,977 11,224
Pittsburgh Penguins 1975-76 40 458,198 11,455
Pittsburgh Penguins 1976-77 40 401,580 10,040
Pittsburgh Penguins 1977-78 40 421,933 10,548
Pittsburgh Penguins 1978-79 40 457,209 11,430
Pittsburgh Penguins 1979-80 40 426,156 10,654
Pittsburgh Penguins 1980-81 40 413,407 10,335
Pittsburgh Penguins 1981-82 40 451,965 11,299
Pittsburgh Penguins 1982-83 40 336,300 8,408
Pittsburgh Penguins 1983-84 40 273,550 6,839
Pittsburgh Penguins 1984-85 40 400,711 10,018
Pittsburgh Penguins 1985-86 40 503,020 12,576
Pittsburgh Penguins 1986-87 40 598,614 14,965
Pittsburgh Penguins 1987-88 40 606,638 15,166
Pittsburgh Penguins 1988-89 40 629,345 15,734
Pittsburgh Penguins 1989-90 40 640,700 16,018
Pittsburgh Penguins 1990-91 40 637,072 15,927
Pittsburgh Penguins 1991-92 40 639,736 15,993
Pittsburgh Penguins 1992-93 41 660,290 16,105
Pittsburgh Penguins 1993-94 41 685,919 16,730
Pittsburgh Penguins 1994-95 24 386,599 16,108
Pittsburgh Penguins 1995-96 41 675,147 16,467
Pittsburgh Penguins 1996-97 41 684,322 16,691
Pittsburgh Penguins 1997-98 41 617,900 15,071
Pittsburgh Penguins 1998-99 41 607,825 14,825
Pittsburgh Penguins 1999-00 41 633,199 15,444
Pittsburgh Penguins 2000-01 41 669,806 16,337
Pittsburgh Penguins 2001-02 41 641,615 14,749
Pittsburgh Penguins 2003-04 41 486,961 11,877
Pittsburgh Penguins 2004-05 SEASON CANCELLED
Pittsburgh Penguins 2005-06 41 647,975 15,804

Answer 2

People are just jealous.

I think this all has been an overhyped PR event to:

A. Increase the value of the team much like in the stock market where increased visability = increased money

B. Ensure that the deal in Pittsburgh is a sweet as possible for the Penguins and their ownership.

C. Increase ticket sales this season by basically holding a "this could be our last season in Pittsburgh farewell tour."

I think Gov. "Fast Eddy Spendell" and the rest of the PA Politicians are horses asses in the first place. They would rather take the money and try to "buy" votes for the upcoming elections than actually do what they were put in office to do when it comes to the Western side of the state.

I've heard the Canadian fans say the same old crap that they don't deserve a team in Pittsburgh. To this I say, you are jealous, and wish you could replace the current leafs, senators, canadiens etc eith the Penguins. They are also upset that the cup hasn't "come home" in so long that they have run out of tears to cry with. This is what happens when you make hockey a religion.

Answer 3

I was just in Pittsburgh to watch my Leafs lose to the Penguins. I drove 5 hours from Ontario to see this game but I wonder if any Pittsburgh fan would do that. From the discussions I had with the locals it seemed that hockey takes a back seat to football. The government in Pennsylvania was stupid in not allowing the Isle of Capri deal go through. Many people in Ontario feel Balsillie or D'angelo will bring the team up here. I feel if the Government and the locals don't appreciate the team they should lose it.

Answer 4

I think the IOC deal falling through was actually a positive thing for keeping the Pens in Pittsburgh. I know they were supposed to get an arena built for them if IOC got the gaming license, but now that it is done and gone, the team and Pennsylvania can sit down and hammer out a way to keep them in Pittsburgh.

I stated before in another answer about this that even though Governor Rendell is a Philly guy he managed to play a part in getting stadiums built in our lethargic city. If he can get 3 stadiums built in Philly, I think a sports enthusiast like him can play a big part in getting an arena built in the Steel City.

I'd hate to see the Pen's leave, I've enjoyed the rivalry.

Oh, I almost forgot.....

SNIDER MUST GO !!!!!

Answer 5

Right now which is 1/7/07, the rumor is that the Penguins are currently being looked at by an Oklahoma City buisness group. So they might be moving to Oklahoma City.

Answer 6

There is a 50% chance they will stay and a 50% chance they leave, but it all depends on if Pittsburgh approves their new building. If they move it will not be to Kansas City, because the guy that wanted to move them there withdrew his offer to buy the team.

Mario still owns them.

By the way Las Vegas has been mentioned HABITANT! You are the one that needs to get his facts together.

Answer 7

Lemieux had a meeting with the Gov. of Pittsburgh 2 days ago and after the meeting he had a big smile on his face and by the looks of it there going to stay in Pittsburgh, which they should.


Richard>>>>>>where the hell are you getting this facts cause Las Vegas hasn't been mentioned once, and its seems its only you that's saying this. get your facts right next time.their been only 3 city's that have been talk about since the Pens where up for sell Winnipeg, Kansas City and Houston that's it anybody say Seattle or any other place that was just a rumour.



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

Answer 8

Last night I heard it was a 50-50 thing, but today on HNIC, they were talking about it and it sounds like Pittsburgh is getting more serious.

Answer 9

Moved.

Answer 10

Oklahoma is interested. So is Kansas City, which is interesting for the Blues, who cannot fill the scottcenter.
Good, as long as they have the fanbase.