| Pittsburgh Penguins mull move to K.C. |
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Wingsfan
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Pittsburgh Penguins mull move to K.C.
I really hate when franchises get moved. If this happens it should would suck for Penguin fans.
As a side note... I am going to see the Penns play Florida a week from today.
 John
Mario Lemieux and other members of the Pittsburgh Penguins' ownership group were meeting with Kansas City officials and representatives of the Sprint Center on Wednesday.
The future of the franchise in Pittsburgh has been in doubt after the Pennsylvania Gaming Commission rejected a slot application by Isle of Capri Casinos, which had promised to build a $290 million arena for the Penguins if its bid were approved.
"We are meeting with officials in Kansas City today as part of our effort to explore all of our options regarding a new arena," Lemieux said in a statement on the team's Web site. "We have heard many great things about their new building, which is scheduled to open in time for the start of the 2007-08 NHL season."
Pittsburgh plays in the 45-year-old Mellon Arena, the NHL's oldest venue, and would have to stay there for several more years even if a new arena deal could be reached. The franchise's current lease expires in June.
Meanwhile, Kansas City has the $272 million Sprint Center under construction and set to open in the fall. It is searching for an anchor tenant but has already sold out its 72 luxury suites.
Kansas City is believed to be the first city to extend an invitation for a visit to Lemieux and the Penguins' ownership team. Other cities that have expressed interest in the Penguins are Houston, Winnipeg, Portland, Ore., and possibly Oklahoma City.
Remaining in Pittsburgh is also a possibility.
Lemieux and the ownership group plans to meet with Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato and Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl on Thursday to discuss options.
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| 01-03-2007 01:43 PM |
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AdrocK
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RE: Pittsburgh Penguins mull move to K.C.
yeah i dont want to see pittsburgh move! id much rather see a non-hockey town team like columbus or a florida move as i dont feel florida can handle two teams, and the more likely to move out of miama would be the panthers, and frankley what have columbus done to improve the game of hockey? not much apart from being a place where older players go to retire!
im not saying that either team is a bad team or anything like that, io just find them both in markets where it is already populated by another team, and doesnt have a big enough market to thrive right now or in the moderate future.
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| 01-04-2007 01:16 AM |
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Wingsfan
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RE: Pittsburgh Penguins mull move to K.C.
I am just curious why you think Florida can't have two hockey teams?
I can tell you this... I have season tickets to the Panthers. If we were to lose the Panthers I surely wouldn't get season tickets to the Lightning. I drive 45 minutes to an hour already to go to games. Tampa is a lot further away (4 hours +).
There are a few things you may not realize about Florida. One, we have very strong hockey programs down here. What I mean by that is youth and adult hockey are very much alive and well in Florida. Second is there is a TON of money in Florida. We have A LOT of people in Florida that are rich beyond imagination. You are probably wondering what rich people have to do with hockey? They are the people buying all the expensive club level seats, suites, and season tickets to lower level seats. I don't think the Panthers at least are hurting for cash.
I can't say I think Columbus has hurt the league. I thought they always had a pretty good crowd at their games.
Besides, I thought this was about not moving or taking franchises away from people.
This post was last modified: 01-04-2007 01:25 PM by Wingsfan.
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| 01-04-2007 09:37 AM |
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Danimal
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RE: Pittsburgh Penguins mull move to K.C.
I don't think Columbus has really had enough time to give a reason for a moving them. They get decent crowds and the team hasn't done anything yet to deserve them. You have to give expansion teams a chance to get established before talking about moving them. I don't want any teams moving but if they move any team it should be Pittsburgh, New Jersey or the Islanders. These are both teams that have been around for a long time, have all one Stanley Cups and don't draw crowds. I would say the fans on Long Island at least have a reason to stay away they have only been to the playoffs 4 times in the last 12 years and haven't won a playoff round since 1993.
I don't know how Lemiuex is going to be able to move the team if Balsille wasn't allowed to. I assume the reason they don't want the team moving is because if KC gets a team the NHL wants an expansion fee for it. I would guess that the main reason for this meeting is for the current owners to put pressure on Pittsburgh and Pennsylvania publically.
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| 01-04-2007 02:21 PM |
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AdrocK
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RE: Pittsburgh Penguins mull move to K.C.
I am just curious why you think Florida can't have two hockey teams?
I can tell you this... I have season tickets to the Panthers. If we were to lose the Panthers I surely wouldn't get season tickets to the Lightning. I drive 45 minutes to an hour already to go to games. Tampa is a lot further away (4 hours +).
There are a few things you may not realize about Florida. One, we have very strong hockey programs down here. What I mean by that is youth and adult hockey are very much alive and well in Florida. Second is there is a TON of money in Florida. We have A LOT of people in Florida that are rich beyond imagination. You are probably wondering what rich people have to do with hockey? They are the people buying all the expensive club level seats, suites, and season tickets to lower level seats. I don't think the Panthers at least are hurting for cash.
I can't say I think Columbus has hurt the league. I thought they always had a pretty good crowd at their games.
Besides, I thought this was about not moving or taking franchises away from people.
I just dont think that florida can compete with tampa. i mean look at what florida have done with their franchise player, Roberto Luongo. they pissed him off enough (by not making playoffs, and management isues) to leave and thats not very good for fans. granted, the panthers did pick up some good players in return for him, but it hasnt changed anything for the panthers. unless the panthers can start making and winning playoff games i stand by what i say when i feel florida should be higher on the moving list than the pens.
as for columbus, i honestly havent found it much of a hockey town. the other 3 new comers, Atlanta, Minnesota, and Carolina, have atleast had hockey backgrounds, (atlana having the flames, minnesota having the stars, and carolina having the whalers) and they have all been relatively successfull, and these teams have atleast been improving their clubs substantially, and thats something i cant see with columbus.
Danimal, Wingsfan... im not having a go at either team here. I really like both teams. Infact, Olli Jokinen and Nikolia Zherdev are two players that i am really fond about. im just merely throwing my two sense into the pot. I really dont want the pens to move, because i used to love the pens v caps rivalry... they were always good fun, and my 2nd fave rivalry of all time! (2nd only to Boston v Habs.)
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| 01-04-2007 07:09 PM |
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Wingsfan
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RE: Pittsburgh Penguins mull move to K.C.
I don't think Loungo wanted to go. He was traded not of his wishes. He said he wanted to stay in Florida. He made some demands and unfotunately management decided they would let him go. It was a mistake in my opinion.
We got Bertuzzi who has been injured most of the season. He has played 7 games. I think he might leave Florida after this season when he becomes a free agent. Then the trade for Loungo will really be a bunk deal.
I still think you don't realize what Florida has to offer.
Earlier I failed to mention the amount of tourists I see at the games. Just last week I think there as many out of town Hab fans at the game as there was Cats fans. I see alot of foreign people at the Panther games too. Miami is a popular place for foreigners to come visit.
The one thing I don't like about Florida is that the coach is also the GM. I think that does away with some of the checks and balances that a successful franchise needs.
I think it is a shame when any team moves. (IE Hartford, Winnepeg, The Stars)
John
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| 01-04-2007 07:29 PM |
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AdrocK
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RE: Pittsburgh Penguins mull move to K.C.
I don't think Loungo wanted to go. He was traded not of his wishes. He said he wanted to stay in Florida. He made some demands and unfotunately management decided they would let him go. It was a mistake in my opinion.
We got Bertuzzi who has been injured most of the season. He has played 7 games. I think he might leave Florida after this season when he becomes a free agent. Then the trade for Loungo will really be a bunk deal.
from what i remember of the situation, Luongo was mega pissed at management for whatever reasons and was going to leave florida anyway so they traded him to get something back. Bertuzzi may leave but yeah im not to fond of him after the steve moore incident. his style of play is good, but its just a shame that he will be remeembered for that one moment. it was definately a bad thing that he left florida. He was the future of Florida.
look i dont want any team to move... especially to kansas city. it just seems a bit weird to have a kansas team. i dont know really.
it sucks that teams may have to move. i dont want to see it happen but i guess we will have to wait and see.
if a team is to move i agree that it would most likely be pittsburg. they dont have a newer arena and thats pretty bad for a team who is in a league such as the NHL is now.
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| 01-04-2007 07:51 PM |
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Wingsfan
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RE: Pittsburgh Penguins mull move to K.C.
Heres a quote from todays paper from Loungo about the trade.
I will just post the quote. Here's a link to the whole story - Loungo Story - Palm Beach Post
John
"It was strange," he said. "My plans were to stay in South Florida. I was made to be the bad guy once it was done and that's the sad thing. People around me, who knew me for five years, were throwing me under the bus. That part really hurt my feelings more than anything else."
This post was last modified: 01-08-2007 11:36 AM by Wingsfan.
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| 01-08-2007 11:34 AM |
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AdrocK
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RE: Pittsburgh Penguins mull move to K.C.
well that just goes to show i have my facts wrong. i am sorry for thinking something else!
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| 01-09-2007 01:48 AM |
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datsyukdangler
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RE: Pittsburgh Penguins mull move to K.C.
I do think a hockey team in kansas city would be a little weird. But, that is because we are used to having no team in kansas city. Just my opinion.
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| 01-09-2007 07:56 AM |
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