Typical Pa Government.......

[shawn stonbraker 2]

I know most on here don't follow Hockey, but man, it just baffels me how dumb (or greedy) some polititians can be. Here is a quick run-down for any who might not know the situation.



The Pittsburgh Penquins are looking for a new arena. The one they currently play in is 45 years old and the oldest one in the league. The State has decided to give out a Gambling Permit to one Corperation to start up slot machine Houses in Pa. One group stated if they got the Permit, they would build a new Arena for the Pens at NO cost what-so-ever to the Town, State, Team, or Taxpayers. Since the town didn't want to cough up money to build an Arena for the team, seemed like a win-win deal to me. Of course the state decided to give it to another company that said they will pay $7 million over 30 years for a new Arena, but the rest of it must come from the Team and the City. What the hell were they thinking? Now Mario (owner of the Pens) has stated that the Pens are now open to moving to another town willing to build them an Arena. Now I know this is a tactic to try and get the city on thier heels to get a better deal to build one, but damn. It could have been so easy. Gov. Rendell must have made a pretty good kick-back for this decision. I'll bet alot of the money from the slots gets routed back to his beloved Philly. (no offence ment to you all from Philly) Just needed to rant. If the Pens get moved, I can say for sure, there will be quite a few of us here in my area that will quit watching hockey.

 

[Mike Roncarati]

And now fans, here are your HARTFORND PENGUINS!



Shame for PA, since the organization has been rebuilt and should be a force in the next few years.



B's Fan

 

[shawn stonbraker 2]

Mike, That really sounds sick. Just when they finally start to show some life.

 

[A K]

Gov. Rendell must have made a pretty good kick-back for this decision. I'll bet alot of the money from the slots gets routed back to his beloved Philly.

This is quite familiar to me--I am from Wilkes-Barre, home of the first slots parlor to open at the Pocono Downs racetrack (or, if you prefer the new owner, the Mohegan Suns something or other at the Downs at Pocono). The permit came from the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, not from the executive's desk.



If you break down who got what, Philadelphia received the most because, in all honesty, it is a larger city than Pittsburgh. Philadelphia received two slots parlor licenses; Pittsburgh one; the Poconos one; and Allentown/Bethlehem one. With respect to racetrack licenses, Delaware County received one; Luzerne County (Poconos essentially) received one to increase their conditional permit; Bucks County one; Dauphin County (Harrisburg) one; Erie County one; and Washington County (south of Pittsburgh) one.



If you consider all the permits, Eastern PA received seven; Central PA one; and Western PA three. If you consider the population density of the state, this follows roughly where it stands. And, with the New Yorkers moving into the Poconos (yuck), one can find reasonable the fact that two are located in the general Poconos area.



If Pittsburgh was to approve two licenses, Philadelphia would have lost one (most likely). Philadelphia has roughly six million in its metropolitan area; Pittsburgh has two million. In reality, Philadelphia (generally) received four licenses and Pittsburgh two, nearly approximating the population distribution.



The money from the slots will most certainly not only find its way to Philadelphia. The state's take is being used to reduce property taxes. Now, how much reduction occurs is anyone's guess, but I would bet more ends up in the Commonwealth's treasury that we have been led to believe. I'm curious how much of an effect we will see in the Northeast, having a racetrack parlor and an independent parlor.



With respect to the Penguins, the State is not at fault that the organization is as cash-strapped as it is. Apparently, the plan that won out had some more beneficial aspect than that of the organization willing to construct an arena. Where is Pittsburgh in all of this? Doesn't the city want to keep the team? Philadelphia's stadiums found funding from the City, in addition to private sources.



All this being said, I agree that it sucks that Pittsburgh may lose its team. The talent on the roster is too good, and its future too bright, to pack the vans and truck it to Hartford or Canada or Kansas City or Portland. I've seen many of those kids play in Wilkes-Barre before you did out there. But, the reality is that there must be some financial disincentive to building another arena in Pittsburgh. I find it extremely hard to believe that between the State (ignoring its decision on the slot gaming license, though an arena was a "beneficial" side-development), Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, and private developers keep balking without some good reason.

 

[Rick Kent]

As a fanatical hockey fan myself I am disappointed Pittsburgh will not work with the Penguins.



Did the city pick up part of the tab for Heinz Field? Are the Pirates in a new house also?



There are many cities across the US and in Canada that are salivating over the prospect of the Pens moving.



Don't be surprised to see a few very serious Canadian cities go out of their way to make it attractive for the Pens to move.

 

[Tim Turner]

I've been following the story pretty closely as well, since I am a Pens fan myself. I read a statistic somewhere that said the Penguins had a 92% attendance rate, even when the Pens finished last in their division for the fourth (or however many consecutive) time and even when hockey's attendance was going down, the Pens fans always were there. It sucks for the fans from Pittsburgh and surrounding areas that follow, support, and cheer for the Penguins.

 

[Johnny O]

Did the city pick up part of the tab for Heinz Field? Are the Pirates in a new house also?

I'm not a big hockey fan, but even I think they should have built the Pens a new arena before they did for the Steelers and Pirates. MLB and NFL are bigger sports, but a hockey arena has a lot more uses for the community at large than the others do. Heinz Field...Steelers, Pitt, 4 high school championship games and the occasional concert. PNC Park...Pirates, the occasional concert, and it was like pulling teeth to get McClatchy to let the high schools play a few championship games on his precious grass that we paid for.

Mario deserved a new place before anybody else. If he sells and/or moves the team, I wouldn't blame him a bit.

 

[shawn stonbraker 2]

Well said JohnnyO. The problem is BOTH needed replaced. 3 Rivers Stadium and the Arena. Yes, the city did put up some money for Hienz and PNC Park.



STCTC, you are correct also. Even at the end of last season (the 4th losing season in a row) they were still 92% copasity. We love our sport teams around here but the city doesn't want to work with them to keep them here. I have a notion the Pens are gone. But I know the Steelers and Pirates did the same exact thing to the city to get thier Stadiums. So maybe, just maybe it will work for the Pens. The NHL WANTS a team in Pitt. That is why the Canadian Butthead pulled out. I knew from the start, he was going to take the team elsewhere.

 

[Johnny O]

The "Canadian Butthead" is back in.



It's a shrinking area and TV market, less people live here every year. Just remember, in 1957 the Dodgers and Giants left New York City for the growing market of California.



Linky-linky, just in this morn's paper: