Guest Juanky Posted December 11, 2005 Share Posted December 11, 2005 Once the lease on the Mellon Arena expires in 2007, Pittsburgh Penguins owner Mario Lemieux believes there is only "a slim chance" the franchise will remain in Pittsburgh, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported. Lemieux cites the lack of progress toward getting the up-to-date arena for his pessimistic view. "I think we're really running out of time," Lemieux told the paper, his tone laced with frustration. "We probably ran out of time already. It's been unfortunate that the city and the county haven't been willing to work with us over the last two or three years." With potential suitors in Kansas City and possibly Houston on the horizon, the Penguins' board of directors will meet this week with the long-term outlook of the team a likely topic of discussion. "We'll sit down with everybody [to] understand what's at stake with our investment, and what's best for the franchise," Lemieux told the Post-Gazette. Even if a new arena is approved, the process of building a new facility takes approximately three years. "By the time we'd get the arena built, it's going to be another four or five years," Lemieux told the paper. "Can we afford to stay here for another four or five years and assume the losses? I'm not sure." c/o ESPN Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaq-Man Posted December 11, 2005 Share Posted December 11, 2005 :bsflag sum1 needs 2 buy www.mariopleasesellthepenguins.com :Smash :wee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BullDurham Posted December 11, 2005 Share Posted December 11, 2005 Two teams that really didn't need another stadium (well, maybe just one) and another that really needs it but can't get the funding. Sound familiar? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JetsMania Posted December 11, 2005 Share Posted December 11, 2005 We'll see what happens here. I know they have been losing money for a long time and if Mario Lemieux hand saved them 6 or 7 years ago they probably wouldnt still be in Pitt. Kansas City and Houston dont seem like good alternatives, but we'll see what happens. Bring back the Whalers!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Passion Posted December 12, 2005 Share Posted December 12, 2005 We'll see what happens here. I know they have been losing money for a long time and if Mario Lemieux hand saved them 6 or 7 years ago they probably wouldnt still be in Pitt. Kansas City and Houston dont seem like good alternatives, but we'll see what happens. Bring back the Whalers!!! Kansas City is gettin a state of the art arena soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Fritz Posted December 12, 2005 Share Posted December 12, 2005 Houston would work. Fourth largest city in the USA, FTW. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beinfest4Prez Posted December 12, 2005 Share Posted December 12, 2005 We'll see what happens here. I know they have been losing money for a long time and if Mario Lemieux hand saved them 6 or 7 years ago they probably wouldnt still be in Pitt. Kansas City and Houston dont seem like good alternatives, but we'll see what happens. Bring back the Whalers!!! Kansas City is gettin a state of the art arena soon. Kansas City hasn't seen a hockey team since the Chiefs left. That would be pretty awesome. Bring back the Chiefs! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugg Posted December 12, 2005 Share Posted December 12, 2005 I was going to make a joke about needing a pro hockey team here, but hell, we have more wins than the Penguins. Anyway, it'd be sad to see the Pens leave Pittsburgh, but if Mario can't get them to build the friggin arena, no one can. As said before, bring back the Whale. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wanks1212 Posted December 12, 2005 Share Posted December 12, 2005 Winnipeg's supposedly built a snazzy new arena that could house an NHL team. Bring back the Jets! (The Whale would work too) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Accord Posted December 12, 2005 Share Posted December 12, 2005 Welcome to the club, Pittsburgh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugg Posted December 21, 2005 Share Posted December 21, 2005 Pens expected to announce arena financing plan Associated Press PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Penguins have called a 2 p.m. ET news conference at which the team is expected to announce plans to finance a new arena. Tom McMillan, the team's vice president of communications, said the conference will address a report in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that the arena will be part of a $1 billion development. The newspaper says the project is being backed by an unknown gambling company that wants one of the state's new slot machine licenses. The gambling company would pledge the new money for the arena -- which is said to be about $290 million -- as a condition of getting the gambling license. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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