Penguins Get Arena Deal Done

[leedsunited]

I think Bettman could care less where the team goes.

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

Doubtful. I don't think Bettman wants the franchise to go ANYWHERE. Kitchener, KC, et al.

Frankly, it's a shame this wasn't done before teams like Winnipeg or Hartford moved, but it's about time.

[STL FANATIC]

I really would enjoy KC getting a team, but does it have to be with Pittsburgh losing theirs?

[leedsunited]

I really would enjoy KC getting a team, but does it have to be with Pittsburgh losing theirs?

Especially when markets like Phoenix and South Florida have yet to prove their worth, except for the fact that they have gleaming new arenas.

[Ez Street]

The only thing I could see that the NHL wouldn't like is...

Crosby, Malkin not playing in New York more. The East Coast would have those possible draws.

So, KC and Columbus swap divisions?

[slapshot]

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.

I think Yale was right with the Kings possibly protesting a name of the Monarchs, considering it's their AHL affiliate's nickname in Manchester.

Are there any teams whose direct affiliate (AAA or AHL) has a nickname of another team in the parent team's league?

[hormone]

I think Bettman could care less where the team goes.

He has it out for us. When we went into bankruptcy the 2nd time, he made that schedule with us, us in Portland, and without us. He always says we need a new arena, etc. He never gives us support of the team remaining here.

As to the "Cleveland" deal, F that, if they go, they will never come back...or be supported. It's third tier here.

As for the name the Monarchs...how lame with the Kings in the league.

[Ez Street]

I don't think they'd go with Monarchs.

Hey if the CFL can at one time have the Roughriders and Rough Riders....

If you are worried about similarity then...

Isn't a sea hawk similar to a falcon.

[gojetsgo]

I know they are kind of far apart, but does anyone in Kansas City support the Blues?

Oh wait, people in St. Louis don't even support the Blues. They are averaging 11,000 in posted attendance. From what I hear, average "actual butts in the seats" is closer to 5000.

So, yeah, let's put another team in Missouri.

[Roger Clemente]

A couple of division re-alignment ideas:

Nashville moves to Southeast, Washington moves to Atlantic, Kansas City in Central.

Kansas City moves to Central, Columbus is moved to Northeast, Boston is moved to Atlantic.

--Roger "Time?" Clemente.

[Luigi74]

It seems the reasons the Barden group got the bid where the fear that they would sue and tie everything up like they did when they didnt get a casino in Detroit along with cries of racism which they also did in Detroit. And the main reason is the County Exec. Dan Onorato and others high up in the state want to extend the T(Pittsburgh tiny barely used subway) to the North Side by building an tunnel under the river, it would pretty much be Pittsburgh's version of the Big Dig and alot of people will get rich off of it just like the Big Dig. The sad thing is in 5 years there will be an outcry for a new arena because concerts and other events will stop using the Civic Arena because it is so outdated and the taxpayers will cut the check. I hope the NHL lets the name, colors and records stay with the city even if they never get another team.

[Brian in Boston]

He has it out for us.

Talk about outright paranoia.

When we went into bankruptcy the 2nd time, he made that schedule with us, us in Portland, and without us.

That's called "having a contingency plan". The franchise was in bankruptcy for a SECOND time. Pardon the commissioner of the league for placing the best interests of the remainder of the league ahead of a team that managed to go "belly-up" twice. Given the fact that it was the Penguins' second brush with bankruptcy, the franchise is lucky that the commissioner produced a schedule that even considered the team remaining in Pittsburgh. He could have easily decided that the team was moving to Portland or folding... period.

He always says we need a new arena...

You do.

He never gives us support of the team remaining here.

Really? His lack of support for NHL hockey in Western Pennsylvania must be the reason for his insisting that potential owner Jim Balsillie promise to keep the Penguins in Pittsburgh regardless of the arena situation (i.e. even if the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board rejected Isle of Capri's application for a slots license... and the arena they promised to build).

There are a great many people responsible for what appears to be the imminent demise of the Penguins in Pittsburgh, just as there were a great many people responsible for the franchise's previous financial troubles. Frankly, it isn't Gary Bettman's fault that the franchise is in trouble.

[oz615]

Nashville moves to Southeast, Washington moves to Atlantic, Kansas City in Central.

Make the most logical sense IMO.It will be a most interesting to see what happens now.

[leedsunited]

All things being equal, and the Pens HAVE to move, i'd much rather see them in Southern Ontario than any other American city. It's only fair, considering how completely unworthy American markets have pillaged smaller Canadian cities for their franchises.

[youcan'tseeme]

if the Pens move to the West then Detroit will shift into the East, the NHl has already promised them this since Nashville and Columbus joined the league, due to that fact Detroit is in the Eastern time zone and have to travel out far west it's really tough on them, that being said I would love to see this team in Quebec City, it would be great for crosby playing close to home and would create an instant rivarly with Montreal, the new Battle of Quebec, hey it worked with Ottawa why not Quebec City?

[Luigi74]

For people doubting Pittsburgh as a hockey market, they are #1 in local tv ratings for US teams yes higher than so-called Hockeytown and last night for the Pens-Blues game on Vs. the Pittsburgh rating was 3.7 while the St. Louis was 0.06, the team went bankrupt twice because the NHL let moron's and crooks buy the team and run it into the ground.

[jkrdevil]

The only thing I could see that the NHL wouldn't like is...

Crosby, Malkin not playing in New York more. The East Coast would have those possible draws.

So, KC and Columbus swap divisions?

I think that's part of the reason why the league really would like the team to stay in Pittsburgh. As is the Penguins come into the New York City area 12 times a year and the play a New York City area team 32 times a year. If Crosby goes out west you can bet the schedule will be changed.

As for realignment if the Pens move out west (to Kansas City). There is no reason fro Columbus to move into the Atlantic if there is no Pittsburgh team. That leaves them quite far from the other Atlantic division teams wigh are located in metropolitan New York and Philadelphia. Maybe move Nashville in the south east and move the Caps back into the Atlantic where they have historic rivalries with every team in the division. The Capitals got screwed the most by the realignment. Another is move Detroit in the northeast and Boston to the Atlantic where they too have some bad blood with the Atlantic Division teams.

[CJR]

The rumor for years has been that the Detroit organization has already petitioned the league to move into the Eastern Conference should a spot open up.

[oz615]

For people doubting Pittsburgh as a hockey market, they are #1 in local tv ratings for US teams yes higher than so-called Hockeytown and last night for the Pens-Blues game on Vs. the Pittsburgh rating was 3.7 while the St. Louis was 0.06, the team went bankrupt twice because the NHL let moron's and crooks buy the team and run it into the ground.

i take it that you're a Savran on Sportsbeat viewer as well.

[BBTV]

For people doubting Pittsburgh as a hockey market, they are #1 in local tv ratings for US teams yes higher than so-called Hockeytown and last night for the Pens-Blues game on Vs. the Pittsburgh rating was 3.7 while the St. Louis was 0.06, the team went bankrupt twice because the NHL let moron's and crooks buy the team and run it into the ground.

Being that I spend significant time in Pittsburgh (and went to college in the area) I don't doubt this at all. The Pens do have a pretty large and loyal fan base, and Pittsburgh is def. a good hockey town.

However, the number that goes with the TV ratings that happens to be missing is the local revenue. Not trashing Pittsburgh at all (I happen to really like a lot of things about the city) but it just doesn't have the economy that most of the other cities with pro sports have. The Pirates and Pens are traditionally near the bottom of their leagues in terms of local revenue (I'll post the source once I find it again) due to market size and other economic factors. If there truly was money to be made, someone would step in and buy the team and build an arena there, like Ed Snider did in Philadelphia (before Comcast was part of the picture.)

One thing I liked about going to games at the igloo was their "student rush" program, where students could get tix for $15. However, the fact that they even have (or at least had) a program like that says something in itself.

I hope it works out for Pittsburgh, but in all honesty, the city can't afford to dump public money into it, and nobody out there sees it as a worthwhile investment (don't give me IOC - they just care about the slots) so it probably won't.

[-Helix-]

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.

KC voted that they'd rather have an NHL team than an NBA team. That's pretty good support if you ask me.

And I disagree with the Vegas part. Las Vegas will be a goldmine for whatever league moves into there first. They would have nothing to compete with and could dominate the area.

Everyone is just cautious because of the things Las Vegas is associated with. Which you can't blame them for being - would you really want young, rich athletes living in Las Vegas? That's just asking for trouble.