It's all about the money in Pittsburgh

[Chadd 916]

It's obviously not about keeping hockey in town.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=172078&hubname=

[hockeytim18 0]

If they move somebody is retarded. Seriously all the people here in Pittsburgh will support whatever sport is here. The penguins are one of the best things here and a casino is offering to build a new arena with no cost to the city. And to add to that we had the greatest average attendance for the whole season. So like I said before if the team is moved somebody is retarded.

[kosydar 0]

And to add to that we had the greatest average attendance for the whole season.

What does this mean?

Its obvious that the majority of people went to the Pens games to see Crosby. Unless the new owners, whoever they may be, become dedicated to winning, the numbers will drop. People will get sick of watching Crosby get 3 points and the Pens losing 7-3. Besides, the playoffs are what its all about. Playoffs are where the teams make money. This team is no where close to being in the playoffs.

[Chadd 916]

If they move somebody is retarded. Seriously all the people here in Pittsburgh will support whatever sport is here. The penguins are one of the best things here and a casino is offering to build a new arena with no cost to the city. And to add to that we had the greatest average attendance for the whole season. So like I said before if the team is moved somebody is retarded.

People in Pittsburgh only support the team when they're winning. Watching them on TV or wearing a 15 year old Jagr Jersey doesn't count either. The Penguins were 20th in attendance in raw numbers and 17th in %.

[hockeytim18 0]

Are you sure? I went to the last game maybe I said it wrong but they were said to have greatest rising attendance. And people don't only support the team when they're winning. Believe me I live in Pittsburgh. Every game I went to attendance was at high 14 all the way up to 16 some thousand. And take into account that I do believe they have the smallest arena.

[kosydar 0]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/attendance?year=2006

93% attendance. Not bad, but definitely not close to the top.

[hockeytim18 0]

Ok I guess the big screen isn't always truthful. But i'd like to point out they had greater attendance than carolina. Also not that the truth isn't there but it is going by people attending and Pittsburgh has the smallest arena.

[Chadd 916]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/attendance?year=2006

93% attendance.  Not bad, but definitely not close to the top.

Bear in mind that includes corporate tickets that go from desk to trash can most of the time, just like every other team.

Ok I guess the big screen isn't always truthful. But i'd like to point out they had greater attendance than carolina. Also not that the truth isn't there but it is going by people attending and Pittsburgh has the smallest arena.

1. Carolina hasn't had a hockey team for nearly 40 years, it's still a new market.

2. Smallest arena and they still can't fill it? That doesn't help your case.

3. Their attendance had to go up, it was 11000 in 04-05 and that was behind Carolina that year.

4. With all the hype surrounding Crosby, I'm shocked the attendance wasn't higher.

[hockeytim18 0]

Ok calm down. Its just that I just moved here to Pittsburgh a year ago today actually and I would hate to see the team move.

[JR Boucicaut 3801]

My guess is that he is wanting to sell off to someone who will move the team because he wants to save face. If Cuban/Marino were to buy the team, get an arena built in PIT and do well, Mario would look like an idiot.

[ryno 0]

It's too bad Mario is so greedy for an extra 5 grand, when it seemed like Cuban and Marino were genuinely interested in keeping the team in Pittsburgh.

Five grand? I think you meant five million Theo.

Anyway I don't want to see the Penguins move but I don't think it's fair for anyone to blame Mario in any of this. He has done more to keep this franchise in Pittsburgh for as long as possible than he ever had to. I don't think he owes anybody in Pittsburgh anything else, including any kind of hometown discount.

[D3nZ 0]

Well it's not like Cuban could have moved the team to Dallas or Marino in Florida. Their ideas must have been bad for the future and them not having prooved themselves in a hockey market could have killed the deal for them.

[trucks 0]

My bigger concern is that the leading bidder wants to move the team to Kansas City. Im fine with wanting to grow the sport on the southern US but I really feel like Winnipeg deserves a team again. They have a new rink and they have the fan base to support the Penguins. If they were to move that would be the only city I would be happy moving them to. I don't think moving them to Kansas City is a very smart idea and I hope the NHL steps in and prevents that from happening.

[Kovy_Ribs_Fedo 3]

How can you have more than 100% of attendance %? Calgary got like 112% or 106%

[Kovy_Ribs_Fedo 3]

Yeah I know, it must be that, but where are they in the arena?

[D3nZ 0]

Well it's not like Cuban could have moved the team to Dallas or Marino in Florida.  Their ideas must have been bad for the future and them not having prooved themselves in a hockey market could have killed the deal for them.

Aren't they both originally from Pittsburgh and I believe both wanted to keep the team in Pitts.

Yeah that's what I meant, it's not like they would have moved the team somewhere else.

[Eazy_b97 1]

Yeah I know, it must be that, but where are they in the arena?

Standing Room tickets I believe.

[hockeytim18 0]

Is anyone that's posting here even from Pittsburgh. You guys keep talking about how there needs to be fan support. Holy crap there is. Especially if you go to one of the games. Don't talk about fan support unless you're from here. That's like me saying nobody in Carolina likes the Canes. Impossible right now. As for anyone who thinks there is no fan support for the Pens and live in Pittsburgh I guess a different point of view.

[kosydar 0]

Numbers speak for themselves. Nobody here is saying that people in Pitts don't like the Pens. But when it comes down to it, do enough people like the Pens enough to spend the money to keep the team in town? Most people say no.

[hockeytim18 0]

I think there is enough support. As for numbers I look at it as what if they were winning. Almost last place in the NHL and still 93% attendance. So what if they were winning and had that sweet new arena with a casino in it?

[Eazy_b97 1]

On the same token, what if Crosby jumps ships once the new arena is built and they never get out of the basement?

[Fire0nIce228 1]

One player doesn't make up the entire future of this team. Yeah we all know Crosbys a big draw right now, but we also have another first overall and two second overall picks that will be playing full seasons in a year or two.

In my opinion, I think its stupid for the city to let the team go when so many things are indicating the pens will be a strong team within the next 3 to 5 years. Right now they dont have much veteran, established superstars on the roster, but there are plenty of kids that will be good NHL players in the system that people will be talking about soon enough, and I don't need to ramble off the names you can all think of 6 or 8 of them by yourselves.

[Chadd 916]

It's too bad Mario is so greedy for an extra 5 grand, when it seemed like Cuban and Marino were genuinely interested in keeping the team in Pittsburgh.

Five grand? I think you meant five million Theo.

Anyway I don't want to see the Penguins move but I don't think it's fair for anyone to blame Mario in any of this. He has done more to keep this franchise in Pittsburgh for as long as possible than he ever had to. I don't think he owes anybody in Pittsburgh anything else, including any kind of hometown discount.

If they would have agreed to pay SOME of the cost of a new arena instead of wanting it for free they would have had one by now.

[Chadd 916]

Is anyone that's posting here even from Pittsburgh. You guys keep talking about how there needs to be fan support. Holy crap there is. Especially if you go to one of the games. Don't talk about fan support unless you're from here. That's like me saying nobody in Carolina likes the Canes. Impossible right now. As for anyone who thinks there is no fan support for the Pens and live in Pittsburgh I guess a different point of view.

I've probably been to more Pens games than you have if you've only been there a year. I have seen a lot of games in Pittsburgh; in Mario's prime, after his first retirement and after he came back. I know a lot od people in Pittsburgh and I'm there to visit my in-laws there several times a year, it's not like I'm making this up.

[ryno 0]

It's too bad Mario is so greedy for an extra 5 grand, when it seemed like Cuban and Marino were genuinely interested in keeping the team in Pittsburgh.

Five grand? I think you meant five million Theo.

Anyway I don't want to see the Penguins move but I don't think it's fair for anyone to blame Mario in any of this. He has done more to keep this franchise in Pittsburgh for as long as possible than he ever had to. I don't think he owes anybody in Pittsburgh anything else, including any kind of hometown discount.

If they would have agreed to pay SOME of the cost of a new arena instead of wanting it for free they would have had one by now.

I agree with you Chadd, although I don't see what it has to do with what I was talking about. They could have had a new arena back when Howard Baldwin still owned the team.

All I'm saying is I don't think Lemieux owes the Penguins or the city of Pittsburgh anything else. He's already saved the franchise twice, now he has to do what's best for him and his investors. I don't think they owe it to anyone to accept a lower bid from guys who would definitley keep the team here vs. someone who will potentially move the team. Everybody talks about Cuban and Marino but they were minority owners in Mursteins group. If Cuban wants to guarentee the team stays in Pittsburgh, maybe he should pony up some more cash, he's only a billionaire.