2007-02-15 02:12:56 · 10 answers · asked by skimskate2000 1 in Sports ➔ Hockey
they will stay in Pittsburgh they already have an agreement for a new arena they are just trying to work out the details the pens don't want to share land development rights with the new casino that is providing like 6 million a year for 30 years to build the new arena so they have the money to build it but they just have to work out the details
2007-02-15 05:55:55 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋
Whether he is happy about it or not doesn't really matter. The Penguins ownership has been trying for the last ten years or so to get the city and state officials to build them a new arena to replace the 40 year old Mellon Arena where they currently play. The politicians failed to make a new arena a priority. Recently, Isle of Capri Casino announced they would build the city a new arena if they were awarded the cities gambling license by the Pennsylvania gaming commission. The gaming commission awarded the license to someone else and the deal fell through.
Meanwhile, Kansas City is building a brand new arena called the Sprint Center for $275 Million dollars and AEG, the owners of the LA Kings, have agreed to manage the facility. NHL21, a special interest group who are trying to bring hockey back to Kansas City is putting out the word to everyone in the NHL that Kansas City would be a great place for a team.
When the Isle of Capri deal fell through, Super Mario and the rest of the ownership group in Pittsburgh contacted Kansas City officials and asked for a tour of the new facility and wanted to hear what the city had to offer in the way of a lease agreement at the new Sprint Center. It was a fact finding mission if you will. Kansas City officials and AEG offered them rent free use of the Sprint Center, which will be ready in October of 2007, and 50% of all proceeds for any event held in the arena. A pretty sweet deal! Kansas City officials also said they would not become involved in a bidding war with Pittsburgh. In essence, they said that the Penguins should stay in Pittsburgh if they can, but if a deal cannot be worked out, the Penguins should consider moving to Kansas City. All they asked in return is that the Penguins tell them when they would make a decision regarding relocation. Super Mario promised a decision would be made in 30 days.
Armed with this new offer, Super Mario and Company returned to Pennsylvania and let it be known that if an agreement could not be reached in the next 30 days, they were relocating the team to Kansas City. Well, as one would expect, this lit a fire under the Pennsylvania politicians, after all it is an election year! It also really upset the loyal fan base of the Penguins who are rightfully concerned that the team might leave the city.
Well, the 30 day deadline came and went on Feb. 4th with no announcement of a relocation or a new arena deal in Pittsburgh. Super Mario and Company attempted a bit of leveraging by threatening to step-up talks with Kansas City officials if the deal wasn't finished by Feb. 4th. Kansas City officials, to their credit, shot down this statement immediately saying that no one from the Penguins had contacted them and no meetings would be planned with Penguins ownership until they have announced that they cannot reach an agreement with Pennsylvania official. Read that to mean, "We are NOT getting into a bidding war with Pittsburgh!" Smart move on their part because it helps Pennsylvania's position in the negotiations with the team and if the PA deal falls through, Pittsburgh will be out of the mix when team officials begin negotiations with Kansas City officials.
Anyway, as of today, no one from Kansas City or AEG has had any contact with the Penguins ownership since their visit on Jan. 4th. Pennsylvania officials have been working feverishly to complete a deal with the Penguins, thus far without an agreement. Time is running out before the NHL will step in and exert pressure on both sides to get the deal done before their 2007-2008 schedule is completed. I suspect it is only a matter of time before an agreement is reached in Pittsburgh and the whole issue is laid to rest.
It is far more likely the Nashville Predators, who have now played three preseason exhibition games in Kansas City before sell-out crowds, will relocate there after the 2007-2008 season. There are two reasons for this. First, they have seen the enthusiasm for the NHL by the Kansas City crowds and know it is a bigger market than Nashville. Second, they do not have a loyal fan base and play in a nearly empty arena each night. People in Nashville, unlike the loyal Pens fans in Pittsburgh, could care less about their hockey team despite the fact that they are one of the best teams in the league right now.
2007-02-15 16:12:06 · answer #2 · answered by Desiderata of Happiness 2 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Is he happy about some weird little stalker posting questions about him all day long on yahoo answers?
Answer that and there you go.
2007-02-15 12:20:21 · answer #3 · answered by Leftwing 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
He OWNS a team? I wasn't aware of that. As to the Penguins, there is no proof they are moving yet.
2007-02-15 10:37:15 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Just probably some little girl that knows nothing about hockey and thinks he is cute so she wants to be his like number one fan like for sure! get a life
2007-02-15 12:51:16 · answer #5 · answered by echc 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The Pens are not gonna be going anywhere but to a new arena in Pittsburgh!
2007-02-15 12:17:09 · answer #6 · answered by Boondocksaint 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
The Pens arn't moving
2007-02-15 10:21:28 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
I wouldn't like playing on the Kansas City Scouts, would you? Although it might beat playing in old warehouse with bandwagoning fans.
2007-02-15 11:57:41 · answer #8 · answered by desperado59 3 · 0⤊ 3⤋
I don't think he cares where he moves or plays ...as long its not montreal (from an article i read) ... for the heart broken pens fans who have answered this question...sorry to say...but they are moving...them and nashville and florida....possibly carolina. I think pittsburgh should go to winnipeg ..... florida to las vegas....and nashville to kansas city.....and if carolina moves then oklahoma can have their team (but i dunno how sustainable that would be)
2007-02-15 16:33:43 · answer #9 · answered by Chief 2 · 2⤊ 3⤋
Are you trying to get into his pants with all these questions about him or you just wanna stalk him?
2007-02-15 11:12:33 · answer #10 · answered by ahl_phantoms 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋