Lemieux: Pens off market, will explore relocation offers
CBS SportsLine.com wire reports
PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Penguins are off the market, and owner Mario Lemieux says the team will look at relocating while it attempts to reach a deal for a new arena.
"It is time to take control of our own destiny," Hall of Famer Lemieux said in a statement issued by his team Thursday.
The Penguins are free to move when the 2006-07 season ends following a state panel's rejection Wednesday of a casino company's offer to build the team a new arena for free.
Lemieux said talks will begin shortly with state and local leaders about a new arena, but added a move outside Pennsylvania is another option.
"Accordingly, starting today, the team is off the market," Lemieux said, "and we will begin to explore relocation offers in cities outside Pennsylvania."
Among the cities known to be interested in the Penguins are Kansas City, Mo.; Houston; Portland, Ore.; and Winnipeg, Manitoba.
The Penguins, who have sought a new arena since Lemieux's group brought the team out of bankruptcy in 1999, have had two major setbacks in the last week.
Last Friday, Canadian businessman Jim Balsillie stunned the Penguins and the NHL by pulling out of an estimated $175 million agreement to buy the team. Balsillie was expected to close on the deal last week, only to back out after the NHL insisted he agree contractually to not move the team.
On Wednesday, a Pennsylvania gaming panel awarded the single license to build a slots machine parlor in Pittsburgh to Detroit-based gambling company owner Don Barden rather than a Penguins-supported gaming concern. Isle of Capri Casinos promised to build a $290 million arena for the Penguins next door to its casino if it was granted the slots parlor license.
While Isle of Capri could appeal the gaming board's decision, overturning the award could prove difficult because of language built into the state gaming law designed to prevent lengthy delays once the licenses were awarded.
Within an hour of the slots announcement, state, county and city leaders rushed to assuage the Penguins, promising to start talks immediately on a so-called Plan B agreement to build the arena. A site has already been secured, and the Barden group has pledged $7.5 million a year for 30 years to help fund the arena. The state also would kick in $7 million.
Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato and Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl said they were ready to negotiate an arena deal immediately and were certain an agreement could be reached. Both said Thursday they were disappointed the Penguins have not yet moved to meet with them.
Maybe that's because the Penguins would have to contribute money to the Plan B deal -- something they weren't required to do by Isle of Capri.
