Are the Penguins leaving Pittsburgh? How great would that be!!!!!!?

Answer 1

I don't know that is would be great, but it certainly isn't a surprise. The writing has been on the wall since January!

THEY ARE GOING 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 lockouts. 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 A NHL TEAM & IT 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 is one of the most successful NHL teams in North America.

Thanks to the IHL Kansas City Blades, a team that did well in Kansas City for several years during the 1990's and even won the league Championship, Kansas City now has a well-educated base of hockey fans in the city. Today those fans have wildly embraced the idea of another chance to watch NHL hockey in Kansas City (despite the comments of some others). As evidence of this fact, one needs to look no further than the fact that all the luxury box suites in the new Sprint Center are already sold to local businesses. This is a particularly interesting fact because a recent article in a Sports Business publication indicated that most NHL franchises derive 60% of their revenue from the sales of luxury suites to local corporations. The rest comes from individual ticket sales, parking revenues, merchandise and concessions.

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. Additional Options to pay $27 million (THIS COST WILL BE TAKEN OUT OF FUTURE PROFITS NOTHING UP FRONT) 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 by the Lemieux/Burkle ownership group. The Lemieux/Burkle ownership group would also be required to pay $4.5 million annually for 30 years. So, the total out of pocket expense required by Lemieux/Burkle ownership group over 30 years = $135 million.

Also, the Lemieux/Burkle ownership group has agreed to pay cost overruns on the new arena to a certain point. The politicians in Pittsburgh have maintained that the new area won’t cost more than $270 million to build, but others, including the Lemieux/Burkle ownership group have insisted that a more realistic starting point is $290 million. The architectural firm HOK, ironically a Kansas City based company, designed the building with the same basic design features used for the new Sprint Center in Kansas City. According to HOK estimates, if construction of the Sprint Center began today, the final cost on the building would be estimated at $360 million. This fact has given the Lemieux/Burkle ownership group reason for concern because their total cost for the new arena could would look more like this: Pay $4.5 million annually for 30 years, plus an additional $70 million in potential cost overruns. Total out of pocket expense required by the Lemieux/Burkle ownership group over 30 years = $205 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)

ADDITIONAL FACTS TO CONSIDER:

The Penguins ownership group was attempting to sell the team when they thought they had an arena deal in place in Pittsburgh. This was before the Isle of Capri was denied the gaming rights by the Pennsylvania gaming commission. A potential buyer, William “Boots” Del Biaggio, is waiting in the wings in Kansas City. Del Biaggio has already agreed to purchase the controlling interest in any NHL franchise that relocates to Kansas City, thus relieving the current owners of any financial risk associated with moving to an “unknown” market. In other words, the Lemieux/Burkle ownership group could relocate the team to Kansas City without risk of losing any money in the sale or if the team runs into financial problems after the move.

Over the last ten years, Kansas City has become a world leader in BioMedical Research. Places like the Stowers Institute have attracted some of the world’s foremost leaders in cancer and stem cell research. Why is this relevant? A recent comparison of Kansas City and Pittsburgh revealed people in Kansas City have approximately $22,000 more per household in disposable income than the average Pittsburgh household. Why is this significant? Because this means they would have more disposable income to spend on entertainment events such as hockey games.

As for the “loyal hockey fans of Pittsburgh,” they look more like a bunch of fair weather fans to me. Check out the official attendance records for the team. It basically shows that they have only come out in strong support of the team when the team is winning or potentially moving. So, I don’t have much sympathy for them.

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)

Taken alone, none of these additional facts means a great deal. But when one looks at the big picture, the combined impact of all three together, it is easy to see why the Lemieux/Burkle ownership group is considering relocation.

REALIGNMENT:

As for the division alignment, it has been reported that either Detroit or Columbus would take Pittsburgh’s place in the Eastern Conference with the Kansas City franchise taking the vacancy created in the Western Conference. So, in short, the move would impact one other franchise in terms of realignment.

MY TAKE:

I lived in Minnesota when the North Stars moved to Dallas. So, I feel your pain Pens fans. But don't worry Pens fans, there is hope for you yet. It only took us 7 years to get a new expansion franchise. Maybe by then you will have better politicians in Pennsylvania who will care about hockey and the image of your city.

Answer 2

I assume you have down syndrome but its cool i understand 1/4 of Americans are retarded. The penguins are a great NHL team and they are in an awsome hockey market. They have posted the most sellouts this season. They also are 2nd in TV ratings 2nd only to the rangers. Mario has not ruled out the fact that they will work out a deal but its not looking good. Randell is an *** who only cares about Philly. Being from Pittsburgh i find that to be offensive i love the penguins and look forward to them staying for another 40 years. If the team does move and the NHL doesn't step in to stop it as they said they may do if a viable arena deal is in place me and many other Pens fans will swear off the great game of hockey at the NHL level. So i don't know whats wrong with you but if you like hockey you would realize how bad of a move this is for the NHL who are already having major problems with ratings.

Answer 3

It`s the same reason the Hartford Whalers no longer exist, Bad economy! Bad economy = poor attendance! As a die hard Red Wings fan im praying that Michigans poor economy doesnt result in the same manner. Losing a historic franchise. Pittsburgh is a "has been" city, the steel city label it has no longer has any factual meaning to the present day economy. Does anyone know that there used to be a NBA team in Pittsburgh? Why do you think they left? Dwindiling population & economy. Pittsburgh is no longer a major city, it hasnt been for almost half a century.
By the way, that ding bat HANSEN, posts the same post over and over again! It shows how dumb you really are quoting someone elses work! Way to be creative! Idiot.

Answer 4

Directed to Hanson..03-04 was a low year as was all of the NHL with the lockout inevitable. The other years are not bad attendance. Lets face it, no matter where you are at, fair weather fans will not go if the team is not winning, but the die hard core hockey fans will. Pittsburgh still had a good number of fans at the games in seasons where they werent winning. Also consider that Mellon Arena only holds around 17k fans. There is no way for their "ranking" in the league to go up if they dont have a facility that can hold them.

By the way..I see a lot of Pens fans on here debating on why they think they should stay in Pittsburgh. Where are all the KC people at with their reasons for why they want the Pens?

THEY DONT EXIST!! KEEP THE PENS WHERE THEY BELONG!!

Answer 5

I have to admit that I haven't followed this story as closely as I would like to. But If what Hanson 161718 says is true, then from a purely business prespective, relocating to Kansas City would make the most sense for the ownership group that is attempting to sell the team. For all those passionate Pens fans, remember at the end of the day, its all about the bottom line.

Answer 6

it would be horrilble for hockey. also i want to point out that the pittsburgh condors were an ABA team not NBA they started as the pipers and moved to minnesota after about 4 seasons because people in pittsburgh know that basketball isnt a real sport

Answer 7

It wouldnt be great because it just further hurts the sport of hockey. It is going to take a long time to build a fanbase in Kansas City that is as strong as in Pittsburgh, not many people know it but Kansas City is in Missouri, along with St. Louis, so its going to be hard changing many fans from blues fans to pens or scouts (the former KC team) fans no matter how bad the blues are. The city of pittsburgh along with bettman are looking to kill the sport some more, lets bring a team with a strong fan base, but poor city support to a city where a hockey team has already failed. And just to let you know im a flyers fan, and as much as i dont like the pens, i dont want them to leave, i dont like them cause of the interstate rivalry, this is one of the worst moves that can happen to hockey.

Answer 8

It's not a good thing for the fans of Pittsburgh at all. For fans in KC it's going to be great. As a business decision, it's a very good decision for the Pens' ownership group. They get a rent free, revenue sharing deal to move in and there is a group coming together to buy the franchise once it's relocated. So for Mario, it's a good deal to get out from under the franchise if he wanted to do so.

Answer 9

For all you people that think it is great that the Penguins could be leaving Pittsburgh, you are a bunch of idiots and jerks!!!!!!

Answer 10

It's horrible because if they move it will be to Kansas City, where they will just have to move again because there is no support in Kansas City for hockey (which is proven by the franchise that only lasted 2 years there). At the least they should try to move to Houston or a canadian city (Quebec City would be nice) where they would receive some local support

Answer 11

mmhmm... its sucks that the penguins are moving to KC. that just totally destroys the team's history and name.

i mean come on... does Kansas City Penguins really sound better than the Pittsburgh Penguins?