NFT: Penguins' sale falls through

[Sully]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=2698928

As I watch the Pens play the Isles right now, I can't help but feel excited that this team may somehow, someway find its way to KC. What a great team with a nucleus of young superstars.

[morphius]

Originally Posted by Guru

If I remember right, KC had a hockey team called the Scouts here in the 70's and it couldn't get support.

Why do we think hockey will garner support now? Hell, after the turnout Topeka gave to the Scarecrows in the 90's, I would think hockey would do better here than in KC.

They then moved to Colorado and then moved from there to NJ. Colorado has a new team now at it is very well supported...

[007]

Originally Posted by morphius

They then moved to Colorado and then moved from there to NJ. Colorado has a new team now at it is very well supported...

Winning a championship in your first few years will do that won't it?

Taking notes Carl?

[Demonpenz]

Great now I am going to have to put up with a bunch of poser fans.

[Imon Yourside]

I would MUCH rather have an NBA team, I remember the Kings and had season tix back in the day. Hockey is ok but I can't really follow it like roundball.

[KurtCobain]

Originally Posted by KILLER_CLOWN

I would MUCH rather have an NBA team

agreed

[BWillie]

Originally Posted by KILLER_CLOWN

I would MUCH rather have an NBA team, I remember the Kings and had season tix back in the day. Hockey is ok but I can't really follow it like roundball.

That'd be a bad idea. I already spend all my money now going to Chiefs, Royals, and KU games. Add a NBA team to that mix, and there goes the rest of my disposable income.

[chiefsfan987]

Originally Posted by Guru

If I remember right, KC had a hockey team called the Scouts here in the 70's and it couldn't get support.

Why do we think hockey will garner support now? Hell, after the turnout Topeka gave to the Scarecrows in the 90's, I would think hockey would do better here than in KC.

What does over thirty years ago have to do with today?

[SoCalBronco]

Originally Posted by Demonpenz

Great now I am going to have to put up with a bunch of poser fans.

Our (and tk13's as well) team is not going to KC. Mario is simply trying to put the squeeze on Onorato and Ravenstahl for a sweeter Plan B. I dont think you have to worry about poser fans. I think Ravenstahl said today that he'd be willing to reduce our annual contribution to around 1 million a year from the 7 million. It's all just a matter of gamesmanship and Onorato is up for reelection next year. For all this talk, we aren't going anywhere. The slots changed nothing, we didnt expect to get it anyway, we all thought Forest City was going to get it because they bribed Rendell, we were right, we didnt win the license, we didnt get the winner right, but the expectation was never there that the IOC would win because of the corruption in the process. The team isn't going anywhere, thank God. I am sorry, but KC does not deserve a couple Stanley Cups to just magically fall into their lap either. Penguin fans endured years of suffering to get Sid, Geno and Flower in the draft, it isnt going to be taken away. The politicians are finally willing to give us what we want, we arent going anywhere.

[Eleazar]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

And what if they don't win?

Everyone seems to think it's so easy in the NHL because 16 teams make the playoffs. IIRC, there hasn't been a back-to-back Cup winner in years. (I could be wrong, too lazy to look it up)

Attendance is suffering in many NHL cities....even the clubs who win. The tickets are just too expensive. I used to go to 20-25 Blues games a year. I just can't do it anymore. And STL has pretty reasonable tickets.

What you don't see is that the Chiefs give us some hope at the start of the season, and they sell the whole season out. When the Royals are playing good ball and you go there on Friday or Saturday night, there are a lot of people there.

If the historically pathetic and financially overmatched Royals, who really have no hope of winning a championship in the near future, have still been able to put 20 or 25k in the seats by stringing a few wins together, why can't an NHL team work here? The Royals haven't folded because people still remember the goodwill they built in the 70s and 80s. People remember what winning felt like and they want to keep the team around to feel that again.

I think that the city is dying for a winning sports team to be passionate about. I think that if you put an NHL team here like the Penguins it works. This isn't a lame expansion team with no-name players, or a pathetic team that has been losing forever and washed out of some other town where they couldn't give tickets away. It's a real franchise, with credibility from the ownership right down to a legitimate superstar.

People will show up for that.

[Mecca]

SoCal sounds like he's trying to convince himself more than us.......

[Mojo Rising]

The NBA would be better suited for KC because it has a broader appeal. The problem is that KU sucks up all of the basketball energy in the region.

I don't think either (NBA or NHL) would succeed, unless, the Chiefs left and the city were left with the Royals and the Sprint Center team (whichever league.)

Now that they are refurbishing Arrowhead (will be one of the oldest stadiums in the NFL before long) the Chiefs aren't leaving.

[Mecca]

Originally Posted by Mojo Rising

The NBA would be better suited for KC because it has a broader appeal. The problem is that KU sucks up all of the basketball energy in the region.

I don't think either (NBA or NHL) would succeed, unless, the Chiefs left and the city were left with the Royals and the Sprint Center team (whichever league.)

Now that they are refurbishing Arrowhead (will be one of the oldest stadiums in the NFL before long) the Chiefs aren't leaving.

I think the team would force the Royals and Chiefs to do better actually. People in this town will support a winner.....I know just from looking here there are alot of people that are fed up with the Chiefs and Royals in general.

[tk13]

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansas...s/16295417.htm

Now that the Pittsburgh Penguins are officially looking for a new home, Boots Del Biaggio III wants Kansas City to show it can support an NHL franchise.

Penguins owner Mario Lemieux announced Thursday that he was taking the team off the market while he explores relocation options in the aftermath of a state gaming board’s rejection of a casino’s offer to build a $290 million arena for the club.

Del Biaggio, who has a contract to own any NHL team that operates in the Sprint Center, plans to be in Kansas City after the first of the year to launch a drive for season-ticket deposits and solicit corporate support as the first steps in convincing his close friend Lemieux to move the club to the $276 million arena that is scheduled to open in October.

“It’s exciting news that Mario made that statement,” said Del Biaggio, a San Jose-based businessman and limited partner in the NHL’s San Jose Sharks. “It means the Kansas City market and other markets are now an option, where before they weren’t.

“This is now going to be a beauty contest with other cities that want a team. Now, more than ever, it’s important that Kansas City can show the kind of support an NHL team needs.”

Besides Kansas City, other markets that may be interested in the Penguins include Houston; Seattle; Las Vegas; Portland, Ore.; Winnipeg, Manitoba; and Hamilton, Ontario. And the Penguins haven’t given up on striking a deal with the city and state on a new arena to replace antiquated Mellon Arena, where the club’s lease expires at the end of the season.

The current plan proposed by Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell would cost the Penguins about $120 million over 30 years.

Although Lemieux said the Penguins are off the market, Del Biaggio is confident he can work out a partnership with Lemieux. They’ve been partners in a junior hockey club in Omaha, Neb.

Del Biaggio came close to buying the Penguins in 2005, but the club was taken off the market at the 11th hour after it won the rights to the No. 1 pick in the draft, Sidney Crosby, who is the NHL’s leading scorer. Also, former NHL star Luc Robitaille, a boyhood friend and former teammate of Lemieux’s with the Penguins — and also a partner in the Omaha club — is an executive with Anschutz Entertainment Group, which will manage the Sprint Center. One of Robitaille’s roles is to help bring an NHL team to Kansas City, and his connection with Lemieux could facilitate a partnership between Del Biaggio and the Penguins. (cont...)

[Otter]

Hopefully the Penguins don't leave PA but if they do KC would be an ideal city for them to move. Pittsburgh and KC are opposite sides of the same coin.

I can without any doubt in my mind however tell you this:

I've played hockey from pee wee league to ACHA, I think I know more than the average bear about the game. Sidney Crosby is every bit as good as Wayne Gretzky with all things being equal.

That kid is a phenom on the Wayne Gretzky/Joe Montana level.

[|Zach|]

Originally Posted by Otter

Hopefully the Penguins don't leave PA but if they do KC would be an ideal city for them to move. Pittsburgh and KC are opposite sides of the same coin.

I can without any doubt in my mind however tell you this:

I've played hockey from pee wee league to ACHA, I think I know more than the average bear about the game. Sidney Crosby is every bit as good as Wayne Gretzky with all things being equal.

That kid is a phenom on the Wayne Gretzky/Joe Montana level.

What about him? A great physical specimen?