Penguins Get Arena Deal Done

[Ez Street]

Penguins not bound to Pittsburgh; KC eyes NHL team

By RANDY COVITZ The Kansas City Star

Kansas City?s chances of bringing the Pittsburgh Penguins to the new Sprint Center next fall greatly increased today, thanks to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.

The seven-member board denied awarding a slots license to Isle of Capri Casinos, which had pledged to commit $290 million toward a new arena that would replace the Penguins? antiquated Mellon Arena, and unanimously granted it to PITG Gaming.

Isle of Capri?s agreement with the Penguins, as part of its license application, would have legally bound the Penguins to stay in Pittsburgh for 20 years, even if the franchise, which is on the market, is sold.

The Penguins? lease at 45-year-old Mellon Arena, the oldest facility in the NHL, expires at the end of the current season. The $276 million Sprint Center is scheduled to open in October and is looking for an anchor tenant.

About a year ago, Tim Leiweke, president of Anschutz Entertainment Group, which will operate Sprint Center, said, ?If the Pittsburgh Penguins don?t have an arena deal in place by 2007, they could be the Kansas City Penguins.?

Those words could come to fruition.

William ?Boots? Del Biaggio, a San Jose, Calif., venture capitalist, has signed an agreement with AEG to own and operate an NHL franchise when one becomes available. Del Biaggio made a bid to buy the Pittsburgh franchise in 2005, but the club was taken off the market at the 11th hour after the Penguins won the right to select Sidney Crosby with the first pick of the draft.

Del Biaggio, a minority partner in the San Jose Sharks, has been a partner with Penguins owner Mario Lemieux in other ventures, including a junior hockey team in Omaha.

?If the Isle of Capri is not granted the license, then an already difficult and volatile situation will be aggravated," Commissioner Gary Bettman said last week. "It is imperative that the Penguins have a new arena on economic terms that make sense for the franchise for the team to remain in Pittsburgh."

Lemieux, Bettman and AEG were not available for comment immediately after the gaming board?s decision.

[leedsunited]

Penguins not bound to Pittsburgh; KC eyes NHL team

By RANDY COVITZ The Kansas City Star

Kansas City?s chances of bringing the Pittsburgh Penguins to the new Sprint Center next fall greatly increased today, thanks to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.

The seven-member board denied awarding a slots license to Isle of Capri Casinos, which had pledged to commit $290 million toward a new arena that would replace the Penguins? antiquated Mellon Arena, and unanimously granted it to PITG Gaming.

Isle of Capri?s agreement with the Penguins, as part of its license application, would have legally bound the Penguins to stay in Pittsburgh for 20 years, even if the franchise, which is on the market, is sold.

The Penguins? lease at 45-year-old Mellon Arena, the oldest facility in the NHL, expires at the end of the current season. The $276 million Sprint Center is scheduled to open in October and is looking for an anchor tenant.

About a year ago, Tim Leiweke, president of Anschutz Entertainment Group, which will operate Sprint Center, said, ?If the Pittsburgh Penguins don?t have an arena deal in place by 2007, they could be the Kansas City Penguins.?

Those words could come to fruition.

William ?Boots? Del Biaggio, a San Jose, Calif., venture capitalist, has signed an agreement with AEG to own and operate an NHL franchise when one becomes available. Del Biaggio made a bid to buy the Pittsburgh franchise in 2005, but the club was taken off the market at the 11th hour after the Penguins won the right to select Sidney Crosby with the first pick of the draft.

Del Biaggio, a minority partner in the San Jose Sharks, has been a partner with Penguins owner Mario Lemieux in other ventures, including a junior hockey team in Omaha.

?If the Isle of Capri is not granted the license, then an already difficult and volatile situation will be aggravated," Commissioner Gary Bettman said last week. "It is imperative that the Penguins have a new arena on economic terms that make sense for the franchise for the team to remain in Pittsburgh."

Lemieux, Bettman and AEG were not available for comment immediately after the gaming board?s decision.

Sounds like a lot of hopeful conjecture on KC's part. I think everyone knew that Isle of Capri wasn't getting the deal, hence all the talk about a serious and viable plan b in Pittsburgh.

How serious and viable? Who the hell knows. Frankly, it would be a damn shame for Pittsburgh to lose that team. It's one of the few American cities that actually knows its hockey.

[Luigi74]

Don Barden's group who got the license has claimed they would kick in money each year for 30 years to help fund an arena but the city and Pens would also have to help pay and neither of them want to pay for an arena the city needs badly. The Pens are gone unless Gary Bettman tries to have the NHL take over the team until a new arena can be built or Houston or Seattle come calling for the team, he does not want them in KC, Las Vegas, Hartford or Hamilton.

[TBGKon]

Don Barden's group who got the license has claimed they would kick in money each year for 30 years to help fund an arena but the city and Pens would also have to help pay and neither of them want to pay for an arena the city needs badly. The Pens are gone unless Gary Bettman tries to have the NHL take over the team until a new arena can be built or Houston or Seattle come calling for the team, he does not want them in KC, Las Vegas, Hartford or Hamilton.

What is Bettman's beef with KC?????? Houston already has a fairly new arena (Toyota Center) which already can support a rink, since the AHL's Aeros play there. Seattle would be a no-go right now since their arena bites for the hockey seating setup, and no new arena is planned. KC would be a smart option because there isn't much competition there (Chiefs are home 8 times a year, the Royals don't begin until April).

KC is the best option with a brand new arena and not as much competition as Houston and Seattle.

[Ez Street]

I think Bettman could care less where the team goes. Anything he has said was just to get an arena built in Pittsburgh.

It's just funny how many things can point to KC getting a team by the time the Spirnt Center opens next october.

They already have an owner, DelBiaggio.

AEG has BIG NHL ties.

All the suites are sold out at the Sprint Center.

Pittsburgh might be given the Cleveland Browns treatment. Team goes to KC but Pittsburgh keeps the name, colors, records.

I will not believe anything till I see it.

[leedsunited]

Don Barden's group who got the license has claimed they would kick in money each year for 30 years to help fund an arena but the city and Pens would also have to help pay and neither of them want to pay for an arena the city needs badly. The Pens are gone unless Gary Bettman tries to have the NHL take over the team until a new arena can be built or Houston or Seattle come calling for the team, he does not want them in KC, Las Vegas, Hartford or Hamilton.

What is Bettman's beef with KC?????? Houston already has a fairly new arena (Toyota Center) which already can support a rink, since the AHL's Aeros play there. Seattle would be a no-go right now since their arena bites for the hockey seating setup, and no new arena is planned. KC would be a smart option because there isn't much competition there (Chiefs are home 8 times a year, the Royals don't begin until April).

KC is the best option with a brand new arena and not as much competition as Houston and Seattle.

How's the hockey support in KC? My beef is that enough franchises have been moved from hockey hotbeds to cities that can be described as anything but, all chasing the glorious new arenas and the almighty dollar.

I guess it's better than freakin' Las Vegas.

[jkrdevil]

I think Bettman could care less where the team goes.

Correction, as long as it is not in Canada, specifically the Kitchner/Waterloo area.

[Cyclopsis Joe]

How come there's no big outcry? Kansas City is a long-ass way from Canada, where's all the "OMFG AMERICAN HOCKEY BLOWS" people?

[jkrdevil]

How come there's no big outcry? Kansas City is a long-ass way from Canada, where's all the "OMFG AMERICAN HOCKEY BLOWS" people?

But Pittsburgh is an American City that doesn't have ties to WHA. People only get upset when former WHA teams, that wouldn't have a team to begin with if it wasn't for the WHA, move.

[Ez Street]

The KC Blades (IHL) were well supported for a Minor League team.

KC thinks it's a Major League town. The NHL will do well in KC.

[zer0dotcom]

where's all the "OMFG AMERICAN HOCKEY BLOWS" people?

it's still early. come back again tonight, I'm sure things will have gotten feudal by then

[rmackman]

If the Penguins move I will be seriously ticked off! If they do get the Browns treatment...remember the Browns became the Ravens and won the Super Bowl...the Nordiques became the Avalanche and won two Stanley Cups. Maybe with this young rookie base the Pens move to KC, win the cup, and Pittsburgh gets a new expansion team that sucks for years to come. Man that would piss me off!

[hormone]

MOTHER FU*****

There HAS to be a politician on the take. Why deny this arena? Are there ANY CONS? It can be used for hockey, concerts, occasional basketball, and more. A BASEBALL stadium which we HAD TO HAVE TO COMPETE is only used for the Pirates and they still suck. A FOOTBALL stadium used about 20 times per year MAX is a must because it's a FOOTBALL town. The Pens had support even when they sold out the fans and gutted out the team (Jagr, Kovalev, etc deals) and were horrid for years.

As a hockey fan, and a DIE-HARD Pens fan, if they move (probably will because you can market Fleury, Crosby, and Malkin) I'm done with the NHL. They can fold as far as I care or I'll casually watch the Lightning cause I have ties in that area. I won't be purchasing any merchandise.

[Ez Street]

I cannot understand why they didn't give it to IofC. Maybe they wanted too much control. Maybe there were other terms not disclosed.

It seemed to be the perfect option for Pittsburgh.

I would hate for a town to lose a team. But I want NHL in KC. This kind of thing happens in sports these days. It sucks, but it might happen.

[NJTank]

The name Penguins is too cool to die they have to stay Penguins

[Ez Street]

Local Radio host in Kansas City, Soren Petro says he hears it might be Kansas City Monarchs.

I doubt that.

I usually agree and trust what Soren says. He seems to think it's been a done deal for a year.

AEG has said since day one that the NHL will playing here when the Sprint Center opens. They have contiuned to be positive that it will happen. They have said nothing about the NBA. NONE.

Leads me to start to believe it is possibly coming true. But I am not fully behind this thought yet.

[Ez Street]

KC Star updated it's article and added this quote...

Brenda Tinnen, general manager of Sprint Center, expressed disappointment for the fans of the Penguins, who have been a mainstay in Pittsburgh since 1967. But she also summed up the feelings of many in Kansas City.

?Let?s just say it?s beginning to look a lot like Christmas,? Tinnen said.

[jkrdevil]

Local Radio host in Kansas City, Soren Petro says he hears it might be Kansas City Monarchs.

Because when I hear the name Kansas City Monarchs I think of the sport of Ice Hockey. Seriously though that name is too historically tied to baseball and it would be a bad choice. Just call them the Scouts, I'm sure they can get the rights from the Devils.

[Maz]

This is rediculous. I have lost all hope in Pennsylvania government. And if the pens move, Im abandoning hockey altogether, no matter how much I love the sport.

Have fun with the Penguins, Kansas City. We sure did.

[yh]

I believe the LA Kings would have the right to veto the name Monarchs because of the similarity. The NHL has some sort of right of first refusal arrangement among its clubs when one organization proposes a name that is close to that of an existing club's name. The Blues actually had to give Columbus approval to use the name Blue Jackets, so I can't imagine the Kings wouldn't have the right to veto another royalty-based name and branding scheme.

That said, I can't see the name Scouts being revived, either. Too many hassles involved with trying to justify a "dignified use" of Native American terminology and/or imagery.

Kansas City Penguins sounds just fine with me, however if Pittsburgh is given the "Cleveland Deal" by the NHL, I'm sure the folks in KC will put together something good. Personally, I think Mustangs is a name long overdue for use in one of the big four pro sports leagues and would be a nice tie in to the area.