Mario feels betrayed by lack of new arena

The Pittsburgh Post -Gazette ^ | Thursday, June 05, 2003 | The Associated Press

[Willie Green]

Shortly after the sun poked through the clouds at Mario Lemieux's celebrity golf tournament today, the host cast a few shadows over the Penguins' future in Pittsburgh.

Lemieux, the team's owner and star, said he still hasn't decided whether he will play next year and expressed pessimism about the team's future in the city if it can't secure financial backing for a new $270 million arena.

[Benrand]

Maybe the city really didn't need that damn ugly convention center after all...

Dan Rooney put his money where his mouth is, or so it goes, when building Heinz...

[NittanyLion]

In other words, Mario's upset that he can't strongarm the city into using taxpayer funds to build his team a new arena.

He should save the city some time and resources and just try to rob people directly. Why send some bureaucrat to do your dirty work?

[Willie Green]

Mario Lemieux is a whiney jagoff.

There's not a doggone thing wrong with playing in the Civic Arena.
That landmark structure is sound and solidly built.
If maintained, it should be good well into the next century.

[kevkrom]

While I'm personally against taxpayer-funded stadiums, didn't the city promise Mario when he took ownership of the Pens that they would finance a new stadium?

[Pres Raygun]

How could the good folks of Pittsburgh pay for a new arena when they could be paying for a state of the art Maglev system instead? Outrageous.

[Willie Green]

didn't the city promise Mario when he took ownership of the Pens that they would finance a new stadium?

I don't believe so.
As an overpaid player, Mario simply assumed control of the franchise when the previous owners went bust. Had nothing to do with the city, as I recall. Simply a matter that the owners couldn't afford to pay Mario the salary he was owed, so they gave him the club.

[MattinNJ]

Don't worry, I'm sure my beloved Rangers will be more than happy to give him mega bucks now that he is way past his prime.

[kevkrom]

I remember the circumstances (this wasn't too long after I moved to DC from Pittsburgh) of Mario basically accepting ownership as payment for his back salary. I also recall at the time that the financing deal to keep the team in Pittsburgh had some discussion as to the possibility of a new arena. I just don't remember who made what promises to whom... it's been too long.

[Willie Green]

How could the good folks of Pittsburgh pay for a new arena when they could be paying for a state of the art Maglev system instead? Outrageous.

You got that right !
Considering that the downtown magport location would make the current arena much more conveniently accessible to fans, it doesn't make one iota of sense to put tax dollars directly into Mario's pocket when you can have improved transportation infrastructure that benefits everybody!

[kevkrom]

An airport maglev would be good. Extending the "T" to the North Shore (stadiums, hospital, and possibly even a [renovated] Allegheny Center mall) with a look to eventually heading into the North Hills, as well as another line to Oakland/Shadyside/Squirrel Hill would also be a good idea.

[Willie Green]

I just don't remember who made what promises to whom... it's been too long.

It was so long ago that I doubt anybody made any promises to Mario.
At that point in time, the politicians weren't even certain if they could shove new baseball and football stadia up the taxpayers' butts. (The taxpayers of the 'Burgh subsequently voted those down in a referendum, but the state stepped in and crammed it down the taxpayers' throats with "Plan B")

No, I don't think anything was promised to Mario.
He's just whining because he thinks it's his turn to suck the taxpayers' blood.

[RichInOC]

I'm guessing Pens fans feel betrayed that their team ended the season in the division cellar and way out of contention for the playoffs.

[Willie Green]

An airport maglev would be good. Extending the "T" to the North Shore (stadiums, hospital, and possibly even a [renovated] Allegheny Center mall) with a look to eventually heading into the North Hills, as well as another line to Oakland/Shadyside/Squirrel Hill would also be a good idea.

Yeah, the four proposed Maglev stops are the airport, downtown, Monroeville and Greensburg. Downtown is actually such a small area that, once you manage to get there, most everything is within reasonable walking distance: the Point, the arena, the convention center, etc. etc.
The "T" to the North Shore and the stadiums also makes sense. I actually preferred the maglev route that would have put a magport on the North Shore to facilitate more development there (hotels, restaurants and such). Then people could've taken the "T" under the river to downtown. I guess it doesn't make much difference, either way works.

Something to improve downtown travel from Oakland/Shadyside/Squirrel Hill, like you mention, also makes sense, although I'm not quite sure of any specific proposals. It'd be kinda nice to pick up Wilkensburg, East Liberty and Highland Park with that, even though they're a little more distant.

[kevkrom]

I actually lived in Allegheny Center my first year in Pittsburgh, before heading out to the South Hills (walking distance from the "T" from both home and work), and often looked at the near-deserted mall there, wondering if they would just put a "T" stop in the basement, what it could do for the area (another Station Square, perhaps?)...

As for getting that east line going, the most direct solution would be to go under Forbes or 5th, but I can't even imagine the traffic nightmares that would cause during construction.

[Willie Green]

As for getting that east line going, the most direct solution would be to go under Forbes or 5th, but I can't even imagine the traffic nightmares that would cause during construction.

Why rip up the roads when you can tunnel?
Just burrow under the Hill District and pop-up somewhere near Pitt's Cathedral of Learning or Carnegie Museum. It's not like it'd be the first tunnel ever dug in the Pittsburgh area, that's fer sure.

[retrokitten]

Don't worry, I'm sure my beloved Rangers will be more than happy to give him mega bucks now that he is way past his prime.

Oh yeah?? Well, not if my Blackhawks don't get to him first!

[buzzyboop]

I do not support a new arena, and there's plenty of public money in Heinz field, not to mention PNC next door.

However, I do understand Mario's need to be more competitive both finacially and as a team. And the Igloo just ain't gonna cut it. It's so jammed now, with all the additions made 10 years and more ago.

I will be sorry to see the Penguins move to Portland or wherever, but it's not worth it anymore. Enough is too much.