Kansas City NHL Articles

[Topeka Blade]

Actually the Kansas City Business Journal article is better than the Star's article:

http://kansascity.bizjournals.com/kansa ... ily50.html

If for no other reason, than this quote from the article:

"This isn't about a specific team," Leiweke said after a press conference at Charles B. Wheeler Downtown Airport.

No NHL teams are for sale, Leiweke said. Nor does the NHL plan to expand. Leiweke said he and Del Biaggio will follow the lead of NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman."

So this announcement was like a Seinfeld episode . . . about nothing . . .

[HockeyPunkKC]

i dont care if there is a team for sale or not.  this was a good thing. 

we now know that there IS someone outthere that is planning on buying a team for sprint center.  That is huge wether you see it or not.

there could be 2 teams for sale, but if we didnt have a possible buyer interested in the sprint center it would do us no good.

we have the possible buyer, now we just have to wait for an opening.

[KCMax]

[quote="KCMax"]
We don’t have an NBA ownership or an NBA franchise that is talking about moving here,â€

[Topeka Blade]

One thing to keep in mind with Del Biaggio is that it appeared at one time that he would buy the Penguins for $120 million.  The deal didn't close.  Nobody ever said why, but while negotiations were on, the Pens won the right to draft Sidney Crosby.  Some believe the Pens' ownership group thought the franchise had just increased in value with that acquisition, and Del Biaggio was not willing to pay more.

The next thing that appeared possible is that Del Biaggio would buy into the Penguins and sell his interest in the Sharks.  Neither happened, and again, no one said why.

I am only speculating, but it would appear that Del Biaggio may not quite have the means to buy an NHL team except at low prices--or at least is only willing to pay low prices.  I would not take that as a good sign.

[AF]

I don't think we will be without a pro team for very long once the Sprint Center opens. The fact that all the luxury suites are sold out, the fact that its right next to the p&l district and also that this might possibly be the best arena in the country---Some pro team is going to want to come here, its too good of a situation.

[Ez Street]

Man...Topeka will once again have a team yet KC doesn't. Before I hear the bitching...I'm just messing with you. It is after all just a Junior team. We need anything we can get to bring Hockey back. Now hopefully we can get our Ice Facility built and the sky is the limit...

No "Offical announcement yet, but this is what is happening.

The Tucson Tilt of the Western States Hockey League (Junior B) will move to Landon Arena in Topeka, Kansas next season.



The team is owned by several World Series of Poker players.
http://www.tucsontilthockey.com/staff.html

Here is the only mention of this so far.
http://juniorhockey.blogspot.com/2006/1 ... -tilt.html

[DowntownBryan]

Landon Arena? Is that the new name of the Expocentre? or a completely different arena? Congrats for Topeka, Junior B is uhhh, OK hockey, but any hockey is better than no hockey.


500th post. woot!

[KC0KEK]

I'm surprised that no one has posted Bettman's comments about the Pens from earlier in the week.

[KCMax]

I'm surprised you didn't post them either. What did he say?

[Topeka Blade]

Actually, the arena has always had that name.  Landon is the arena; the complex of buildings is the Kansas Expocentre.

I'll admit my first choice for Topeka would be a return of the USHL, but given the rocky hockey history Topeka has had, it's important to have an ownership group that is enthusiastic about the game--that appears to be the case, although you never know.  But if they are, that should go a long way toward mending fences in a fractured hockey community.

[KC0KEK]

I'm surprised you didn't post them either. What did he say?

He said a lot but didn't actually say anything.



Bettman warns Penguins' future uncertain if casino plan nixed

By ALAN ROBINSON, AP Sports Writer
November 28, 2006

PITTSBURGH (AP) -- NHL commissioner Gary Bettman warned Tuesday that the Penguins' future in Pittsburgh is uncertain if the Isle of Capri casino chain isn't awarded a license next month to build a slot machines parlor in the city.

Isle of Capri Casinos Inc. has promised to build a $290 million arena to replace 45-year-old Mellon Arena, at no cost to taxpayers or the team, if awarded the license. The other two applicants are expected to provide money toward an arena, but neither would fully fund a new building.

"If the Isle of Capri doesn't get the license, we've got a lot of uncertainty to deal with, and it's best for everybody and the franchise that we're not dealing in uncharted and uncertain waters," Bettman said.

With the Penguins free to relocate once their Mellon Arena lease expires in June, city and county officials are working on an alternate plan if Isle of Capri doesn't get the license. Allegheny County chief executive Dan Onorato has pledged an arena will be built even if it is not fully paid for by casino money, and parcels of land near Mellon Arena already have been acquired for the project.

Bettman met Tuesday with Onorato and Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, but wasn't willing afterward to embrace the alternative plan -- if only because doing so would weaken the argument made by the NHL and the team that the Isle of Capri plan is easily the best option.

"I think I've been very clear about this: We want the Penguins to stay in Pittsburgh," Bettman said. "This is a great market, there are great fans here, and we would like nothing better for Pens to have a new arena ... and on the right economic terms, so we don't have to worry about the long-term viability of the franchise.

"If we have to deal with something else, a lot of factors come into play and I can't be as certain about the future."

Bettman said he wasn't trying to be "an alarmist" by warning that the Penguins' future in Pittsburgh is in doubt if Isle of Capri isn't chosen.

"If Isle of Capri gets the license, the building comes in the ground, the Penguins stay in Pittsburgh, where I think they belong, and this thing is over," he said.

Bettman said there was minimal talk with Onorato and Ravenstahl about the alternative plan.

"We all agreed it's important for the Penguins to stay in Pittsburgh and that's what we all want," Bettman said. "It's vital for the Penguins to get a new arena, they need one desperately. That is the scenario that best deals with the future of the team in Pittsburgh."

Mellon Arena, originally built in 1961 as a home for the Pittsburgh opera, is the NHL's oldest arena and one of its smallest.

Bettman's remarks were similar to those made last week to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board by Jim Balsillie, who expects to be approved as the new Penguins owner by mid-December. The Hamilton, Ontario-based business executive will meet Monday with the executive committee of the NHL's board of governors, and no opposition to his ownership is anticipated.

Balsillie told the gaming board, which expects to choose the slots license winner on Dec. 20, that selecting Isle of Capri's plan to build the arena and a $450 million casino near the current arena would remove the "cloud of uncertainty" hovering over the Penguins. Current owner Mario Lemieux's group has unsuccessfully lobbied for a new arena for seven years.

However, Balsillie also said he is committed to keeping the Penguins in Pittsburgh as long as a new arena is forthcoming. Under the alternative proposal, the Penguins would have to contribute $8 million up front and $4 million a year for a new arena, though it is likely Balsillie would try to negotiate more favorable terms.

The other casino bidders are Forest City Enterprises, which would build a casino in the Station Square complex near downtown, and PITG Gaming, which would build on the North Side near PNC Park and Heinz Field.

[Topeka Blade]

What barely gets mentioned is that he said that Jim Balsillie's purchase of the Pens should be approved in 2-3 weeks.  Given that we have an owner with a lease but no team in Kansas City, that raises a few questions:

If arena plans collapse in Pittsburgh, does that give hope to KC?  Balsillie has said he has no interest here.  He could change his mind, of course, but then, does Del Biaggio have an escape clause in his lease that allows both sides to back away if an owner with a team comes forward?

Or would they expect Balsillie to sell to Del Biaggio?  That would Balsillie, closing a deal to buy the Pens at $175 million, vs. Del Biaggio, who a year ago couldn't close the deal to buy the Pens for $120 million.

That's the beauty of a teamless owner.  But that's alright.  KC still has 93+ years to get an NHL team in the 21st century.

[DTO]

now, if in say 4-5 years, there is a nba nhl team on the prowl, looking for a new home, and, the sprint center has been open 2-3 years, the power and light district has been open 2 years, the east village is done, kansas city has just voted on lrt and passed it, bartle is expanded yet again, a new convention center hotel is built, the performing arts center is built, there are 5-10,000 new homeowners living in downtown in condos, then, kansas city, hopping, alive and well, pursues one of those leagues, then, yes, it might work.

right now, any dream of moving an nhl or nba franchise to kc is ludicrous.

I don't know that all of that stuff leads to getting a team. I'm sure it doesn't look bad but if you built an arena out in the middle of nowhere and still had enough metro population and other demographics that matter, you'd have a team.

I don't see the AHL coming to KC. They just expanded to have enough for each NHL team and I don't see them moving around. Omaha and Des Moines were the last expansions. The Knights attendance is improving however. I know eomaha (Jeff) was always saying we'd lose the Knights to KC but I don't see that happening.

[KCPowercat]

Keep them.  Actually keep all hockey out of here....i'm sliding around enough on the sidewalks as it is today...give me a stick and $5M

[DTO]

Hey you sound qualified to play in the USHL KCP. It's a balmy 20 something up here. No snow or ice yet.

[anniewarbucks]

Most of Topekas problems with hockey arise from the very rough nature of the Wichita Thunder. Any team that comes into Topeka start the season out with excelent attendance untill Wichita comes into town. After Wichita leeves the season goes to crap. The Scarecrows and the Taurantulas went into the crapper this very way. Now for NHL in KC. Whoever comes to KC should set their sights on trying to drum up the ticket sales using a theory that the weaker teams are just as strong as the strongest team in the NHL. KC on its first year should not on its first year set up a rivalry like the Topeka/Wichita Rivalry. Let rivalrys develop over time. Even if KC is playing the St Louis Blues in the first game of the season.

[Topeka Blade]

Most of Topekas problems with hockey arise from the very rough nature of the Wichita Thunder. Any team that comes into Topeka start the season out with excelent attendance untill Wichita comes into town. After Wichita leeves the season goes to crap. The Scarecrows and the Taurantulas went into the crapper this very way. Now for NHL in KC. Whoever comes to KC should set their sights on trying to drum up the ticket sales using a theory that the weaker teams are just as strong as the strongest team in the NHL. KC on its first year should not on its first year set up a rivalry like the Topeka/Wichita Rivalry. Let rivalrys develop over time. Even if KC is playing the St Louis Blues in the first game of the season.

I'd be lying if I said I understood this.  Having been through the rough history of Topeka hockey, I don't think I've ever heard anybody suggest that Wichita was part of the problem.  I recall the Scarecrows always drawing well against Wichita.  The Tarantulas didn't draw well against anybody.  The Scarecrows problem at the gate had more to do with an abundance of free tickets, and when that source dried up, so did attendance.

[kcmetro]

KC on its first year should not on its first year set up a rivalry like the Topeka/Wichita Rivalry. Let rivalrys develop over time. Even if KC is playing the St Louis Blues in the first game of the season.

?????

I'm no hockey expert, but I'd say there is a 100% chance that STL would be KC's biggest rival, regardless of how it is promoted.

[DowntownBryan]

That all depends. You would think that since the Blues and our team would be in the same state, they would be rivals like the Chiefs and Rams or the Royals and the Cards, but hockey is a funny game when it comes to rivalries. It's not all location that creates rivalries. If teams get off on the wrong foot with eachother early in the season (fights, misconducts, all that jazz) it can escalade very fast. Playoffs also create huge rivalries such as Dallas and Edmonton, and Colorado and Detroit. No doubt there will be some tension and excitement between our team (granted that we actually get one) and St. Louis, but don't expect to see some huge brawls just becuase they are from the same state.

[Topeka Blade]

That all depends. You would think that since the Blues and our team would be in the same state, they would be rivals like the Chiefs and Rams or the Royals and the Cards, but hockey is a funny game when it comes to rivalries. It's not all location that creates rivalries. If teams get off on the wrong foot with eachother early in the season (fights, misconducts, all that jazz) it can escalade very fast. Playoffs also create huge rivalries such as Dallas and Edmonton, and Colorado and Detroit. No doubt there will be some tension and excitement between our team (granted that we actually get one) and St. Louis, but don't expect to see some huge brawls just becuase they are from the same state.

Ok, if this is what Annie was getting at, this makes sense, because aggressive play with certain teams does usually grab more interest, and I think that was true with the Blades as well.  But in terms of attendance, whatever happens on the ice is one thing.  But if KC does land an NHL, expect plenty of Blues sweaters in the stands, regardless of the quality of play.  There's a reason why they include the Blues in the preseason exhibitions.