41 replies to this topic

[cityhockeyfever]

Hey, everyone... as I'm sure you've been hearing this particular hockey news story throughout the week,
the day has arrived in what bid won the Pennsylvania slots license.

The Pittsburgh Penguins unveiled their financing plan for a long awaited new downtown arena on December 21, 2005.
Two partners were named to join the team in their quest to be awarded a slots license that would raise
the needed funding for a billion-dollar redevelopment project in the Uptown section of the city (including the new arena).
This project proposal called "Pittsburgh First" would've revitalized downtown Pittsburgh.
All applications were submitted one week later.

Since that time, support had been building in favor of the Penguins' new arena plan. A key development on
January 11, 2006 surfaced where 18 city, county and state lawmakers gave their endorsement to this project proposal.

Today, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board made its final decision on which of three applicants will be awarded
the coveted gaming slots license. Majestic Star (PITG/North Shore) has won the rights for a gaming slots license
to build a casino in Pittsburgh. Now that the Isle of Capri bid failed to gain approval, the Pittsburgh Penguins' chances
of getting a new arena built and securing their long-term future is now in serious doubt without the guaranteed funding
from that proposed plan.

Stay tuned for my posting of additional news sources for more on this developing story!


KDKA-TV (Pittsburgh) (December 20):
North Shore plan wins slots license

WTAE-TV (Pittsburgh) (December 20):
PITG wins gaming license; casino coming to North Shore

WPXI-TV (Pittsburgh)
PITG Gaming gets Pittsburgh's slot license

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
*Bill Toland's Casino Journal page
PITG wins slots casino license for North Side

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
*Pittsburgh Slots special report page
And the winner is... Majestic Star

[socalcustoms]

Hey, everyone... as I'm sure you've been hearing this particular hockey news story throughout the week,
the day has arrived in what bid won the Pennsylvania slots license.

The Pittsburgh Penguins unveiled their financing plan for a long awaited new downtown arena on December 21, 2005.
Two partners were named to join the team in their quest to be awarded a slots license that would raise
the needed funding for a billion-dollar redevelopment project in the Uptown section of the city (including the new arena).
This project proposal called "Pittsburgh First" would've revitalized downtown Pittsburgh.
All applications were submitted one week later.

Since that time, support had been building in favor of the Penguins' new arena plan. A key development on
January 11, 2006 surfaced where 18 city, county and state lawmakers gave their endorsement to this project proposal.

Today, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board made its final decision on which of three applicants will be awarded
the coveted gaming slots license. Majestic Star (PITG/North Shore) has won the rights for a gaming slots license
to build a casino in Pittsburgh. The Pittsburgh Penguins getting a new arena built and securing their long-term future
is now in serious doubt without the guaranteed funding that Isle of Capri proposed in their plan.

Stay tuned for my posting of news sources for more on this developing story!

They aren't going anywhere. Gary Bettman will not allow that team to move.

The NHL's advisors that work for Bettman are going to be helping the Penguins secure a financial partner to build an arena and there are already 2 new potential owners interested in purchasing the Penguins. Both of them have enough money and influence to get an arena built in Pittsburgh.

[DropThePuck]

Hey, everyone... as I'm sure you've been hearing this particular hockey news story throughout the week,
the day has arrived in what bid won the Pennsylvania slots license.

The Pittsburgh Penguins unveiled their financing plan for a long awaited new downtown arena on December 21, 2005.

You have a time machine and you've come back to tell us about their financing plan a day ahead??



Edit: Erp ... I've definitely got to make sure I've had my coffee first to jumpstart me ... I missed the year on the date ... sigh ...

[Todrick]

Hey, everyone... as I'm sure you've been hearing this particular hockey news story throughout the week,
the day has arrived in what bid won the Pennsylvania slots license.

The Pittsburgh Penguins unveiled their financing plan for a long awaited new downtown arena on December 21, 2005.

You have a time machine and you've come back to tell us about their financing plan a day ahead??

LOL...

looks like someone had a time machine and sent you forward from the past... without you knowing it

[wildcat48]

They aren't going anywhere. Gary Bettman will not allow that team to move.

The NHL's advisors that work for Bettman are going to be helping the Penguins secure a financial partner to build an arena and there are already 2 new potential owners interested in purchasing the Penguins. Both of them have enough money and influence to get an arena built in Pittsburgh.

The Penguins are as good as gone.....As soon as the lease is expired, this team will be sold and it will be moved.....Betteman is going to wish he didn't close the door on Jim Ballislie.

Right now, the only two bidders for the team were Frank D'Angelo (Steelback Brewery) and Mark Cuban. The NHL has no interest in dealing with Cuban because Bettman and NBA Commish David Stern do talk....and D'Angelo was denied the right to buy a CFL franchise in Ottawa because they felt he wasn't on the up an up. Much like Rod Bryden, he is using borrowed money.

Anybody who comes into buy this team is not going to agree to Plan B. It doesn't make finanical sense. Which is why Ballisile backed out of the deal when the NHL made demands he keep the Pens in Pitts at all cost.

If a new arena is built it won't come at the expense of the new owners.

[ahtikullervo]

...

[Dark Knight]

Snake Eyes

''The decision by the gaming commission was terrible news for the Penguins, their fans and the NHL,'' Bettman said in a statement. ''The future of this franchise in Pittsburgh is uncertain and the Penguins now will have to explore all other options, including possible relocation. The NHL will support the Penguins in their endeavours.''

Read More >>

[jojo983]

What a sad day for Pens fans.

[socalcustoms]

Quebec Penguins?
Winnipeg Penguins??

I still don't think they are going anywhere but I guess we'll have to wait and see.

[Dark Knight]

Quebec Penguins?
Winnipeg Penguins??

I still don't think they are going anywhere but I guess we'll have to wait and see.

Kansas City Penguins? They're building a state of the art $276 million, 18,500-seat arena to open October 2007 and they want a team...

LINK

Edited by Dark Knight, 20 December 2006 - 01:13 PM.

[socalcustoms]

Quebec Penguins?
Winnipeg Penguins??

I still don't think they are going anywhere but I guess we'll have to wait and see.

Kansas City Penguins? They're building a state of the art arena to open October 2007 and they want a team...

LINK

The guys on XM Radio are saying that the team (if moved) would go somewhere in Canada. (Winnipeg, Quebec, or Southern Ontario)

The Kansas City politicians have already struck a deal with a certain person who is trying to buy an NHL franchise (can't remember his name)

They XM guys said he is not interested in the Penguins.

[socalcustoms]

Phil Esposito on the XM Radio show "In the Slot" just said he expects them to move to Kansas City because of the new arena...

I guess more than a few people on XM have differing opinions on where the team will go.

The previous post I wrote was about Kansas City. The owner of ANY franchise that goes to Kansas City will be William DelBiaggio, a San Jose-based businessman, who has an agreement in place. If he doesn't buy the Penguins, they aren't going to Kansas City.

[Lonewolf81LA]

Phil Esposito on the XM Radio show "In the Slot" just said he expects them to move to Kansas City because of the new arena...

I guess more than a few people on XM have differing opinions on where the team will go.

The previous post I wrote was about Kansas City. The owner of ANY franchise that goes to Kansas City will be William DelBiaggio, a San Jose-based businessman, who has an agreement in place. If he doesn't buy the Penguins, they aren't going to Kansas City.

That arena looks like a gigantic disco ball! Interesting...

My thoughts and feelings that I got on the whole matter are:

1) DeAngelo said he'd "pay" for the arena entirely, so long as he puts his company name on the arena placards... Steelback Arena isn't too too shabby...

2) DeAngelo would also not move the team from Pittsburgh....

3) Only reason Balsillie didn't go forward with the purchase was because he wanted to move the team to Hamilton. That's my guesstimation since Bettman put up the decree. I think this decree will ultimately save the Pittsburgh Penguins.

4) Kansas City will not be an NHL city til theres another expansion. The only way that happens is if theres other cities involved, and I think Bettman wants to go to Canada first... Not to mention that, but ... seriously.... There would need to be some realignment (a la Tampa Bay and Toronto) if the Pens go to KC.... The Penguins would then be a Western Conference team. I think Nashville would end up in the Eastern Conference, and go to the Southeast Division. Then Washington would go to the Atlantic to fill in the Penguins' old spot.....

[Dark Knight]

Lemieux pulls Pens off market

Owner Mario Lemieux says the team is off the market and he will investigate relocating the Penguins outside Pennsylvania.

"It is time to take control of our own destiny," Lemieux said Thursday in a statement issued by the team.

Lemieux said he needs to take into consideration the long-term viability of the team and begin discussions with other cities that may be interested in an NHL franchise.

But he also said he'll continue to investigate an arena plan in Pittsburgh.

Read More >>

From the Kansas City Star...

The new Sprint Center, which will open in October, is seen as a prime venue for relocation. But any team wanting to move to Kansas City would have to be on the market and sell all or part of its franchise to William “Boots” Del Biaggio III, who has a contract with Sprint Center to operate an NHL club.

Del Biaggio, a limited investor in the San Jose Sharks, has had business dealings with Lemieux, including partnership in a junior team in Omaha, so that could work in Kansas City’s favor.

Also, former NHL superstar Luc Robitaille, a boyhood friend and former teammate of Lemieux’s with the Penguins and partner in the Omaha club, is now an executive with Anschutz Entertainment Group, which will manage Sprint Center. One of Robitaille’s roles is to help bring an NHL team to Sprint Center, and his connection with Lemieux could facilitate a partnership with Lemieux.

Read More >>

[bova80]

I'm from pittsburgh and also a pens fan, ducks fan 1st of course. But I dont think they'll be leaving. A deal will be struck in the upcoming weeks. Demolition on the site where the new arena will be located starts in January.

[Lonewolf81LA]

All I'll say about this is: If I was a Penguins fan, I wouldn't want my team moving out of town just to end up playing inside that hideous-looking gigantic disco ball....

[Dark Knight]

All I'll say about this is: If I was a Penguins fan, I wouldn't want my team moving out of town just to end up playing inside that hideous-looking gigantic disco ball....

bottom 1/2 of a disco ball anyway...

[DropThePuck]

'It's exciting news that Mario made that statement,' said Del Biaggio, a San Jose-based businessman and limited partner in the NHL's San Jose Sharks. 'It means the Kansas City market and other markets are now an option, where before they weren't.

'This is now going to be a beauty contest with other cities that want a team. Now, more than ever, it's important that Kansas City can show the kind of support an NHL team needs.'

<link>

[Dark Knight]

I'm in KC right now and there's quite a bit of buzz about the possibility of an NHL team moving here...

[Lonewolf81LA]

I swear, I think I'm going to call that Sprint Center Studio 54, so I'm calling it if they're moving to KC.... The dancing Penguin will be enough for me.... I can see all the propaganda now....

[Tomato Assasin]

Lemieux meets with Kansas City officials

Mario Lemieux will meet with Kansas City officials Wednesday as part of the process of evaluating future options for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Link

[GLOVESAVE35]

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - The Pittsburgh Penguins could play rent-free and be equal managing partners in the new Sprint Center if they move to Kansas City, under an offer unveiled Thursday by the arena's operating group.

Tim Leiweke, president of Anschutz Entertainment Group, said the Penguins would not have to buy into the management agreement. The US$276-million Sprint Center is scheduled to open in October.

Read more here

[Todrick]

hope Pittsburgh residents can cope without a hockey team...

"Rent Free"?
they are as good as gone.

[conway96]

They keep playing up "Plan B" on the local news that we will get a new arena... but the KC deal sounds so much better.

It is sad but the Penguins are treated like the reject team around here. All anybody cares about are the Steelers and the losing Pirates sell out because of the cheap tickets.

I've been to 4 Pens games this year and we still seem to be getting a nice sized crowd there. And, no one harasses you if you wear a Ducks jersey

Heck, when have the area was filled with Tornoto fans only one got a pie in his face

[Lonewolf81LA]

They keep playing up "Plan B" on the local news that we will get a new arena... but the KC deal sounds so much better.

It is sad but the Penguins are treated like the reject team around here. All anybody cares about are the Steelers and the losing Pirates sell out because of the cheap tickets.

I've been to 4 Pens games this year and we still seem to be getting a nice sized crowd there. And, no one harasses you if you wear a Ducks jersey

Heck, when have the area was filled with Tornoto fans only one got a pie in his face

Sure does sound better.... Especially when rent is free and the Pens keep the profits????? How can ANYONE say no to that?