Report - Pens / Pitt agree on arena deal

[Santacapper]

The Sports Network
3/13/2007 2:00:45 AM
Pittsburgh, PA (Sports Network) - The Pittsburgh Penguins have reportedly reached an agreement with city, county and state officials for the financing of a new arena that will keep the club in Pittsburgh for the next 30 years.
According to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, specifics of the $290 million deal will be announced Tuesday, prior to the Pens' game against Buffalo at Mellon Arena, which has housed the club since joining the NHL in 1967.
The Penguins' lease at the 46-year-old Mellon Arena, which is the oldest facility remaining in the league, expires on June 30, at which point the team is free to leave.
The city-county Sports & Exhibition Authority will own the arena, which will be operated by the Penguins, under the terms of the 30-year lease. The state will pay $7.5 million annually from a state economic development fund and slot machine revenues.
Don Barden, who owns Majestic Star Casino LLC, has been awarded the slots license for Pittsburgh, and will pay $7.5 million a year. The team will pay $3.8 million a year, in addition to $400,000 a year in capital improvements, according to the newspaper.

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Mediated by NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, the agreement was reportedly reached last Thursday between club co-owners Mario Lemieux and Ron Burkle, PA governor Ed Rendell, Pittsburgh mayor Luke Ravenstahl, and Allegheny County chief executive Dan Onorato.
Before the agreement Lemieux threatened to relocate the team and trips to Las Vegas and Kansas City ensued, as those two cities tried to woo the Penguins from the Steel City.

 

[mogo]

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07072/769032-85.stm


i told you the pens were not going anywhere!!!! it's about time we get the good news!!!

pens fans and pittsburghers everywhere rejoice!!!

:dance3: :dance3: :dance3:

 

[mogo]

big game tonight too against the buffalo sabres....

IT'S A HOCKEY NIGHT IN PITTSBURGH!!!!

 

[Santacapper]

Certainly a good day to be a Penguins fan no doubt Mogo. Happy for you and Joe and whoever else around CTG is from Pitt / a fan

 

[frankiegotti]

I am really surprised that the penguins stayed in pittsburgh. I thought rendell shot off his mouth a little too much for the penguins to stay.

 

[Joe Public]

Thank you, Hockey Gods.

Good to see they finally got their heads out of their *ss. What pulling teeth that was. But, for whatever reason, I really had faith on this one.

Good for the team, great for the city and the fans.

Let's Go Pens.

 

[Santacapper]

No doubt should add a little jump to their step / fans enthusiasm down for a playoff run.

Knowing they will be in Pittsburgh for sure now has to be a load off everybody's mind

 

[Joe Public]

Yeah, I actually think there's a lot of value with them tonight.

They'll announce the deal at a press conference before the game, assuredly announce it at the start of the game and it really should get that place fired up and ready to go.

 

[Santacapper]

gotta like getting a struggling Sabres team coming into your buildig after an announcement like that.

In the long haul, I think 2 rounds deep max this season. Playoffs are all about the little things

Last change / coaching, Ive never been a big Therrien fan and think he can be outcoached by most, if not all the playoff coaches going in. Crosby will have a shadow and will not see much open ice, kind of like Tucker vs Alfreddson etc.

Hot goalie, as good as Fleury is I have never seen him as a stand on his head and stel a game on the road for his team when they need it, like a DiPietro vs the Rangers the other night.

Blue line / defensive forwards, been said before, but to win 16 games you need some guys to grind with the other teams stars. Like Crosby will be a shadow, Im not so sure who Therrien will put on say a Drury / Briere if they met up.

They do have alot going from them, so this isnt to say they wouldnt, more to say it would surprise me. Again, this year. If they can get Fleury hot and find a way to stay away from the 'upper and lower body injuries' they have the skill to do it.

If they stay in tact for years, and this is exactly why the CBA was set up this way, they will be something else. Having a permanent home is just that much more comforting to the stars knowing they are commited.

 

[Santacapper]

In the words of the late great coach Bob Johnson, "It's a great day for hockey."
The Penguins reached a deal on financing for a new arena that will keep the NHL team in Pittsburgh.
The agreement - with city, county and state officials - was announced by Gov. Ed Rendell on Tuesday at the Pennsylvania Gaming Congress. He said money from the state's new slot machine parlors would help fund the arena.
"This afternoon I am traveling to Pittsburgh, where we will announce that all three government entities (state, county, city) have agreed to keep the Penguins in Pittsburgh for the next 30 years," Rendell said Tuesday.
Related Info

• Ice Chips: Laraque may not play, Fleury starts
• The Crosby File on TSN.ca
• Pittsburgh Penguins' 40-year history

Make no mistake about it - without expanded gaming in Pennsylvania, the Penguins would be gone. The first puck would have been dropped next year in Kansas City."
Rendell said he would fly to Pittsburgh later Tuesday to meet with Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato, the team owners and NHL commissioner Gary Bettman.
The Penguins had threatened to leave Pittsburgh if they couldn't secure a new rink. Their lease at 46-year-old Mellon Arena, the oldest facility in the league, expires June 30 and the team is free to leave after that.
Team officials visited Kansas City, Mo., and Las Vegas to discuss a possible move. The Penguins were offered free rent and half of all revenues if they agreed to play in Kansas City's soon-to-be-completed $262 million Sprint Center.
The Penguins began playing in Pittsburgh in 1967, and won Stanley Cup titles in 1991 and 1992. Their home attendance and local TV ratings are among the strongest of the NHL's 24 U.S. franchises.
According to multiple reports, the sides have reached agreement on terms for a new arena that will be ready for operation for the 2009-10 season. The Penguins would reportedly contribute $3.8 million per year toward construction of the $290 million arena and another $400,000 yearly for capital improvements.
Sources also said that the price tag for the project will exceed the $290 million originally discussed. The station reports that a meeting between all sides will be held on Wednesday to formalize the agreement.

 

[Joe Public]

I miss Badger Bob.

But it is a great day for hockey.

As for the playoffs, just winning one series this year would be huge. HUGE for this team.

This team is on their way up, so to give the fans something to hold on to and look forward to going into next season would be outstanding.

Oh, and I played them tonight, -115, -105, & -1.5 +225.

Not huge, but ya know, just 'cause it's a great day for hockey.

 

[Santacapper]

Everyday is a good day for hockey Joe... everyday:shake:

GL with your plays

 

[Joe Public]

Well, technically when the Pens lose or I lose money, it's a bad day for hockey.

And, should I for whatever reason be in the South Pacific (the actual place, not the musical) I can't say I'd be all that interested in what kind of day it was for hockey or not.

But you do make a good point.

Good luck on your plays today, as well.

 

[Joe Public]

But for a post, that -1.5 cashes, too.

But I'm not going to complain. Thank you, Gambling Gods.

Let's go Pens.