Penguins for sale - still and again

Lemieux brought the franchise back from its death bed when they drafted him and they went on to win two Cups. That's irrefutable.

This last go-around had nothing to do with "saving the franchise" As Smasher pointed out, it was all (rightly so) about making sure Lemieux saw some of that deferred money he was owed.
In the meantime, the city played him for a sap. If Lemieux moves the team, then it's their fault, not his.

Kansas City has already pulled down their pants so unless Pittsburgh pulls theirs down even further, that franchise is going somewhere. It's just that K-C is absolutely the wrong place. Yet another market in Bettman's bizarre universe where people don't give a shit about the sport.

 

Ugh. Watch out, KC.

 

Maybe a D_B, but it looks like KC isn't a sure bet as the Penguins new home.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=191462&hubname=

 

Okie City, believe it or not, I wouldn't have a problem with. Hockey has had a strong base there for more than 40 years, ever since the Boston Bruins first moved in with a farm team.

Portland's organized hockey history parallels that of any community in Western Canada. It was actually the first U.S. city to challenge for the Stanley Cup (1916) as well as the first to both host the Memorial Cup tournament and win the Memorial Cup (both 1983).

 

They never were. This is all a ploy, and we know it.

 

A ploy that may end up finding the Penguins outside of Pittsburgh.

 

Yep. I'm still confident Mario gets what he wants from the city and they don't go anywhere.

 

I really doubt it, Wicked. They found a way to make PNC Park financing work at a time when the city and county were in worse shape than now.

 

So, at this point, (without knowing anything about the Pittsburgh political scene), do you think Mario has more or less shamed the city politicians into building a new rink and keeping the team there?

What would be the political fallout if the Penguins move? Any at all?

 

JR

I don't know that there would be much fallout if the Penguins moved.

In the first three-quarters of the 20th century, Pittsburgh was a very important city in the US. In the last 30 years, I think it has diminished in importance. It used to dominate in terms of steel and it had that image, but that isn't as big a factor. It is my understanding that Pittsburgh had developed into something of a high-tech and university city, and this might have made it a better city for young people and a city with better prospects, but the population of the area is fairly flat. A city like Phoenix, which had no major league teams in 1965, now has four major league teams with each having their own facility.

Pittsburgh is a Steelers city. It was amazing they could build the ballpark for the Pirates. I think if there were other markets where major league baseball could flourish, the Pirates might have already moved.

If someone who lives or works in Pittsburgh now can add some light to the situation, it would be appreciated. However, what I would ask you is this - if you walk around downtown or area malls, what shirts are people wearing? Do people wear Penguins stuff?

 

Gold
Thanks
A Canadian comparable would be Hamilton. Thirty or forty years ago if you didn't go on to university, you'd get a job at Stelco or Dofasco.

I didn't realise the Steelers were the #1 team there, even over the Pirates.

I guess part of it is how much Crosby & Malkin have affected the casual hockey fan. I mean, Sid the Kids is arguably the most dynamic athlete in ANY sport right now and he's only 19.

 

Here's the real driving force behind the Pens bid to stay in Pittsburgh and get an arena built--Ronald Burkle

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/s_487856.html

Burkle sees himself as the anti-Mark Cuban, the wealthy, outspoken Mt. Lebanon-born owner of the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association, associates say.

Instead, Burkle keeps out of day-to-day team management and never would show up rink-side in a Penguins T-shirt or face paint, a spokesman said. In a rare moment, Burkle helped throw the coming-out party last season for forward Sidney Crosby by flying in Christina Aguilera to sing the national anthem at Mellon Arena.

But the billionaire has obliged whenever Mario Lemieux has asked for help. Burkle invested an estimated $20 million to save the team from bankruptcy in 1999 and last year helped negotiate the offer from Isle of Capri Casinos to build an arena with slots money.

Mario may be the face but this guy'll make it happen.

Good piece, IMO.