Penguins Arena Talk (merged)

[jb**]

That's the thing . . .he NEEDS Pittsburgh, and to go big for him. I do not see how he wins if he does not back a Pens arena. I do not sense anyone at all in Pittsburgh, in the population, against this. And many care. He loses unless he backs the slots plan hard from what I see. He would lose to Stalin or Hitler on the other side unless he backs a slots plan. The talk shows, people, everyone is for this here. Was it worth $240,000? I do not get it do you?

I don't get it. there must be other circumstances we don't know about.The thing is it only seems the 20,000 or so Pens fans are the ones who care and that is not good. The pressure for Rendell on this doesn't appear to big. In Harrisburg it really isn't talked about that much. For 240,000 no that is a drop in the bucket. so to me there is way more to this than what has been made public. what who knows. Until everyones plan is public we won't know for sure how great the IOC plan compares. don't ask me why the other haven't gone public as i have no clue, nothing to gain I guess. Whoever gets the license has to give back to the community in some form, wasn't that a stipulation. Anything can happen or change becaue back in July that Betters guy was almost a lock to get the license and that is a fact. Not sure 100% why he backed out though. I know he is going to build a track and will possibly get a license down the line.I don't see him losing the election as he will get the way more of the majority votes n the counties that matter and even if he splits in Pittsburgh that will be more than good enough.

 

[Big McLargehuge]

Well he will be back for a second term unless you vote for Lynn Swan in the November elections.

As staunch a democrat as I am...Swann has basically everyone's vote west of Harrisburg for the simple fact he's not Rendell.


Rendell is the Governor of Philadelphia. He has zero support in the western sections of the state. Regardless of how big the democratic demographic is in Pittsburgh.



The state won't give the Penguins money and the city simply can't since they blew their wad with Plan B(the new stadiums are easy to blame, which they're largely responsible, but I blame it more on the stupid convention center, which cost roughly as much as both stadiums combined) and have been in financial hell ever since.

There's limited resources for private ownership of an arena in Pittsburgh.

This slot thing is a joke, it really is, but it's really the Penguins only real option when the state has abandoned them and the city is bankrupt.

 

[Jaded-Fan]

I don't get it. there must be other circumstances we don't know about.The thing is it only seems the 20,000 or so Pens fans are the ones who care and that is not good. The pressure for Rendell on this doesn't appear to big. In Harrisburg it really isn't talked about that much. For 240,000 no that is a drop in the bucket. so to me there is way more to this than what has been made public. what who knows. Until everyones plan is public we won't know for sure how great the IOC plan compares. don't ask me why the other haven't gone public as i have no clue, nothing to gain I guess. Whoever gets the license has to give back to the community in some form, wasn't that a stipulation. Anything can happen or change becaue back in July that Betters guy was almost a lock to get the license and that is a fact. Not sure 100% why he backed out though. I know he is going to build a track and will possibly get a license down the line.I don't see him losing the election as he will get the way more of the majority votes n the counties that matter and even if he splits in Pittsburgh that will be more than good enough.

Do you not know that we have the second largest Fox local broadcasts in the NHL? How many play youth hockey? How many care more than 20,000? Rendell will lose the election over this if he actually has the balls to do it.

 

[Epsilon]

Penguins on death row...

Does this mean that Suge Knight is lining up to purchase the team from Mario?

 

[jb**]

Do you not know that we have the second largest Fox local broadcasts in the NHL? How many play youth hockey? How many care more than 20,000? Rendell will lose the election over this if he actually has the balls to do it.

your missing my point. How many NHL teams are on fox local? ? what teams? those ratings don't mean much in terms of getting a new arena

 

[Artyukhin*]

Penguins on death row...

Does this mean that Suge Knight is lining up to purchase the team from Mario?

 

[GKJ]

if the pittsburg steelers wanted a new stadium would the build them one?

Right next to Three Rivers Stadium.




(already happened)



The problem with comparing Philadelphia to Pittsburgh is that Philadelphia has an NBA team and Pittsburgh does not. The Sixers are a major tennant that PIttsburgh does not have a comparable entity to.

 

[Zen Arcade]

Right next to Three Rivers Stadium.




(already happened)



The problem with comparing Philadelphia to Pittsburgh is that Philadelphia has an NBA team and Pittsburgh does not. The Sixers are a major tennant that PIttsburgh does not have a comparable entity to.

We have the Xplosion...

 

[Kurri17]

Right next to Three Rivers Stadium.




(already happened)



The problem with comparing Philadelphia to Pittsburgh is that Philadelphia has an NBA team and Pittsburgh does not. The Sixers are a major tennant that PIttsburgh does not have a comparable entity to.

That's true. But state of the art arenas are always good for cities in terms of bringing in revenue, i.e. luxury suites, concerts, WWE events, etc.

 

[Zen Arcade]

That's true. But state of the art arenas are always good for cities in terms of bringing in revenue, i.e. luxury suites, concerts, WWE events, etc.

The sad thing is, we'll probably get a new arena in a few years, paid for with tax payer money.

 

[GKJ]

That's true. But state of the art arenas are always good for cities in terms of bringing in revenue, i.e. luxury suites, concerts, WWE events, etc.

The question is...is there enough to do that. Maybe if you have U of Pitt play basketball there and that would probably bring in some NCAA tournament games, not much else though.

 

[Spydey629]

The Penguins main competition

The Station Square group -- Forest City Management and Harrah's Casino's -- announced their plans for what they would do with the PA Slot License yesterday.

This is the group that is lining the pockets of Gov. Spendell... errr... Rendell with "campaign contributions". $500 Million Casino, condos and retail, and... NO ARENA!! Accoridng to the PG, they are willing to discuss the "Plan B' the city is working on in case the Pens/Isle of Capri bid does not get the license.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06024/643184.stm

 

[MuzikMachine]

Would this be another reason why #66 is retiring? I realize that health problems also come into play, but still.

 

[EliCash]

That's true. But state of the art arenas are always good for cities in terms of bringing in revenue, i.e. luxury suites, concerts, WWE events, etc.

But how many sports/entertainment events does PNC Park host, besides the worthless garbage that is Pirates baseball? A new hockey arena would have been a much better investment for the city. It's a shame it's not going to happen.

 

[Jaded-Fan]

The sad thing is, we'll probably get a new arena in a few years, paid for with tax payer money.

Looking at the arena this likely is true. Funny thing is, that if you had a vote now in allegheny county about funding a new arena with tax payer dollars, you would get a higher number of yes votes than you did for the Pirates and Steelers new arenas. Listening to media coverage here do you doubt that? Not a majority, we have tons of old people here, but a higher percentage. And in this case there is not a penny of tax dollars spent, merely a choice of what the winner of the slots license will be required to give back to the community. You have an arena and over a billion dollars into the hill, with black community leader support by the way, against Governor Rendell's buddies plan of half million dollar condos 'as needed' and Franco Harris playing 'Step and Fetch it' while presiding over a million dollar a year endowment given to minorities. Really, isn't that embarrasing?

 

[Unholy Diver]

As staunch a democrat as I am...Swann has basically everyone's vote west of Harrisburg for the simple fact he's not Rendell.


Rendell is the Governor of Philadelphia. He has zero support in the western sections of the state. Regardless of how big the democratic demographic is in Pittsburgh.

the only person that you are kidding there is yourself, Rendell will still get the majority of the democrat vote, it dosent matter who runs on the ticket, people vote the party line and that is it, Swann will get some votes since he is an ex steeler but he is still a republican and the only thing he has going for him is his name

the penguins getting a new arena might be the biggest thing to us pens fans but most other people dont give a rats ***

 

[HockeyCritter]

That's true. But state of the art arenas are always good for cities in terms of bringing in revenue, i.e. luxury suites, concerts, WWE events, etc.

But would they go to Pittsburgh when Columbus and Philadelphia are that close and with shiny new arenas to boot? I know the Camden arena was shot down because of it’s proximity to Philadelphia.

 

[HockeyCritter]

But how many sports/entertainment events does PNC Park host, besides the worthless garbage that is Pirates baseball? A new hockey arena would have been a much better investment for the city. It's a shame it's not going to happen.

Baseball stadiums are booked for 81 dates and hold three times more people than a hockey arena --- they don’t need too many outside events to recoup costs; afew soccer games, an outdoor concert or two, and a fan festival are generally enough.

 

[Jaded-Fan]

But would they go to Pittsburgh when Columbus and Philadelphia are that close and with shiny new arenas to boot? I know the Camden arena was shot down because of it’s proximity to Philadelphia.

You are kidding, right? Off the top of my head it is a nine hour drive or so to Philly from Pittsburgh. I could drive to Kentucky faster and that is no exaggeration. Columbus is closer but not that close to take full advantage of this market.

 

[HockeyCritter]

You are kidding, right? Off the top of my head it is a nine hour drive or so to Philly from Pittsburgh. I could drive to Kentucky faster and that is no exaggeration. Columbus is closer but not that close to take full advantage of this market.

No – I’m not kidding …… talk to those that book events (I have). They won’t book places like Pittsburgh - logistically and economically it doesn’t make sense for them to do so because they can draw more in Philadelphia and Columbus

 

[Jaded-Fan]

No – I’m not kidding …… talk to those that book events (I have). They won’t book places like Pittsburgh - logistically and economically it doesn’t make sense for them to do so because they can draw more in Philadelphia and Columbus

I can not confirm or deny the better draw part - and would think that a new arena could at least help with the draw part vs. Columbus. Actually could pretty mch guarentee that. Population of Philly would argue that they naturally would be a better draw.

But that is neither here nor there, and has nothing at all to do with your initial statement or my response. You said that a new arena was not necessary because people would drive to Philly. That is patently ridiculous. It would be like saying that a new arena in Indiana would effect this issue. That is how far Philly is from Pittsburgh.

 

[Unholy Diver]

its 4.5-5 hour drive to philly not a 9 hour drive and columbus can be made in 3h

but as for the question, there have already been quite a few WWE events in pittsburgh and they come here very frequently, a new arena might mean some of the big time PPVs could be held here though

 

[HockeyCritter]

Drive? Where did I say drive?

Someone needs to re-read what is actually written and not what they want to see.

 

[ej_pens]

No – I’m not kidding …… talk to those that book events (I have). They won’t book places like Pittsburgh - logistically and economically it doesn’t make sense for them to do so because they can draw more in Philadelphia and Columbus

That's not a knock on Pittsburgh, but a knock on the current arena. Add into that equation a brand new slots facility to the immediate area and promoters will flock to the new building.

 

[Jaded-Fan]

Drive? Where did I say drive?

Someone needs to re-read what is actually written and not what they want to see.

I did not read correctly, but my point stands. Philly and Columbus are far enough away (and I do off the top of my head believe that Philly is only 4.5 or so hours away as another poster said, it is almost to NYC) that you can not tell me that it has any but a marginal effect on the SW PA market.