Pens may have deal Uptown, official says (KC used...deal all but done)

The Pittsburgh Tribune Review ^ | February 1, 2007 | Rob Rossi

[mcg2000]

HARRISBURG - The Penguins apparently have cut a deal with public officials to finance an Uptown arena that would keep the team in Pittsburgh, a state senator said Wednesday.

"I'm hearing that a deal could be made any day, which makes me suspect it's all about crossing the t's and dotting the i's," said Sen. Wayne Fontana, a Brookline Democrat who serves on the city-county Sports & Exhibition Authority, which would own the arena. "I don't know that there are any major hurdles left. It's all just little things."

Fontana said he expects officials to announce a deal today or Friday.

[Non-Sequitur]

KC used...deal all but done

Well of course we were used, nobody here really thought otherwise. It would have been a disaster anyway. Kansas City is not a hockey town, and the Penguins would have eventually withered and died. Basketball rules here and an NBA franchise is really what they have their eye on. But what the local promoters have shown with the Penguin negotiations is just how far they're willing to go to attract a team. You don't think that snapped open eyes in Memphis and Sacramento and New Orleans? So maybe, in their way, the Sprint Arena people were using the Penguins, too?

[mewzilla]

Does this mean the arena will be publicly financed?

[airborne]

THANK GOD!!!!

[airborne]

Hockey Ping!

[airborne]

Under an alternate financing plan headed by Rendell, Majestic Star has agreed to pay $7.5 million a year for 30 years toward an Uptown arena. The state would pay $7 million a year from a development fund backed by gambling money.

[mewzilla]

Thanks!

The state would pay $7 million a year from a development fund backed by gambling money.

Charming.

[airborne]

Mario Lemieux had a deal worked out with a financier that would have paid for everything, without one penny of taxpayer money.

But it was contingent on getting a gaming license.

Well, of course that went to one of Fast Eddie's friends,so Mario had to cut a deal with him to keep the team in the 'Burgh.

[mewzilla]

Well, of course that went to one of Fast Eddie's friends,so Mario had to cut a deal with him to keep the team in the 'Burgh.

Wow. Just when I think Fast Eddie can't get any sleazier...

[airborne]

"Fontana said Gov. Ed Rendell and Penguins co-owner Ron Burkle, a California billionaire, have held "a lot of phone conversations." The two worked together on the Democratic National Committee, and that connection helped ease tension from a Jan. 18 meeting over how to divide arena revenue, Fontana said. "

Oh, there's even more sleaze!

But as a die hard Penguins fan, I am thrilled that my team is staying in PA!

[the tongue]

"Kansas City is not a hockey town, and the Penguins would have eventually withered and died."

That's interesting, because they're withering and dying in Pittsburgh too. This won't save them. I remember about 5 years ago when the Flyers played the Pens in the playoffs, and none of the games in Pbg. sold out. Not one of them, and I believe they had three games in that series. The playoffs don't sell out in Pbg. Nobody is going to tell me that a new arena cures that. All it does is drive up the price to the average fan who won't be able to afford to go to games anymore. The same thing happened in Philadelphia when the Corestates/First Union/Wachovia Center was built, and although they almost always sell out (except this year because they SUCK) it's all corporate tickets. When they played in the Spectrum and the average Joe could afford to go to the games, that building ROCKED. The new building, because it's inhabited by disinterested corporate pole sitters on their cell phones discussing wheat futures and the next real estate deal instead of watching the game, doesn't rock, it teeters. The same will happen in Pbg., except I doubt they'll sell out.

[mewzilla]

I just hope the taxpayers down in your neck of the woods don't get screwed :)

[airborne]

That's interesting, because they're withering and dying in Pittsburgh too.

Sorry, but you're wrong.

The Pens are not only selling out at home (11 of the last 12) but they're sold out at away games.

Sidney Crosby is attracting big crowds! And the Pens have 4 players under 21,which is attracting the college crowd.

[airborne]

I just hope the taxpayers down in your neck of the woods don't get screwed :)

No more than we've been! ;^)

[mewzilla]

LOL. Roger that!

[SoothingDave]

I remember about 5 years ago when the Flyers played the Pens in the playoffs, and none of the games in Pbg. sold out. Not one of them, and I believe they had three games in that series.

You're thinking of the Pirates.

The Penguins last played the Flyers in 2000 in the playoffs. See here

Game 4 was the 5OT match that the Flyers won. Attendence given for games 3 and 6 in Pittsburgh is over 17,000, which is a sell out in Pittsburgh. I don't know why there is no attendence listed for the overtime marathon, but I don't imagine that Game 4 was not sold out since 3 and 6 were.

So your memory is faulty.

[airborne]

Cut him a little slack. He's a Flyers fan!

He must be near suicidal by now! ;^)

[SoothingDave]

I did. I didn't correct his pitiful attempt to abbreviate "Pittsburgh." :-)

[JZelle]

Why did the Kings leave? I remember watching Phil Ford back in the 70s.

[Hatteras]

"It would have been a disaster anyway. Kansas City is not a hockey town, and the Penguins would have eventually withered and died."