Post-Gazette Photo Are the Penguins better off in the same area as Mellon Arena?
Posted on 12/21/2006 7:27:47 PM PST by mcg2000
You didn't have to believe in omens to find it a bit odd that on the subway ride toward Mellon Arena yesterday, "I'm gettin' nuttin' for Christmas" seemed to be squawking in a continuous loop.
This was right at the top of zero hour, when the long-awaited, viciously anticipated casino licensing issue would finally be decided. Twenty minutes later, the Penguins had begun practice on the NHL's oldest living hockey pond, and at precisely 11:27 a.m., the franchise learned it was indeed getting nothing for Christmas.
Oh yeah, mommy and daddy are mad, the NHL is mad, even the Rooneys and the NFL are mad, issuing two among the day-long flurry of official tight-lipped statements that included the always vaguely threatening "our options" pill.
Reached later in the day, Steelers president Art Rooney II explained the club's primary disappointment has to do with traffic, parking and infrastructure.
"Our intention is to try to remain involved in the process," Rooney said. "We've been disappointed because we think the decision gave little weight to local interests. We assume there will be an ongoing process in terms of the various approvals that are necessary, and we'll try to protect our interests and the interests of our fans, who need to get in and out of this place."
You'll notice he didn't say that with Isle of Capri not winning the casino license, the city is going straight to hell and the Steelers might just as well move to North Carolina with Bill and Kaye and Lindsay.
When everyone calms down and the bile goes flat, I think you'll see an easily identifiable path now cleared from the huge speculative obstacle that was the licensing issue.
(Excerpt) Read more at post-gazette.com ...
In the future, please place your local stories in the chat forum.
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Maybe Mark Cuban will buy them!!!! The Kansas City Penquins...Hmmmm!!!
I sure hope so!
Hockey Ping!
The burgh was transformed after demise of steel industry. That redevelopment to me, seems no different than a new civic arena.
Grew up in west pa, have lived 15 years in alaska. Believe me, you all are taxed to death in Pa. For all they steal, you'd think the politicals would have presence of mind to ensure Pens remain.
Watch them on center ice, like being there on 61 inch HD; hope they stay with all that young talent. I watch Savran & local fox sports shows; appreciate the post.
Yup.
I'm not buying it. The Penguins are not going to put the franchise on the hook for partial costs of a new arena when they can go somewhere else and have a free new one with a richer fan base, especially since Pittsburgh really can't afford the cost of tickets to support a class act team like we once had. All that came gratis because of an owner willing to blow HIS OWN $, same as our old Pirates owner once did.
Say Bye-Bye to the Pens. After 7 years, Mario realizes he can expect nothing better than getting screwed from the state and the city. If either of them were going to come through, they would have stuck it to the taxpayers back then who didn't want to pay for ANY stadiums for ANY teams, but ended up picking up the tab to enrich the present owners at taxpayer expense because they had it forced on them - "Plan B." None of the politicians are going to screw the taxpayers to get Mario well and he isn't going to put himself into a deeper hole to partially finance a new arena, and nobody around here is going to blame him.
"Let me reach out to Mario," Onorato said. "I know he's frustrated, saying he's waited [for politicians to get things done] for seven years. But I've only been county executive for three years, and Mayor Ravenstahl's only been here for several months. The mayor and I are going to make it clear we intend to remove the uncertainty."
"The sooner the Penguins are willing to sit down," the mayor said, "the sooner the uncertainty will go away."
There's no doubt in my mind this will get done," said mayor Luke Ravenstahl. "If they are as committed as we are, the Penguins should never leave Pittsburgh."
The Penguins are regularly drawing large crowds, and sales of merchandise (thanks to stars Crosby and Malkin)are brisk.
There is a large, faithful fan base supporting the Pens that is growing thanks to the appeal of the core of young players.
Mario has lived in Pittsburgh for a long time, and his kids are growing up and going to school there.
He'll do everything he can to keep the team in Pittsburgh.
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No that should be put in the religion section. LOL!
http://www.post-gazette.com/localnews/20020513arena0513p2.asp
Good article on the Civic Arena.
But now how will the new stadium be built? If that question can't be answered, Mario might as well sell the team to Kansas City and make some $$$ out of it.
Yes, they are selling lots of tickets this year and last because of Crosby, but they have run deeply in the red for a number of years prior, including no playoff revenues for eons.
I really doubt that Mario will be willing to foot the bill for an arena so the Pittsburgh pols can keep collecting their cut of taxes. He owes them zip and zip is what they are going to get after June IMO.
I'm going to be really sorry to see them leave. I've been hooked since Mario came to town, but there are no more deep pocket owners around to buy the team and keep it here because they want it to stay. Without Mario, it would have been gone long ago.
Once again - it's a local story and doesn't belong in the main forum.
Period.
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