KC Penguins? (Kansas City Star)

[KcSportsFanatic]

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascit ... 127100.htm

[QUOTE]
Anschutz chief optimistic about hockey

Kansas City Penguins?

Leiweke eyes possible Sprint Center tenants

By RANDY COVITZ

The Kansas City Star

Keep your eyes on the Pittsburgh Penguins. Tim Leiweke certainly is.

Although Leiweke, president and chief executive officer of Anschutz Entertainment Group, is being careful not to tamper with an existing NHL or NBA franchise, he’s aware what clubs could be available when the 18,500-seat Sprint Center his company will manage opens downtown in the fall of 2007.

The NHL’s Penguins, who play in antiquated Mellon Arena, remain the most viable candidate, considering their lease expires at the end of the 2006-07 season.

The Penguins are trying to acquire a casino license and use the proceeds for a new building, but if that does not materialize, the club could be sold and moved to another city.

“If Pittsburgh doesn’t have an arena deal done a year from now,â€

[aknowledgeableperson]

It is Tim's job to sell.  And he is selling now.  Don't get your hopes up yet.

[Ez Street]

I'd say landing the Penguins is a long shot. Its feasable, but the odds are not in our favor. It does help to have the people we do working to get us an NHL team. If I had my choice, I want the Pens.

[Mr. Cranky]

"The Pittsburgh Penguins can be the Kansas City Penguins, no question about it. That team here … it will sell out every ticket in advance, end of story. That team will be a huge instant home run here."

Yes, the Kansas City Blades always did great box office here; some nights you could barely get an ENTIRE ARENA SECTION TO YOURSELF.

I'm a hockey fan and I'd go, but I have trouble imagining a lot of other people would. It'd be nice, but if it's not Rock Chalk Jayhawk it won't sell here in the winter.

[KCMax]

I agree the Pens are a long shot. Doesn't Mario own the team? I can't imagine him moving them. Its just posturing for a new arena.

I do think the Magic are a possibility. But I do think OKC has moved to the top of the list. You know, if we had started the Sprint Center two years earlier, that would be us!

[Ez Street]

Yes, the Kansas City Blades always did great box office here; some nights you could barely get an ENTIRE ARENA SECTION TO YOURSELF.

Minor vs. Major

[GRID]

Minor vs. Major

Exactly and the Blades did draw well till the last few years.  How many times do we have to go over this?

[KcSportsFanatic]

Yes, the Kansas City Blades always did great box office here; some nights you could barely get an ENTIRE ARENA SECTION TO YOURSELF.

I'm a hockey fan and I'd go, but I have trouble imagining a lot of other people would. It'd be nice, but if it's not Rock Chalk Jayhawk it won't sell here in the winter.

LOL.. yeah the Blades were winning Stanley cups right? Competing with the Rangers, Redwings and other Historic teams?

Anyways the penguins may not be a long shot.. check out these posts by people in Pittsburgh..

This is a bit OT from the slots discussion directly, but concerns Pen's arena funding as it pertains to politics.

Bob O'Connor (no surprise) won the election tonite for Mayor of Pittsburgh. O'Connor has spoken against any money going to the Pen's.

Some of the same contributors to Rendell's campaign, also contributed to O'Connor.

Including the Station Square group.

"Lamb did question why Forest City Enterprises--the owners of Station Square who plan to seek a slots license for that development--vitually bankrolled O'Connor's campaign, but too late and not forcefully enough." (taken from a political blog)




Oh, incidentally, the O'Connor's victory speech was at Station Square. Oh, also totaly coincidentally, the last two times Rendell was in time, he held press conferences/speeches, it was at Station Square.

O'Connor is definitely part of that ole boy, politically corrupt, City of Pittsburgh scene.

Seems like things aren't so good even after they drafted the next one who is playing amazing for an 18 year old.

something needs to be done, because now there is talk of having the kansas city penguins.....that would be the worst thing ever, i hate kansas city anything

This just makes me laugh...

[Ez Street]

Screw Pittsburgh. Just for that, we shall take the Pens.

[KcSportsFanatic]

Here is another quote from the texans site...

Squiddy
Practice Squad
*


Go Texans!

Posts: 20

Kansas City Penguins?
Today at 10:15am Quote Modify Remove
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascit ... 127100.htm

Do they really have an upper hand?

Hookem Horns
TexansTalk.com Administrator
*****


Thank gawd hockey
season has started!

Posts: 1195

Re: Kansas City Penguins?
Reply #1 - Today at 10:54am Quote
Quote from Squiddy on Today at 10:15am:
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascit ... 127100.htm

Do they really have an upper hand?


Maybe over El Paso.
[/qoute]

I hate texas.... and everything it stands for..

[kcdcchef]

the blades had over 10,000 a lot of the time. not all 10 years, but several of those years, especially the years we chased, and won, the turner cup. the blades, for a minor league team, did great in attendance. at a dump of an arena.

[aknowledgeableperson]

The arena was not a dump.  Not modern, just not up-to-date.
The area around the arena was not in the best of shape but it looked a lot better 30 years ago.  Of course, there was the smell of the stockyards but the stockyards generated a lot of traffic and business for the area.

[KcSportsFanatic]

What will happen to the kemper once the Sprint center is done?

[Tosspot]

What will happen to the kemper once the Sprint center is done?

Here's a thread about precisely that

It seems that it will be used primarily for American Royal events.

[kcdcchef]

The arena was not a dump.  Not modern, just not up-to-date.
The area around the arena was not in the best of shape but it looked a lot better 30 years ago.  Of course, there was the smell of the stockyards but the stockyards generated a lot of traffic and business for the area.

we disagree here akp. when i had blades season tickets, the sound was terrible, you froze your ass off in the winter, the temporary seating that moved back and forth for hockey always moved, the lighting was horrible.

kemper is not just we need bigger concourses and bathrooms. kemper is a dump. it will be great for the royal.

[Hull-Os]

How many times do we have to go over this?

As many times as we have to answer this:

"The Outlaws proved hockey will never work in KC."

[KcSportsFanatic]

As many times as we have to answer this:

"The Outlaws proved hockey will never work in KC."

LOL.. yeah ... like the sell out pre-season games don't say anything about fan support.. oooops...

[Hull-Os]

Here's the thing that is not in KCSFantic's post.

The mayor doesn't decide who gets the slots license for Pittsburgh.

The state gaming board decides. The mayor has no say.

I've made my statement. The Pens will get the slots license. The Pens will not move.

http://www.slotsformario.com/

[kcdcchef]

it is moot anyways, the league, and bettman, have already said hockey will never leave pittsburgh. nuf said.

pursue nashville, and the city the forum has a hardon for, columbus.

[KcSportsFanatic]

Columbus is not going anywhere.. I think 1 person has a hardon for columbus.