Pens Arena Deal In Trouble?

Artyukhin*

Guest
http://www.wpxi.com/sports/13596329/detail.html

The governor feels the budget impasse will delay their decision and could stall the funding for the arena.

According to Rendell, the delay could cause the entire arena deal to fall apart, and possibly cause the Penguins to leave town.






http://kdka.com/topstories/local_story_180161426.html

Rendell worries this could upset billionaire Penguins owner Ron Burkle. “Ron Burkle is a hard driving guy,†Rendell said. “I’m worried he hears this and hears there’s going to be a year delay and he says, ‘We’re going to Kansas City.’€
 

jkrdevil

UnRegistered User
Apr 24, 2006
42,636
12,485
Miami
Rendell worries this could upset billionaire Penguins owner Ron Burkle. “Ron Burkle is a hard driving guy,” Rendell said. “I’m worried he hears this and hears there’s going to be a year delay and he says, ‘We’re going to Kansas City.’”

How many teams can move to Kansas City? :sarcasm:
 

st5801

Registered User
Jan 31, 2005
1,719
0
This looks like a big deal when you read a few isolated quotes, but in reality this is par for the course in Pennsylvania (and probably most other states). Everything gets done, but not until the last possible minute. There's a ton of political grandstanding on both sides over the state budget, as there is every year. The bill that releases the state arena funds is simply a bargaining chip in the budget talks. One side says they won't sign the budget until the bill is passed, while the other says they won't pass the bill until the budget is signed.

In all likelihood, this will be resolved by this time tomorrow. The budget needs to be done by the end of the the congress's session, which is over tomorrow at midnight.
 

MoreOrr

B4
Jun 20, 2006
24,420
438
Mexico
What difference does it really make?

We should all know by now that the NHL will bend over backwards and kiss its own *** to do whatever or wait however long to keep the Penguins in Pittsburgh. Hey, I'm not saying that they shouldn't do exactly that, though it does seem that the same effort might not be applied to certain other franchises, and hasn't always been applied to cities which lost their teams in the past.
 

Dying Alive

Phil = 2x Champ
Mar 11, 2007
12,030
119
Pittsburgh
No, the arena deal is not in trouble. This is politics as usual. They're haggling over details in a billion dollar budget, and the Reps and Dems are pushing back and forth to piss one another off. Just like they do every year, and just like they'll continue to do every year.

The bill has already passed the State House of Representatives. It's at the Senate now. Rendell won't sign the state budget until they sign the bill for the arena (which also includes money for Philly's convention center). Nobody is leaving Harrisburg until the bill and the budgets are signed, so this is all just more political posturing.

This is a classic case of the local media getting people worked into a frenzy in the name of ratings and selling more papers by making something that happens every year seem like a big deal. Don't start salivating, folks.

ETA: Rendell is a Democrat and the senate is a Republican majority, so it's not really that unusual that you'd see him trying to paint them in the most negative light possible and urging the constituency to call them and put pressure on them. It's a win/win for him - a way to get people angry at the Republicans and make himself look like a good guy/hero again.
 
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mouser

Business of Hockey
Jul 13, 2006
29,285
12,586
South Mountain
Hmm. Guess Florida's not the only state with budget problems and idiots in office dragging their feet isntead of getting things done.

Unfortunately the truth is we're usually better off when politicians drag their feet. It's when they actually do things that we trully get screwed.
 

petrskudra1

Registered User
Jun 14, 2005
1,381
0
Pittsburgh
Simply its they are worried about 8 million dollars. 8 million dollars in a 27 billion dollar budget.

There is no trouble here. The deal will be done, but after all this smoke clears.
 

skullman80

Registered User
Nov 18, 2005
4,088
2
Pittsburgh, Pa
This is being blown out of proportion big time. It will be taken care of. This happens EVERY YEAR with the budget and other things.

This is not a big deal, though the local news outlets love to paint the doom and gloom picture.

It's politics...nothing more.
 

Clarence Beeks

Registered User
May 4, 2006
7,608
0
In the Deep South
Hmm. Guess Florida's not the only state with budget problems and idiots in office dragging their feet isntead of getting things done.

I've lived in both states. Trust me, there is NO COMPARISON between the two governments. Florida's government is a dream come true compared to Pennsylvania's.
 

shureshot66

Registered User
Aug 2, 2005
11,031
35
From the PG

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07181/798466-100.stm


After the new budget and additional transportation aid are enacted, the Legislature's third priority is to approve House Bill 1631, a slots-funded capital budget that will help finance a $300 million arena for the Penguins. Sen. Jane Orie, R-McCandless, expects that approval to come, but probably not until later next week.

yup... politics as usual in this state. it's been refreshing to see that fans have been able to see this for what it is instead of reclaiming their jumping real estate on the liberty bridge.
 

grapepul*

Guest
yup... politics as usual in this state. it's been refreshing to see that fans have been able to see this for what it is instead of reclaiming their jumping real estate on the liberty bridge.
Well Obviously you haven't been to the pp.com board lately because Crash er keithjfro err GovLanskey is at it once again, the Pens are less than a day away from the lease expiring etc... etc... etc...:biglaugh:
 

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