During last week's groundbreaking ceremony for the Pittsburgh Penguins' new arena, Pens' owner, Mario Lemieux, was once again on center stage. This time, the grueling 18 month battle between Lemieux and Pennsylvania politicians topped the list of every media members' question sheet.
For those of you not familiar with the arena proceedings, here's the quick and dirty: The Penguins' lease at Mellon Arena expires after the 2009-10 season, therefore leaving them without a place to play after the conclusion of that season.
Mellon Arena is the oldest arena that houses a current NHL team, thus establishing the fact that a new arena is much needed. That's where Mario comes in. His job was to lock up $290 million to build a new arena in Pittsburgh.
Asking for $290 million from politicians usually isn't a drive-thru window type of deal, and this was no exception.
The negotiations lasted roughly 18 months during 2006 and 2007, before a deal was finalized in March of 2007, enabling the Penguins to stay in Pittsburgh.
During the 18 month span, Lemieux made trips to Kansas City and Las Vegas, threatening to move the team to either city if Pennsylvania politicians could not come up with a way to pay for a new arena in Pittsburgh.
Fans in Kansas City created blogs, message boards, and fan pages depicting Sidney Crosby taking the ice at the newly constructed Sprint Center in K.C.
Finally, in March, a deal was reached that will garner the Penguins $7.5 million per year for 30 years from a development fund that is fueled by Pennsylvania's 55 percent gambling tax. A matching amount is expected to come from Pittsburgh's lone slot casino (which is another story entirely).
At the groundbreaking ceremony last week, Lemieux told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review that "we (the owners) had to do a few things to put pressure on the city and the state, but our goal was to remain here in Pittsburgh all the way. Those trips to Kansas City and Vegas and other cities was just to go and have a nice dinner, and come back."
"Pressure was felt, and that was the important thing. A lot of things happened throughout the negotiations. Ups and downs. That was just a way for us to put more pressure, and we knew it would work at the end of the day," Lemieux added.
"If it was a negotiating tactic, it was a good one," said Chuck Ardo, spokesman for Pennsylvania's governor, Ed Rendell.
Whether or not Lemieux was serious about moving the team can now be relegated to the unsolved mysteries of hockey history. Mario did what he had to do, what he knew would work, and it payed off in the end.
Allegheny County Executive, Dan Onorato, was one of the front-runners on the state's side of the PA vs. the Penguins negotiations. He had this to say about Mario's tactics: "In my years, I have never been lobbied more with e-mails, letters, phone calls, personal stops on the street -- and let's just say that you (the fans) were very aggressive about your points about keeping the Penguins here."
I for one couldn't count on both hands how many on-line, as well as paper petitions that I signed during the negotiating months. The fans really stepped up to the plate in doing their part, however big or small it may have been, to keep the team in our city.
8 comments Last one added 10 months ago — Leave a Comment
Alan Bass 10 months ago
Great article, Eric!!! As much as I hate the Penguins, I am so glad to see them staying in Pittsburgh. They have a great chance to win the Cup in the next two years, and they will most likely do it. I'm glad Lemieux was able to keep this phenomenal, young team in Pitt.
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Ken Armer 10 months ago
Being a native of Kansas City I have to say his quote changed my impression of him. I truly believe one of the greatest hockey players ever is just a giant asshole. He used Kansas City and Vegas just to force Pittsburgh into a deal, now thats understandable but have some damn tact and class and don't say it. Kansas City may not deserve an NHL team, but they built a state-of-the-art arena for the Penguins, and Lemieux flipped them the giant huge bird. He may be a damn fine businessman, but hes an asshole with no tact. I don't want his damn team full with a cry-baby leader like Crosby in Kansas City, i want a team led by a guy who skates hard both ways and doesn't cry like a 3 year old. Pittsburgh can keep the Penguins and there asshole owner. Kansas City and Las Vegas deserve better, they deserve men who want to go there with some tact and class.
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Eric K 10 months ago
Ken,
I completely understand your point-of-view on the situation, especially being a K.C. native. But.. to say that Kansas City built an arena FOR the Penguins is going a little too far. Construction on the Spring Center was well underway before Lemieux even entertained the idea of shopping the team around.
I agree that K.C. and Vegas do deserve men who actually want to go there. That wasn't the case for Lemieux and the Penguins. They never wanted to go there. It's a tough pill to swallow, but that's business.
Just ask Pens fans the feeling they got after reading that Hossa "stresses Cup over cash, and loves playing on a team with Sid and Malkin, and loves the fans' reception of him in Pittsburgh" only to sign with the team that just spanked them in the Finals.
The business world is brutal, and there are no exceptions.
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Charbel Hassoun 10 months ago
waaaaaaah!!! who sounds like a crybaby now loser?? you couldnt hold Lemieux's jock strap, and btw are you a moron? Did you really think Mario would turn his back on Pittsburgh and throw away a legacy that took him his whole playing career to build?? Of course it was a business move and a negotiating tactic, don't be a sore loser, and also, that arena in KC was being built regardless. I cannot say one bad thing about the legend that is Le Magnifique, your entire response made me sick to my stomache, you must not be a hockey fan.
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Ken Armer 10 months ago
He did what he had to do to be loyal to the Penguins fans, and thats good, but it shouldn't be at the expense of other city's fans. Cities that don't have teams. Also, its Sprint Center, not Spring. Good article though. Mario is super loyal to Pitt fans.
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Eric K 10 months ago
Well said, I agree that he did show his true loyalty to Pittsburgh and the Penguins' organization and fans... at least there is no b.s. when he says how much the city and the team means to him. But you're right, it sucks that it had to come at the expense of another city.
And for some reason "Sprint" is hard for me to type. It's like the "g" that you always want to add to the end of "Malkin" because you're more used to typing "king" than "kin".
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Ken Armer 10 months ago
I appreciate your opinion Charbel, how soon should i look forward to your own writings? By the way you're right, i must totally hate hockey being a team community leader and an NHL community leader on here. Man, you really showed me.
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Charbel Hassoun 10 months ago
Sorry, that was unprofessional of me, I wasnt trying to hate, but it sounded like you were bashing mario, if you were in his shoes you would have done the same thing... Nothing personal against KC but he used a tactic thats been applied for years.
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