OT: Penguins Moving

calgARI '07 · March 05, 2007, 04:10:21 PM

Looks to finally be official. Kansas City Penguins?

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07064/767020-100.stm

Trotsky · March 05, 2007, 04:20:11 PM

Doesn't look like it's any change from the current situation. Mario said about 3 months ago that he was declaring a 30-day limit on negotiations with the city and state, after which he would aggressively pursue other offers. He's about 60 days slow in getting around to fulfilling his brinksmanship.

This all just smells like a standard corporate welfare stick up. I suppose if KC or Seattle are stupid enough to take the bait...

ugarte · March 05, 2007, 04:20:31 PM

Nah. Declaration of an impasse is a step in the process. It probably frees them to explore other options - and if it does, you can expect the Pittsburgh arena to sue, claiming that they haven't actually reached impasse (which may be an objective standard that has to be judicially determined).

Once the Penguins sign a deal with another arena, that's when you know they are leaving.

ithacat · March 05, 2007, 04:29:05 PM

Bring on the Pitt Panthers...::popcorn::

Jim Hyla · March 05, 2007, 05:02:00 PM

[quote calgARI '07]Looks to finally be official. Kansas City Penguins?

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07064/767020-100.stm[/quote]

[Q]The declaration of an impasse doesn't mean the Penguins have definitely decided to leave, but at this point there is no indication they intend to talk any more with local officials.[/Q]

Sounds standard legalize to me. Put the pressure on and see.

KeithK · March 05, 2007, 06:27:25 PM

Why would anyone voluntarily move a pro-sports franchise to Kansas City? Ever looked at the Royals over the last 20 years?

calgARI '07 · March 05, 2007, 06:34:14 PM

[quote KeithK]Why would anyone voluntarily move a pro-sports franchise to Kansas City? Ever looked at the Royals over the last 20 years?[/quote]

Well they just built a ridiculous, state of the art arena in a rapidly developing area of town. They also have sold something like 15,000 season tickets and every single luxury box for an NHL team should one come. Great situation IMO especially when you have the best team in the league, Nashville, not drawing that well.

http://www.sprintcenter.com/

Pete Godenschwager · March 05, 2007, 07:33:01 PM

[quote KeithK]Why would anyone voluntarily move a pro-sports franchise to Kansas City? Ever looked at the Royals over the last 20 years?[/quote]

The Chiefs do pretty well both attendance and performance wise. Granted, selling out eight home games a year might be easier than getting a good crowd for 41 games a year.

ajec1 · March 05, 2007, 07:42:23 PM

[quote Pete Godenschwager][quote KeithK]Why would anyone voluntarily move a pro-sports franchise to Kansas City? Ever looked at the Royals over the last 20 years?[/quote]

The Chiefs do pretty well both attendance and performance wise. Granted, selling out eight home games a year might be easier than getting a good crowd for 41 games a year.[/quote]

You have to consider the product as well. The Royals are not the product of the people of Kansas City, but that of an owner who simply refuses to put a serviceable product on the field. Crosby, Malkin, Staal, etc are easy to sell to people... Angel Berroa and Gil Meche are not.

KeithK · March 05, 2007, 08:08:09 PM

[quote ajec1][quote Pete Godenschwager][quote KeithK]Why would anyone voluntarily move a pro-sports franchise to Kansas City? Ever looked at the Royals over the last 20 years?[/quote]

The Chiefs do pretty well both attendance and performance wise. Granted, selling out eight home games a year might be easier than getting a good crowd for 41 games a year.[/quote]

You have to consider the product as well. The Royals are not the product of the people of Kansas City, but that of an owner who simply refuses to put a serviceable product on the field. Crosby, Malkin, Staal, etc are easy to sell to people... Angel Berroa and Gil Meche are not.[/quote]
My point was that the local revenue stream likely to be generated by the Kansas City market makes it inadequate for a major league team these days. The Chiefs are a poor example because of NFL revenue sharing. Then again, I can't remember how much revenue sharing came out of the lockout. I have to think that NHL teams are somewhat dependant on local revenue though and selling out the arena is just a part of that.

Trotsky · March 05, 2007, 08:57:19 PM

[quote KeithK]I have to think that NHL teams are somewhat dependant on local revenue though and selling out the arena is just a part of that.[/quote]One thing that can offset this is a sweetheart deal on the lease. KC has offered to put up a team in the new arena for free. Hard to get sweeter than that.

amerks127 · March 05, 2007, 10:09:55 PM

You really can't blame Rendall, nor can the currently elected Pittsburgh officials be blamed. What we have here are the culmination of events, at least 15 years in the making. Other than the NYC area teams (New Jersey is building the New Jersey Performing Arts Center),and Detroit, Edmonton, Calgary and Anaheim (1993),every NHL city has an arena that opened no earlier than 1996. Look at how many opened new arenas in the past 5 years. Here is a project that Pittsburgh should have taken care of instead of stalling or ignoring.

ugarte · March 05, 2007, 10:47:00 PM

[quote Trotsky][quote KeithK]I have to think that NHL teams are somewhat dependant on local revenue though and selling out the arena is just a part of that.[/quote]One thing that can offset this is a sweetheart deal on the lease. KC has offered to put up a team in the new arena for free. Hard to get sweeter than that.[/quote]I'm pretty sure that the Royals own their own stadium. They don't try to build a winning team, it is obvious that they don't try, and fans have stopped caring.

JordanCS · March 05, 2007, 11:12:07 PM

As a Penguins fan, I just keep hoping they'll get a deal done in Pittsburgh. While I root for the Blue Jackets on the side, living here in Columbus, my heart is with the Pens, and it would SUCK if they moved to KC. I couldn't bring myself to cheer for the KC Pens. Of course, then I'd devote to the CBJ entirely, though I must say the long term prospects are about 50 times better for the Penguins than the Blue Jackets right now.

Go Pens Go! (but, Stay Pens Stay!)

Josh '99 · March 06, 2007, 09:12:22 AM

[quote ajec1]You have to consider the product as well. The Royals are not the product of the people of Kansas City, but that of an owner who simply refuses to put a serviceable product on the field. Crosby, Malkin, Staal, etc are easy to sell to people... Angel Berroa and Gil Meche are not.[/quote]Which, of course, is great while the Crosby-Malkin-Staal honeymoon lasts, but what happens 15 years from now when those guys are retired or playing for other teams, ticket prices are high because the team has been successful even though now they're not so good, and everybody in Kansas City realizes they'd rather watch college basketball on TV for free than pay $40 to go to a hockey game?