Doohicksie Posted January 3, 2007 Report Posted January 3, 2007 ESPN.com: Penguins explore options with meeting in KC Probably as much positioning as anything else, but the Pens ownership is serious about a new arena and even if their goal is to stay in Pittsburgh, they have to scout their options.... (hmmm.... KC? Scouts?) Other cities mentioned in the article (probably not exactly news): "Houston, Winnipeg, Portland, Ore., and possibly Oklahoma City." Hmmm... Houston: Big city but no NHL team... makes sense. Natural rival to the Stars. But I just don't see them as a hockey city. (Of course the same was said about Dallas and Phoenix.) :thumbdown: Winnipeg: Be nice to see another Canadian team. :thumbsup: Portland, OKC: Both are big city/major sports aspirees. With the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets, you can say each city has an NBA franchise already. In my personal situation (located near Dallas), I'd be more interested in a Dallas-OKC rivalry than a Dallas-Houston one. :thumbsup: In the end, I bet they stay in Pittsburgh.
Goodfella25 Posted January 3, 2007 Report Posted January 3, 2007 It really sound to me like Lemieux is just fed up with that organization/that city. But after the way Pittsburgh has been dragging its collective feet with regard to a new arena, who can even blame him. Still, it would suck for the NHL if a team like the Pens had to move to a new city (and it would be even worse if the city was, say, Houston). The Pens have been around for a while and I'd much rather see a team like Carolina or Florida moved.
wnyguy Posted January 3, 2007 Report Posted January 3, 2007 ESPN.com: Penguins explore options with meeting in KC Probably as much positioning as anything else, but the Pens ownership is serious about a new arena and even if their goal is to stay in Pittsburgh, they have to scout their options.... (hmmm.... KC? Scouts?) I really liked that KC Scouts logo.
Sabretooth73 Posted January 3, 2007 Report Posted January 3, 2007 F Shittsburgh, i detest that filthy city and all the backwards, trashy bums that live there. I DO hope they leave, I dont want anything positive to happen to that dump of a town. Theyve already got 5 superbowls, a world series or 2, 2 stanley cups, wtf else do you want them to have? I must mention im somewhat bitter, obviously about this topic. My in-laws live there and I alwyas dread visiting that dump. Seriously though, i cannot stand that city. People saying "yins" and "hos" or "don ton"...WTF! f sHITTSBURGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
eball Posted January 3, 2007 Report Posted January 3, 2007 The Pens have been around for a while and I'd much rather see a team like Carolina or Florida moved. I hope they don't move Carolina...where will I go to rape, plunder, and pillage?
ExiledInIllinois Posted January 3, 2007 Report Posted January 3, 2007 I really liked that KC Scouts logo. Do you like the NJ Devils' logo? Because that's who the Scouts became after leaving Colorado (Rockies) and then on to NJ. ;) :nana: ;) I remember the Scouts and Caps coming into the league... That year I had a bunch of full NHL player sticker books from Loblaws... I had some family that worked at the Bailey Ave. warehouse... I know my father still has them somewhere? I would love to dig them up... Didn't later Sabre Wilf Paiement play for the Scouts?
wjag Posted January 3, 2007 Report Posted January 3, 2007 I don't like the concept or precedence of any professional sports franchise moving out of a city and fan base that support them. I'm a life long Buffalo fan and remain extremely irritated that Art Modell moved his Browns out of Cleveland to Baltimore where I live now. I'm even more irritated that said franchise is about to win its second bowl and my beloved Bills haven't won jack since Jack.
BuffalOhio Posted January 4, 2007 Report Posted January 4, 2007 I was in fifth grade at Ebenezer Elementary school when those books were out. I remember needing only an Ed Westfall of the Islanders to complete my book, and I couldn't get my hands on one. Finally, one of the kids in my grade had one, and I traded every other extra sticker I had for it. Yeah!!! Funny I remember the last player I needed, some 32 years later. HA! I also remember the only player in the whole book with my same birthday was Bob Nevin of the L.A. Kings.
deluca67 Posted January 4, 2007 Report Posted January 4, 2007 Do you like the NJ Devils' logo? Because that's who the Scouts became after leaving Colorado (Rockies) and then on to NJ. Didn't they also used to be the Buffalo Braves :blink:
PromoTheRobot Posted January 4, 2007 Report Posted January 4, 2007 ESPN.com: Penguins explore options with meeting in KC Probably as much positioning as anything else, but the Pens ownership is serious about a new arena and even if their goal is to stay in Pittsburgh, they have to scout their options.... (hmmm.... KC? Scouts?) Other cities mentioned in the article (probably not exactly news): "Houston, Winnipeg, Portland, Ore., and possibly Oklahoma City." Hmmm... Houston: Big city but no NHL team... makes sense. Natural rival to the Stars. But I just don't see them as a hockey city. (Of course the same was said about Dallas and Phoenix.) :thumbdown: Winnipeg: Be nice to see another Canadian team. :thumbsup: Portland, OKC: Both are big city/major sports aspirees. With the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets, you can say each city has an NBA franchise already. In my personal situation (located near Dallas), I'd be more interested in a Dallas-OKC rivalry than a Dallas-Houston one. :thumbsup: In the end, I bet they stay in Pittsburgh. I'd like to point out that OK City used to lead all minor league hockey teams in attendance, averaging 10,000+ for the double-A level OKC Blazers of the Central Hockey League. Having the Hornets might blunt potential fan interest in an NHL team, but OK City is definitely a hockey town. Kansas City? Please. The Scouts lasted, what, two years? And how about the KC Kings of the NBA? How are the Royals doing? Sorry. KC is too small a market for 3 pro franchises. Winnipeg? Maybe. Might be able to support the team early, but how about long term? Houston? Big southern market that could care less about hockey. The Aeros of the AHL do okay (5-6,000 avg. att.) but it doesn't make it a hockey city. Las Vegas? Always gets mentioned as the next potential big-league town. But I read a very interesting column in their local paper once. The columnist (forgot his name, sorry) pointed out that LV is not that wealthy a town, really. Most of their growth is in mid-to-low paying casino jobs. Also since LV is a 24-hour town, two-thirds of the population is either working or sleeping at any given time! Sure there are tons of tourists, but how many of them would choose to watch an NHL game over Cirque de Soliel or Celine Dion? Portland? The Pacific Northwest, including Seattle, is a big hole for the NHL. It makes sense to put a team there, except the region has very little hockey history, despite it's proximity to Canada. There isn't even minor league hockey there, just junior teams. Norfolk VA? Largest metropolitan area in the USA without a major-league sports franchise. Probably far enough away from Carolina and Washington DC, but limp support for the AHL Admirals. Lacks a suitable arena. Charlotte NC? Big city, tons or money, good rival market to the 'Canes. Does NC need another team? Kitchner-London ON? Talk about a dark horse, but not a crazy idea when you look at the population and the money there. Makes more sense than Winnipeg, Hamilton, or Quebec City. Biggest negative? Lack of major city center, just a vast suburban sprawl. Salt Lake City? No. Hartford? Ummmmm...no. No arena. Lukewarm economy. Actually a poor city with wealthy suburbs. PTR
Doohicksie Posted January 4, 2007 Author Report Posted January 4, 2007 I kinda like OKC.... the city itself reminds me quite a bit of my current home- Fort Worth. They are both Cowtowns.
Kevbeau Posted January 4, 2007 Report Posted January 4, 2007 But I just don't see them as a hockey city. (Of course the same was said about.... Phoenix.) :thumbdown: And they were right :D My dark horse is Hattiesburg, MS. Nobody would see it coming.
bruceleeroy Posted January 4, 2007 Report Posted January 4, 2007 Dont count KC out of it. I live here and they are very serious about getting someone in that arena.Right now the penguins are the only candidates and they need someone now. The city has a multi-billion dollar revitalization program going on downtown with the arena being in the middle of it and if there is nothing there the city will not be happy. Therefore in my opinion the city and the owners of the arena are gonna give mario an offer i dont think he will be able to refuse. I think he will like the idea of having the city over a barrel.
Bmwolf21 Posted January 5, 2007 Report Posted January 5, 2007 It really sound to me like Lemieux is just fed up with that organization/that city. But after the way Pittsburgh has been dragging its collective feet with regard to a new arena, who can even blame him. Still, it would suck for the NHL if a team like the Pens had to move to a new city (and it would be even worse if the city was, say, Houston). The Pens have been around for a while and I'd much rather see a team like Carolina or Florida moved. I think that this pretty much sums it up. The political leadership in Pittsburgh and Pennsylvania have played games with the Pens for too long, and I think Mario & co. are simply tired of jumping through hoops to keep the team in Pittsburgh. I agree 100% that a city with the tradition and fan base of a team like the Pens shouldn't have to move, but if staying means another team faces bankruptcy and a minimal payroll just to stay afloat, then they need to explore all their options. And I would much rather see Florida moved before the Pens. I hope they don't move Carolina...where will I go to rape, plunder, and pillage? :lol: :lol: :lol: Don't forget defecating on NASCAR statues....
ExiledInIllinois Posted January 5, 2007 Report Posted January 5, 2007 I was in fifth grade at Ebenezer Elementary school when those books were out. I remember needing only an Ed Westfall of the Islanders to complete my book, and I couldn't get my hands on one. Finally, one of the kids in my grade had one, and I traded every other extra sticker I had for it. Yeah!!! Funny I remember the last player I needed, some 32 years later. HA! I also remember the only player in the whole book with my same birthday was Bob Nevin of the L.A. Kings. You are the same age as my brother... He attended Gardenville Elementary before Northwood was built?... I was born in 1968... Did you attend West Seneca West?
SCSabresFan! Posted January 5, 2007 Report Posted January 5, 2007 Charlotte NC? Big city, tons or money, good rival market to the 'Canes. Does NC need another team? PTR NO!!!! <_< My buddy coaches our ECHL team the Charlotte Checkers. They are good this year - play in a nice new arena uptown and can't draw flies.
John Gianelli Posted January 5, 2007 Report Posted January 5, 2007 Anybody know what is the smallest market with an NFL, MLB, NHL and NBA franchise? Maybe Boston? Minneapolis? Miami? Just looked up populations from the 2000 census, and I think it's Denver.
SCSabresFan! Posted January 5, 2007 Report Posted January 5, 2007 Anybody know what is the smallest market with an NFL, MLB, NHL and NBA franchise? Maybe Boston? Minneapolis? Miami? From Wikipedia The Answer - Denver,Colorado
Eleven Posted January 5, 2007 Report Posted January 5, 2007 Didn't later Sabre Wilf Paiement play for the Scouts? No one else answered this. Yes.
Kevbeau Posted January 5, 2007 Report Posted January 5, 2007 Heard on the radio this morning (Bernie Mullin President of the Thrashers) that KC offered the Penguins free rent. Don't know the details or the length of the contract, but man, how do you walk away from that?
Doohicksie Posted January 5, 2007 Author Report Posted January 5, 2007 Dont count KC out of it. I live here and they are very serious about getting someone in that arena.Right now the penguins are the only candidates and they need someone now. The city has a multi-billion dollar revitalization program going on downtown with the arena being in the middle of it and if there is nothing there the city will not be happy. Therefore in my opinion the city and the owners of the arena are gonna give mario an offer i dont think he will be able to refuse. I think he will like the idea of having the city over a barrel. Here's the problem with that: Your whole discussion is about "filling space", not about bringing hockey to KC. It just sounds like the team would be another "resource" for the city and that would be the end of it. And I think for a city to do well with a hockey team, the city itself has to really want hockey (look at Dallas, look at Phoenix- one wanted it, one didn't). Maybe, though, the frustration with Pittsburgh authorities will weigh that desperation to fill the space heavily and they will accept KC's offer. Who knows?
Allan in MD Posted January 5, 2007 Report Posted January 5, 2007 Dont count KC out of it. I live here and they are very serious about getting someone in that arena.Right now the penguins are the only candidates and they need someone now. The city has a multi-billion dollar revitalization program going on downtown with the arena being in the middle of it and if there is nothing there the city will not be happy. Therefore in my opinion the city and the owners of the arena are gonna give mario an offer i dont think he will be able to refuse. I think he will like the idea of having the city over a barrel. But what kind of hockey hotbed will KC be once the early thrill wears off? The one big plus, of course, no matter who gets the team, are the young guns. I'd be surprised it Pittsburgh ultimately lets the Pens walk. But stranger things have happened in pro sports. Ask Brooklyn Dodger fans.
SCSabresFan! Posted January 6, 2007 Report Posted January 6, 2007 The Pens are the red-headed step child of Pittsburgh. They've tried while I was in college nearby (early 90's) to get a new arena. It's not gonna happen.
SCSabresFan! Posted January 7, 2007 Report Posted January 7, 2007 Sounds like Oklahoma City is now in the running.
bruceleeroy Posted January 8, 2007 Report Posted January 8, 2007 KC would be a good market for one main reason.......RIVALRIES!!!! How many teams are within driving distance to this area detroit,denver,st louis, dallas, minnesota, maybe others i cant think of and there is nothing this town likes more than its rivalries. And to answer a previous question yes this city would be a hockey town eventually. of course it wouldnt happen overnight but with the talent that would be coming in and the excitement behind the new downtown the team would gain a fan base very quickly.
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