Pittsburgh Penguins owner Mario Lemieux is exploring all options, including relocating the team to another city. The Pens play in the NHL's oldest arena, the Mellon Arena.
The team needs a new arena and all efforts to get the team a new arena in Pittsburgh have failed.
Lemieux has visited other cities including Kansas City, which has an offer on the table for him to move the Penguins to KC's brand new Sprint Center, which will be ready for the 2007-09 hockey season.
2007-02-10 14:38:31 · 14 answers · asked by rick4404 3 in Sports ➔ Hockey
I dont think the are going anywhere, Lemiuex set a deadline to tell KC where they would be of last Feb 4 which has passed, that leads me to believe that they are close with city and state officials, both sides have also been very very quite for the last week, very different than the rest of the time since the state decided to give up 290 million dollars in FREE money to give Pittsburgh and Westren PA a FREE multi-purpose arena.
If they are forced to leave it will be KC.
2007-02-11 05:08:17 · answer #1 · answered by Andy 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You're Right Pittsburgh is Failing Miserably to save the Pens, So Relocation is Plan B for Lemieux and I can say the Pens in Kansas City more then I Say Houston, Winnipeg or Las Vegas, and If I'm Lemieux which I'm not I'll Accept the Proposals the Folks in KC are Offering.
You See this is Business Don't waste Your Time or Money Dumbass Bureaucrats.
This My Opinion Here are the Facts Down Below.
Penguins may push state, city for best offer
The Penguins are prepared to accelerate talks with officials in Kansas City, Mo., about relocating the team if negotiations for a publicly funded arena in Pittsburgh don't show progress soon, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported Friday.
The Penguins, whose Mellon Arena is the NHL's oldest rink, have been in talks with Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell and city and county officials in an effort to secure a new downtown arena.
Kansas City officials are trying to lure the Penguins by offering rent-free use of a new arena next season and half of the building revenues.
2007-02-10 16:09:19 · answer #2 · answered by tfoley5000 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Like others have stated, they should be able to keep the one they have. This is a proud franchise that has brought up many great players. If they do lose the Penguins, why get another? The new franchise will have to prove itself to the fans. They will have to win the fans over, They certainly will struggle like any new franchise. Will the fans show up? I don't think getting a new arena is the answer. It might help them out, but they still need the support of the fans. That is of course, assuming the current Pens team leaves town and it's a new franchise starting from scratch. They need to do everything that they could to keep this team in Pittsburgh. Do you guys really think there will be a group of investors willing to put a franchise there after all this crap that is going on? The NHL will more likely not have any expansion teams for the next ten years. Kansas City, Winnipeg, Vegas all want teams. All those cities would be more attractive for one of the current franchises to be relocated there. I'm a huge Pens fan. I've been since growing up. Having to cheer them from all the way here in CA has been tough. Nothing would make me more happy if they moved to Vegas. (3 hour Drive) If I had to chose where I want the Pens to be. I would go with Pittsburgh. Tradition and old school is big for me. If relocating is the last option, Vegas baby :)
2016-05-25 07:40:33 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It looks as if they won't be going anywhere. The deal that has been proposed to the Pens now to stay is a very good one, but does require that they pay about 18% of the new arena's total cost. I think Lemieux and the rest of the Pens ownership will realize what a great loss it would be to move this team away and will take the deal. By recent TV and attendance ratings, it would appear the NHL needs Pittsburgh even more than Pittsburgh needs the NHL. Pens will stay in the Burgh!
2007-02-10 14:44:07 · answer #4 · answered by bowks_1466 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
No, the Penguins will not relocate unless the city and state give them no choice. The Pens management are just holding these talks to force the city and state to do what they did for the Pirates and Steelers, get a new place to play in so they can make a better profit. Of course, the city and/or state will come through rather than to see a revenue maker like the Penguins leave. The Penguins are just going through the motions of talking to other cities so they can force the issue to come up and get a deal done.
2007-02-10 14:57:12 · answer #5 · answered by P.I. Stingray 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Why get rid of one of the long time teams? It won't happen. Owner already said that they are close to a deal. They got 3 big stars, and some veterans (Sidney Crosby, Jordan Staal, Evgeni Malkin, Sergei Gonchar, Mark Recchi and many others). If Pittsburgh relocates.. it will make the NHL even worse, and losing even more reputation. I'm a big NHL fan, hockey fan, and I still love it as much as I ever have, but Bettman sucks at everything. I won't ever not like hockey, but it's losing more of it's reputation.. not sure if that's possible though.
2007-02-10 15:04:51 · answer #6 · answered by jkc3953 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you look at the penguins, they've got 3 of NHL's hottest young stars of today - and tomorrow - Crosby, Malkin and Stall. They are going to bring a cup to the team one day, and if Pittsburgh's City Counsel (or whoever's in charge) has some vision, they'd know better than letting them move.
2007-02-10 14:43:38 · answer #7 · answered by Michael X 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This same question has been asked 20 times over. Just do a little search for it here.
However, it seems that the city and the state and team are looking towards a mutual agreement to keep the team in town. Plan B is in the works.
2007-02-11 04:28:29 · answer #8 · answered by nyrmetros 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Kansas City would probably be where they move to if they move. Only because they offered rent free for a season or two. But my guess is that they get a deal down with the city of Pittsburg for a new arena.
2007-02-10 14:43:07 · answer #9 · answered by Wham 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
i live in pittsburgh and this is really hard for the penguin fans here. we dont want to leave and relocate. that is why we are selling out the arena almost every night they are in town. just to raise money for the team. the penguins are playin good hockey now and i dont want them to leave now.
2007-02-10 16:08:12 · answer #10 · answered by Steven K 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋