Potential for an AHL team?

I received this comment on one of my previous posts

Before I respond, full disclosure -- I am a HUGE fan of AHL-level hockey and believe IT is the best product for our market. I believe the NHL could be successful, but the AHL is a better fit, especially considering the potential rivalries with teams in Chicago, Omaha and Des Moines.

Yea, could you focus some of your excellent coverage on the likelihood of bringing an AHL franchise to KC? What franchises are for sale? What franchises are struggling? Who could be eyeing KC? Is it even feasible so long as Paul McGannon has his heart set on the NHL?

I'd be more than happy to address this topic. Let me take the questions one at a time.

Yea, could you focus some of your excellent coverage on the likelihood of bringing an AHL franchise to KC?

As long as the Penguins arena situation is in limbo, and it will be until the Pittsburgh slots license is awarded late this year, I don't believe there will be movement toward bringing an AHL team to KC. It seems AEG wants to completely exhaust the possibility of luring the Penguins before negotiating a lease with a current AHL franchise owner.

AEG already owns an AHL team, the Manchester Monarchs. An AHL owner cannot own two franchises in the league, so there is no chance AEG purchases an AHL team for Sprint Center.

This "dual ownership" rule was the downfall of Kansas City professional hockey. When the AHL absorbed the former IHL teams, the Kansas City Blades were owned by Grand Rapids native Rich DeVos, who also owned the Grand Rapids Griffons and the arena in which the Griffons play, Van Ardel Arena. He chose, to no ones surprise, to retain the team in his home town. The Blades folded along with the IHL.

Since then there have been unforgiveable missteps like when Kevin Gray seemed to insist on local ownership in order to lure an AHL team when, most likely, at least three AHL franchises looked at KC since the IHL folded in 2001. I'd rather not talk about the misstep of bringing to Outlaws to KC. I told a former Kemper Arena employee that the UHL would NEVER work in KC. Others thought differently. Some are good at judging these things and others are good at making gloves.

What's the buzz?

I'd have more about the AHL if anything was going on. No public information has come out about KC pursuing one of the two available AHL franchises. The deadline for activating a team in the AHL for the 2007-08 season will be mid-May 2007.

What franchises are for sale?

AHL has 30 franchises available and 30 owners

I said "deadline for activating a team" above because the AHL has 30 franchises available, one for every NHL team. All 30 franchises are currently under ownership. Twenty seven teams will play in the AHL this season. Three teams are dormant.

Cleveland -- former Utah, owned by the guy who owns the Cleveland Cavaliers. Will begin play in Cleveland in 2007.

-- A franchise owned by the Edmonton Oilers and currently dormant. They played in Edmonton as the Roadrunners during the NHL lockout.
-- A franchise owned by Cincinnatian Pete Robinson -- he tried to resurrect the team as the Cincinnati Railraiders (great name), but failed to reach his goal for season ticket deposits and decided to keep the franchise dormant.

What franchises are struggling?

Oh no, you are not getting me into that trap. This is where the Star makes their mistake. The question isn't "what franchises are struggling?" it is "What franchise may be interested in relocating?"

It is very hard to identify an AHL franchise that is struggling. A franchise may have small attendance at the gate and, based on their lease agreement, NOT struggle.

To answer the question -- I have no idea, however there is franchise turnover in the AHL nearly every year.

Who could be eyeing KC?

That is tough to say. Will the team play at Sprint Center or at Kemper? If it is Kemper, no one.

If it is Sprint Center, I would think any AHL owner with a tenuous arena situation would jump at the chance to play at Sprint Center.

The question is "Does AEG want an AHL team playing in Sprint Center?"

AEG is obviously familiar with the AHL since they own the AHL franchise that led the league in attendance last season.

But, an AHL team would demand a large number of weekend dates. Does AEG want to tie up their weekend dates with AHL hockey or reserve them for these great concerts they say will no longer bypass KC?

Plus, AEG sold all those luxury boxes to KC's big fish. Did those big fish buy luxury boxes to see the KC AHL team vs. the Peoria Rivermen? I doubt it.

Is it even feasible so long as Paul McGannon has his heart set on the NHL?

Of course, if AEG can profit from the AHL. If AEG thinks they can make money filling arena dates with AHL hockey, then they could give a hoot whether McGannon is touting KC for an NHL team.

Would it be vice versa? Since McGannon seems to have the local media's ear, would McGannon and NHL21 embrace AHL hockey in KC and support it as the best possible alternative?

I would hope NHL21 would throw their full support behind an AHL team while continuing the spin "KC is a viable market for the NHL, too. Any NHL franchise that is not satisfied in their current market should look at us."

You know how I feel on this topic.

Get an AHL team to KC for Sprint Center's opening

Sports fans in KC will embrace AHL hockey. It is, arguably, the second best hockey league in the world. We, KC Hockey fans, will be exposed to players the caliber of Jason Spezza, M-A Fleury and Jonathan Cheechoo, who all played full seasons in the AHL, as they rise to NHL stardom.

Not only that, but the "4-A" players, right on the cusp of the NHL, are much more entertaining than the career minor leaguers of the UHL or CHL.

The impact the Blades had on this community still exits. Some of the Blades former "4-A" players still make their home in KC. Guys like Pat Ferschweiler, Gary Emmons, JF Quintin and Jason Herter are passing on their expertise to KC's current crop of youth hockey players.

There is no downside to an AHL team in KC (and...it'll be more affordable to take your whole family). I get excited just thinking about seeing AAA hockey again.

Penguins sale problems resolved? Not anytime soon

A story in today's Pittsburgh Tribune-Review says the Penguins sale, and subsequently whether the team stays in Pittsburgh, will not be resolved anytime soon.

Questions delay sale of Penguins

As a matter of fact, this article says the team may be taken off the market.

If the current owners, including former team captain Mario Lemieux, cannot reach a sales agreement, they could withdraw their offer to sell the team. That would give them time to resolve questions preventing a sale at a price they want.

Of course, the whole thing hinges on the new arena.

Issues blocking the sale include the asking price -- of around $175 million -- and questions about whether Pittsburgh will get an arena, who would pay for the arena and the potential for relocating the team if there is no arena.

Many of the arena issues could be settled in December, when state gambling regulators are expected to award a slots license for Pittsburgh.

Also today, is a story about how the Mayor may go directly to those bidding on the Penguins to try to get them to accept Plan B by passing the current Penguins' leadership.

Mayor to ask new Pens owners to accept Plan B

He said he had gotten no response from the team to a letter dated Friday, in which he asked it to commit to staying here and to the "Plan B" arena funding blueprint crafted by Gov. Ed Rendell.

Regardless, this situation is not going to be solved any time soon.

Pittsburgh Blackberrys

It looks as if Jim Balsillie will be the next to have exclusive rights to negotiate a purchase of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Balsillie is the CEO of Research In Motion (Blackberry).


Canadian top bidder in hunt for Penguins

Now, the question for KC sports fans is, "Would Balsillie be interested in moving the team to Sprint Center?"

It would seem the answer that that question is "No".

Balsillie, who has declined comment, was the secretive Canadian bidder who nearly signed a letter of intent with the Penguins in mid-July. He backed out when he realized it wouldn't be simple to move the team. It's believed he wanted to relocate it to Hamilton, Ontario, which is near Waterloo.

The guy is a Southern Ontario native and seems to have no interest in any markets other than Pittsburgh and Hamilton, Ontario.

It seems clear that Balsillie, a native of Peterborough, is entrenched in southern Ontario.

New Letter of Intent for Penguins coming soon?

Well, two weeks have passed since word came down that Sam Fingold is, most likely, out as the future owner of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Could a new letter of intent be signed soon?
Penguins focus on sale to one of four entities

I think I have to restate why this is of interest to KC sports fans (since the Star doesn't cover this story).

-NHL teams only move as a result of a sale. Only once in 25 years has an NHL team moved without a sale. In general, the sale is two years or less before the move. The one team was the Minnesota North Stars and and that was to Dallas, KC is no Dallas.
-The Pittsburgh Penguins are the only team currently for sale (at least publicly).
-The new CBA in the NHL makes nearly every market viable, lessening the odds a current NHL owner will want to sell.

The hockey team, owned in part by Hall of Fame player Mario Lemieux, appears to be focused on one of four entities -- Sam Fingold, a Hartford real-estate developer who signed a letter of intent for exclusive negotiating rights in late July but has not been able to reach a purchase agreement; finalist bidders Andrew Murstein and Jim Renacci, or the secretive Canadian person or group that was close to signing a letter of intent in mid-July.

So who is it going to be?

The secretive Canadian guy is probably Jim Balsillie, the CEO of RIM (the Blackberry people). He has pursued an NHL team in the past. Reasearch In Motion is a Canadian company and headquartered in Waterloo, Ontario (not too far from Toronto and Hamilton).

In July, the Canadian bidder backed out of signing a letter of intent at the last moment because it became clear the Penguins could not freely be moved to another city. That bidder apparently was eyeing Hamilton, Ontario.

I'm just guessing, but I think Balsillie is next to get exclusive rights to purchase the team. The guy seems to WANT to own an NHL team and he certaintly has the scratch to do it.

Does Balsillie have any relationship to AEG? I don't know of one.

Does this Canadian have any interest in owning a team and placing them in KC? I doubt it. It doesn't make much sense.

I guess we'll see how this plays out over the next 60 days or so.

SoCal response to Pitch "We're Pucked" article

Here's a response from a SoCal sports blog

SoCal Sports Observed

AEG sued by Forum owners

Let me preface this by saying this has nothing to do with Sprint Center.

However, it does have to do with Sprint Center's operators, AEG.

The owners of the Inglewood Forum, the former home of the "Showtime Lakers" filed a lawsuit last week against AEG.
Inglewood's Ailing Forum Blames Owner of Staples -- The church-owned venue accuses Anschutz Entertainment of monopolistic conduct

The lawsuit charges that Anschutz — until this week the exclusive booking agent for the Forum — had engaged in a conspiracy with Anschutz affiliates to "unlawfully monopolize" the Los Angeles entertainment market.

Concerts can be highly lucrative for arenas because of the fees and concession sales they generate.

Lucrative enough to keep a new building afloat without an anchor NBA or NHL (or AHL, it seems) tenant? The City hopes so.

From now until December 31, 2006, the Forum has three show booked.
Source: Ticketmaster and Pollstar

The Forum group said the arena had hosted 12 non-church events in the current fiscal year, including big-name concerts featuring Madonna, Pearl Jam and Coldplay. But the company said its own representatives arranged 10 of those events.

What does this mean for Kemper? Well, Kemper is home to the American Royal, so I'm sure it will be fine.

"When you build a new arena, you want to make sure that you're not competing with the old arena in town," he said.

Old arenas frequently are torn down or for contractual reasons don't compete with newer ones. In Houston, for example, when an old arena was sold to a church, it held its own events but did not host other acts.

Penguins talking to new bidders

After the Pitch's interesting article came this news from Pittsburgh.

Penguins talking to two bidders

With Sam Fingold still trying to iron out details to reach a purchase agreement, the Penguins have contacted at least two other original bidders for the team, sources close to the sale process said yesterday.

Remember, Fingold is the only one that has mentioned relocating to KC. If Fingold is out, Kansas City is definitely out.

Fingold had talked with Kansas City about bringing a team to its new arena but said at the time he signed the letter of intent that his priority was to try to keep the Penguins in Pittsburgh.

I'm getting the feeling Fingold was just giving lip-service to keeping the team in Pittsburgh and the current owners saw right through his ulterior motive, wanted the team to stay in Pittsburgh and torpedoed his deal.

"My commitment to keeping the team in Pittsburgh has never changed through the whole process, and I would not be interested in moving it," Renacci said yesterday in an e-mail interview. "I have always assumed that I would have to work with the current 'Plan B' process."

Prospective owners are working within the "Plan B" parameters. If Plan B is such a bad deal, why would anyone work with the Plan B process?

KC Pitch says "We're Pucked"

We're Pucked
Seven big-league hockey and basketball teams have rejected Kansas City. When the Sprint Center opens, will anyone love us?

Really an interesting read in the KC Pitch this week. Now, I'm not a great fan of the Pitch, anymore.

When I was a younger, single man I read the Pitch every week. I had to find the drink specials and know which bands were playing where. I became a huge fan of Uncle Tupelo/Son Volt/Wilco/Jay Farrar after reading a small story in the Pitch probably 15 years ago. Now that I'm older, I spend my weekend nights listening to the Wiggles rather than Steve, Bob and Rich.

I must say, I'm impressed with the storytelling. By reading the story, one can tell that Justin Kendall did far more research than anyone at the Star has done.

The story is a bit pessimistic, but, c'mon, this is Journalism. Without a slightly cynical view, the right questions don't get asked (hint, hint).

The reality may seem clear. But like victims of unrequited love, city leaders and AEG officials have stubbornly refused to admit that they're growing desperate.

I think it's very telling that AEG has not mentioned an anchor tenant for October 2007 in quite some time. Next thing you'll hear Michael Roth say is "We never promised an NBA or NHL tenant for the arena's opening. We're talking to some franchises about relocating in 2008 and beyond."

However, the Walt Disney Company sold the Ducks in 2005 to an owner who decided to keep the team in California.

Not only that, but they sold it to an Orange County native, who is now pursuing an NBA team (he already has an NBDL team playing in the same arena as the Ducks) and may be competition for KC's bid for an NBA team. The Ducks are in Anaheim to stay for a long, long time.

If that doesn't work, Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell has devised a plan to pay for the arena with bonds that could be paid off by the Penguins in modest annual installments.

Remember, the Governor's "Plan B" DOES NOT call for the team to fund half the arena, as the Star erroneously reported. Plan B calls for the team to pay $2.9M per year for 30 years plus give up naming rights, which is worth another $1.2M per year.

Last week, Fingold's deal to buy the Penguins appeared to be falling through, according to several media reports in Pittsburgh. The Star buried the news in a 415-word article on page nine of the sports section.

Ok, that is probably an unprovoked shot. The Star simply doesn't have the column space to do much more than 400-word stories. However, they can at least get them right.

Kevin Gray, president of the Kansas City Sports Commission and Foundation, talks of the "golden opportunity" Kansas City has to land the Penguins. "We definitely respect the fact that the league wants to stay in Pittsburgh," Gray tells the Pitch. "But our belief is that right now, if the league wants to be successful and solidify a market, you can do that here right now."

Wow. What an incredibly arrogant thing to say. Pittsburgh supports the Penguins for 40 years and two Stanley Cups and Kevin Gray says moving to KC would "solidify a market". Please.

Neil deMause, co-author of the widely cited Field of Schemes: How the Great Stadium Swindle Turns Public Money Into Private Profit, wonders what the benefit would be to the city. "You've got a team, but you're not making any revenue off of your arena," deMause says. "You've just filled up 40 dates, and you're not getting anything from it." He says Kansas City and Oklahoma City could end up being "the cities that everybody loves to play footsie with."

An obvious omission is any mention of NHL21 and Paul McGannon. I guess McGannon's constant positive spin couldn't advance the story. Perhaps a warranted omission.

I guess there is value in our local daily newspaper being a glorified cheerleader (rah, rah for ol' KC). It makes people feel warm and fuzzy like the pretty colors the Star now has.

But, I put a lot more stock in Journalism that tells a story and informs it's readers.

Justin Kendall and the Pitch have done a nice job with this one. It accurately informs sports fans and readers about how difficult it is to attract an NBA or NHL team, regardless of whether AEG is an 800-pound gorilla. As I have said in this blog before, the recent NHL moves were prompted by the NHL wanting to get away from former WHA markets. Only the former Minnesota North Stars up and left a true, established NHL market in the last 25 years (and KC's potential fan base isn't even close to that of Dallas in the 90s).

I hope it sparks discussion among sports fans and, maybe more importantly, voters in KC.

Read the Pitch this week

If you are a hockey fan or just interested in Sprint Center and who the anchor tennant will be, pick up a copy of the Pitch this week.

Land purchased for Pittsburgh's new arena

Another step to securing the Penguins future in Pittsburgh took place late last week.

The Pittsburgh-Allegheny County Sports & Exhibition Authority ("SEA"), equivalent to Kansas City's Jackson Counts Sports Commission, purchased one property and will try to acquire another adjacent property.

Why?
Because they are going to build an arena on the properties.

SEA acquires Uptown property for arena

The SEA board on Thursday approved property purchases from eight owners totaling $10.85 million as part of the effort to assemble land on Fifth, Colwell Street and Washington Place for the arena. The prices for Mr. Bertenthal's properties, at 1015 and 1021 Fifth, were not disclosed.

Here is where that is:
5th Ave, Washington Pl. near Colwell It's not too far from the current Mellon Arena.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman has said the Penguins will not move if plans are in place for a new arena.

Purchasing land seems like solid plans...

On another note, Evgeny Malkin reports to the Penguins today and is expected to sign an contract.

KC hockey fans, order your NHL Center Ice as soon as it is available. You won't want to miss this kid play.

Penguins to pay half -- KC Star erroneously reports

The Star hurriedly chimed in on the Fingold/30-day negotiation period story.

Thirty-day period over, but Fingold, who talked of bringing Penguins to KC, can still buy team

One of those issues likely centers on the arena situation. The main hope for funding a new arena in downtown Pittsburgh would be if the Isle of Capri is granted the city’s license for slot machines. The Isle of Capri said it would commit $290 million toward the new arena if it wins the license. But if one of two other companies receives the license, a secondary Plan B would provide only half the necessary funding of the arena, and the new owner likely would be responsible for the remaining costs.

Wow. That is very, very incorrect.
Penguins officials react cautiously to Rendell's backup arena plan

The governor's proposal would require annual debt payments of $18.56 million for 30 years. That money would include a voluntary $7.5 million annual contribution from whichever group receives the slots license; $7 million a year from the state new Gaming Economic Development and Tourism fund derived from slots revenue; $2.9 million a year from the Penguins'; and $1.1 million a year from naming rights and food and beverage sales at the arena.

From that where does anyone get "new owner likely would be responsible for the remaining costs [half]"

Let's get this straight
$7.5M per year from whomever is awarded slots license
$7M per year from Gaming fund
$2.9M per year from Pens (plus $8.5M up front)
$1.1M per year from naming rights

I went to the William Allen White School of Journalism at KU, twice, so I'm no math wizard, but I come up with the Pens paying 17% for the arena, not the misleading "remainder after half" that the Star quotes.

“It’s apparent to me that the Isle of Capri has to pass in Pittsburgh,” McGannon said. “If it doesn’t, the current Plan B would mean the current or future Pittsburgh ownership group would have to fund half the building. Well, the Kansas City deal is a better deal.”

What?
Is McGannon equally uninformed? Where do these guys get "half"?

Speechless. I'm simply speechless. The Star continues to take what AEG and NHL21 says at face value without questioning what they say or researching it to see if it is accurate.

Dear KC Star,
Here's a hint. When Fingold signed the LOI I put a note on my Yahoo! Calendar 30 days after the LOI. Then, I planned to post a story that day. Perhaps you could do the same thing in the future and be a little more timely.

Sincerely,
Your friend at www.kchockeybuzz.com

Fingold purchase of Pens may be in jeopardy

I tell you. Writing this blog and following the Penguins situation sure does keep one busy.

Now, the latest twist is that Sam Fingold's 30-day exclusive negotiating period may come to an end without a deal.

How is this significant to KC hockey fans?
Fingold is AEG/NHL21/KC's only hope for an NHL team in KC for the opening of Sprint Center. And, that hope is slim since the NHL has said they will not allow the Penguins to move.

Two stories in Pittsburgh today.
Is Penguins suitor looking for cash?

Unspecified issues remain in $175M sale of Penguins

Could one of those "unspecified issues" be that Fingold's intention all along was to move to the team to KC -- that Fingold saying he would work to keep the Pens in Pittsburgh was just lip-service?

That's what the Pittsburgh Trib seems to think.

A possible hurdle could be whether Fingold would be allowed to move the team. He has said he wants to keep the Penguins in Pittsburgh, but talked previously about relocating the team to Kansas City if Pittsburgh does not get a new arena.

"As far as we're concerned, we're negotiating to buy the land for a new arena and we're willing and ready to negotiate a lease," Onorato said.

And, perhaps Fingold doesn't want to negotiate a lease until he purchases the team. Well, Penguin ownership, there are other suitors perhaps it is time to move on.

The 30-day period ended over the weekend, and it appears the Penguins are the ones ready to pull out of negotiations.

The NHL must approve relocation. League officials have said they prefer to keep the Penguins here as long as the team does not have to keep playing at aging Mellon Arena. NHL Bylaw 36 states that the league has a right to block the relocation of a team as long as it is financially viable, or its owners are taking steps to make it so.

"They know (the arena) is real," Onorato said. "We're going to be able to continue to make a very strong case to keep the franchise here because of what we're doing on a multipurpose arena."

You know, as an outsider, this deal stunk from the beginning. Dave Checketts purchases the Blues for $150M when the Blues have a slightly larger market and a beautiful, new building with a plethora of luxury suites in which to play. I've been to nearly 10 NHL arenas and Savvis Center (or, whatever it is going to be called) is in my top 2 (I like Phillips Arena in Atlanta a bit better).

The Penguins are worth $25M more...just six to eight months later?

By the way, this story is very significant to KC sports fans. What did the Star have today?

Nothing.

Penguins sale -- It's been 30 days

Sam Fingold signed a letter of intent to buy the Pittsburgh Penguins 30 days ago (actually, I think it was the July 29, but close enough).

Fingold to buy Penguins

His LOI gave him exclusive negotiating rights for 30 days.

Paul McGannon of NHL21 said KC would know more about whether the Penguins will stay in Pittsburgh in 30 days.

The next 30 days will determine if Pittsburgh is able to come up with financial models and scenarios to stay in Pittsburgh," Mr. McGannon told the Star for a story appearing today.

Well, do we know more?

Let's give it a couple of days. Stay tuned.

Does Milwaukee need the Bucks? And, is the NBA right for medium-sized markets like Milwaukee (& KC).

That's the question a Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel columnists asks.

Does this city need the Bucks?

He says the NBA with it's soft cap may be too expensive for a city like Milwaukee.

Or have the economics of the National Basketball Association grown so insane - the Bucks' $60 million payroll for 15 players, for example, ranks 15th among the 30 teams - that pro basketball no longer has a place in a city like Milwaukee?

If it's too expensive for Milwaukee, then it's definitely not the right professional league for KC.

And, what about the fact that the Bradley Center, built just 18 years ago, is already obsolete by NBA standards.

That is a hard concept for a number of Milwaukeeans, who see a clean, well-maintained arena and are outraged that a facility built in 1988 is already obsolete by NBA standards. But that is fact, not spin or fanciful thinking from Herb Kohl, business people or delusional sportswriters. It happened in Miami and Charlotte. It happened because NBA salaries spiraled out of control, because the Bradley Center does not have space for revenue-producing amenities, because times change, because of a thousand reasons. Sad to say, it happened.

Well, again, the NBA is wrong for KC with the spiraling salaries (remember, these giant payrolls are for a roster of 15 players).

So we are left with the unimpeachable reality that the Bucks will eventually need a new place to play, here or elsewhere, sooner than later.

Could that other place be KC? Probably not.

As long as Kohl owns the team, there will be no threats to move. The senator will also be in office for six more years, a period that should provide a little breathing room to rationally debate the issues. As a man who kept the team in town 21 years ago, Kohl has been a very good owner, one who has proved lately that he is willing to spend to win.

The fact is that the NHL has a hard cap of $44M, which, unlike the NBA, is friendly to markets like KC.

That very same cap is what is keeping teams from considering KC because NHL teams can make a go of it in any market now.

The NBA cap has created a league of instability with New Orleans, Seattle, Sacremento, Portland, Orlando, New Jersey and, now, Milwaukee considering relocation , whining about their current facility or current facility's lease.

NHL hockey to KC August 25

(OK, it's an adult game played with NHL rules, but it's the closest we can get, right now)
You want to see some fun hockey in KC this week.

Go to Pepsi Ice Midwest at 135th and Quivera Friday night, August 25 @ 8 p.m.

Local adult hockey players will play in a game with full NHL rules. That's right 20 minute periods and FIVE FOR FIGHTING.

Last time they threw this party at Ice Midwest it was standing room only and, yes, there was a fight.

Some of the guys playing in this game have ACHA club or Junior 'B' experience.

If you like hockey you really should check out this game.


(And, yes, the rink sells beer)

KC Photo Zone took pictures at the last game.

New NBA team in AEG's radar?

Perhaps AEG has the Milwaukee Bucks on the radar for Sprint Center.

In spite of new lease, Bucks' future uncertain

The good news is the Milwaukee Bucks have a new lease at the Bradley Center through at least 2008.

The bad news is there is no consensus on a long-term solution for the Bucks, a franchise burdened with small-market status and an arena that is among the oldest in the National Basketball Association.

For now, the Bucks have a lease, though the financial terms did not change. The Bucks will continue to receive on an all-events basis 27.5% of gross receipts from concession sales and 13.75% of gross receipts from food and beverage sales in the suites. In addition, the team receives 30% of gross receipts from merchandise sales at Bucks games and the Bucks will receive about $2.6 million a year from the licensing of suites.

Interesting. Now we now what kind of lease offer AEG has to throw at a potential NBA or NHL team.

Omaha has it really good.

Omaha's hockey fans have it way better than we do. They have three hockey products from which to choose.

University of Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks -- NCAA Div. I in a conference with Ohio State and Michigan.
Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights -- AHL
River City Lancers -- USHL, the top Junior league in the US.

All three are fun to watch at an affordable price.

However, as I found out by perusing a UN-O Mavericks hockey blog, there seems to be a silly fight going on between Omaha Knights fans & UNO Mavs fans.

I can't believe those with so much complain when there are those with so little (KC Hockey fans).

A UNO fan on the Knights

The idea that we should pay top dollar to a for-profit corporation half-owned by out of towners to watch second-tier professionals in a decaying building with what is by all accounts a blah game presentation out of loyalty to the city is parochial and bizarre.

Wow, is this guy spoiled. We hockey fans in KC would give anything to have a team half-owned, or heck, fully-owned by out-of-towners. To see, not second-tier professionals, but up-and-coming NHL stars would be a gift.

We saw second-tier professionals for one season in the UHL. It sucks. The AHL is not the UHL and these players are not second-tier.

(By the way, I anticipate but reject the argument that says, "Well, we'll never get an NHL club if we can't support an AHL club." I'm not sure the city's economics or demographics would ever support an NHL club, at least not in our lifetimes. And do we really think we're going to get an NHL club before, say, Houston?)

You are right there. Support for an AHL team has nothing to do with how an NHL team would be supported. And, it's "before KC" not "before Houston".

Indeed, the Omahan's soul is stirred more by an undersized, underskilled player who has a heart the size of the moon, playing each game though it was his last, than by a skilled but uninspired journeyman who wishes he were anywhere but Omaha.

Wow, another shot at AHLers. It's amazing how one city's Pinot (Manchester, NH) is another city's MD 20/20 (Omaha). Lots of fans love AHL hockey, me included.

I can also see the value of NCAA hockey, but can't help but have fond memories of watching Archie Irbe and Viktor Kozlov play in KC. I've been to Mavericks games and love them. But to say AHL hockey is played by "uninspired journeymen" is simply a cheap shot.

Maverick and Lancer fans are legendary for their fierce loyalty; have you ever run into a Lancer fan who had seats at Hitchcock for the Lancers' 0-48 inaugural season?

I remember that Lancer season. It was great fun to go to those games. Later the Lancers moved to Ak-Sar-Ben Arena when the race track was still up-and-running. The atmosphere in that place was awesome. As a matter of fact, I saw the 1980 US Olympic hockey team play an exhibition game in the old Ak-Sar-Ben arena.

The staggering arrogance of the Knights organization -- from bullying the owner of the trademark "Omaha Knights" to the "Best Best Best" campaign, is something that Maverick and Lancer fans took notice of. We might have considered checking out a few games had we been asked nicely, or had we been treated like the intelligent consumers of the product that we are. Instead, we were to feel shame for patronizing lesser programs.

OK, that's a very good point. Which, once again, proves my point that a hockey team's success in a market place is only as good as their marketing team. I harp on this subject a lot.

The Knights' marketing campaign is flawed in so many ways I don't know where to start.

Why would anyone launch a marketing campaign that may offend the very people they are trying to attract?

Stupid and arrogant.
(though I still like the Ak-Sar-Ben Knights name and logo)

One of the more interesting changes in the collective Omaha psyche over the last ten years is that we've stopped acting like jilted girlfriends, begging for love and attention from the outside. Instead, we've lost a few pounds, started exercising again, bought some new clothes and have started showing up at parties feeling great about ourselves and turning the heads of those who previously overlooked us.

Which is why I love Omaha. I loved it when I lived there and I still love it. My 2-year old daughter loves it, too. She's constantly babbling about the "Omaha Zoo".


Omaha, you have a gift. You can attend a hockey game for less than $20 on nearly every weekend of the Fall and Winter. Omaha, you have a hockey community to which only hockey fans in the Northeast US can relate.

Embrace it.

Stop the Knights Vs. Mavs Vs. Lancers syndrome and do everything you can to get all three to survive and thrive.


You have no idea how much you will miss one of them when they are gone. When I read about the IHL folding, I thought "that's too bad, but professional hockey will return to KC." I had no idea how much I would miss it or how long it would be gone.

All that being said, I can't wait for my annual trip up I-29 to see the Mavs (and, hopefully, the Knights this year, too).

Malkin Mania

So, Evgeny Malkin is safely in the US skating with Rob Blake and others in LA.

You want to see why Penguins fans are fixated on the Evgeny Malkin situation?

Watch this.

Evgeny Malkin highlights

Damn.

He looked good in the Olympics. I had never seen these highlights.

Crosby, Malkin, M-A Fleury and it looks like Colby Armstrong is going to be quite good, too.

The Pens certainly have a bright future.

Now, please don't confuse MalkinMania with Valkenvania, a place depicted in quite possibly the worst movie ever, Nothing But Trouble. How can a movie with Dan Akroyd, Chevy Chase, Demi Moore, Taylor Negron and John Candy be so awful?

So quiet...

Not much going on in the Pens to KC front.

This comes as no surprise. Sam Fingold is in a 30-day exclusive negotiation period with the Penguins, which is also a media "quiet period". This happened last year during the Blues sale, too. Dave Checketts entered a 30-day exclusive negotiation period with Paige Laurie's father and there was virtually no news during that time. Talks broke down between Paige's dad and Checketts the first time. Checketts didn't close the deal until (I believe) his second exclusive negotation period.

The Penguins fans these days are focused on Evgeny Malkin and whether he will be at training camp within the next month or so.

Evgeny Malkin's unbelievable story

OK KC hockey fans.

If Paul McGannon is telling the truth (unlikely) and there is still a possibility that the Penguins move here (probably just spin to save face), you HAVE to know about this story.

Evgeni Malkin, the Penguins #2 overall pick in the 2004 NHL Entry draft, disappeared from his Russian team while they were training in Finland.

It's a long story that I don't have time to go into. You should read about it yourself.
Gonchar: Malkin staying in Russia
Penguins pick Malkin skates out on his Russian club
Russian club to sue over Malkin
Where in the world is Evgeny Malkin?

So, Evgeny Malkin, most likely, signed a contract to play one more season in Russia. But, he signed that contract under durress.

A plan was put in place to get smuggle Malkin out of Europe by having him disappear from his Russian club while training in Finland. He will, most likely, show up in the States or Canada in time to train with the Penguins next month.

When the details come out on this story it will be truly fascinating. I remember once hearing former Blade Michael Pivonka talk about how he fled the former Czechoslovakia. I'm sure this story will be equally as interesting.

I can tell you that this Malkin kid is absolutely, positively the real deal. He is Sidney Crosby, only bigger. I thought Malkin was terrific during this year's Olympic games.

I can't wait to see this guy play in the NHL. Now, it looks like it may happen this October.

Who owns what -- Part I

Here's a story I've wanted to post for quite some time. I just haven't had time to do all the research.

What kind of guy owns an NHL franchise?

It's a question we in Kansas City should be asking. Why? Because it looks like the only way we are going to get an NHL team is to get a locally-based owner to purchase a franchise with the sole intent of moving that franchise out of its current market and into KC (assuming, of course, that 34-year old Samuel Fingold doesn't do that with the Pens, which you know I believe he will leave them in Pittsburgh with a new Igloo).

The list is not quite complete. More later...

Anaheim -- Henry Samueli, Founder & CEO of Broadcom. Also operates the Honda Center (formerly Arrowhead Pond). Is an Orange County native.

Boston -- Jeremy Jacobs, CEO of Delaware North, an international food service and hospitality company.

Buffalo -- Tom Golisano, CEO of Rochester-based Paychex.

Carolina -- Peter Karamanos, CEO of Compuware. Also operates RBC Center where the 'canes play.

Chicago -- Bill Wirtz. Worst owner in professional sports. Owns Chicagoland liquor stores and other real estate interests. Also co-owns United Center with Jerry Reinsdorf.

Colorado -- Stan Kroenke, married a Wal-Mart heir. Also owns the NBA's Denver Nuggets, NLL Colorado Mammoth and owns and operates Pepsi Center.

Columbus -- John H. and John P. McDonnell, founder of Worthington Industries, steel processing and manufacturer of metal-related products. Also is co-owner of an AFL team and operates Nationwide Arena

Detroit -- Mike Ilitch, founder of Little Caesar's Pizza.

Los Angeles -- our friends at AEG. Also own about 50% of MLS (which is a good thing...love MLS...now get us a soccer-specific stadium in KC like Home Depot Center)

Minnesota -- Several investors operated by Bob Naegele, Jr. who once owned 50% of Rollerblade.

Montreal -- George Gillett, an American, CEO of Swift Meats and other meat-related food businesses, Northland Services, a marine transportation business, car dealerships and a landscaping and garden products business. Also owns Bell Centre (got to use the Canadian spelling...)

Nashville -- Craig Leipold, entrepreneur founded Ameritel, a B2B telemarketing firm and purchased Rainfair, a manufacturer of protective clothing and footwear. Also operates Gaylord Entertainment Center.

New York Rangers -- MSG owns the team and the Knicks. James Dolan is CEO and hired Isiah Thomas to run his basketball team...'nuf said.

New Jersey Devils -- Jeff Vanderbeek, former Managing Director at Lehman Brothers.

New York Islanders -- Charles Wang and Sanjay Kumar, CEOs of Computer Associates. Plans to refurbish Nassau County Coliseum are almost 100% approved.

Ottawa -- Eugene Melnyk, CEO of Biovail, a large pharmaceutical company that makes Wellbutrin.

Philadelphia -- Comcast owns the team, Ed Snider is President.

St. Louis -- Dave Checketts, former CEO of Madison Square Garden, is the new owner as of a few months ago.

Vancouver -- John McCaw and Francesco Aquilini. McCaw is co-founder of McCaw Communications and McCaw Cellular, Aquilini is the head of a family-owned real estate investment firm (commericial, residential, and golf courses).

Washington -- Ted Leonisis, Vice Chairman of AOL.

That is just a sampling of the type of guys that own NHL teams.

I'll fill in the rest of the teams later.

When the music stops, Pac NW franchises please sit down

So Paul Allen is no longer looking to sell the Portland Trailblazers.

Allen pulls his 'for sale' sign off Blazers, spurning buyers

This announcement comes without a solution to the problem the billionaire was whining about.

But the decision to take the team off the market does not resolve that uncertainty, and in fact may create more. The team remains the same financial black hole it was five months ago, in which it receives none of the revenue from luxury suites, premium seating and other valuable income streams that normally flow to NBA franchises.

Allen's announcement came after the Seattle SuperSonics were sold to an Oklahoma City investment group.

As Church lady once said, "How con-veeen-ient!"

One question is whether Allen could seek to relocate the team to Seattle, despite contracts that require the Blazers to play at the Rose Garden until 2025. The owners of the Seattle SuperSonics, frustrated over efforts to win public financing for arena construction, announced two weeks ago they would sell the team to a group from Oklahoma City.

The Sonics' new owner wants a new arena in Seattle.
Bennett has visions of 'multipurpose entertainment complex' for Sonics

Let's say, just for fun, he doesn't get one.

The Sonics move to Oklahoma City.

Paul Allen and his band of dorks (hey, the investment firm is called "Vulcan", what else could they be?) move the Blazers to Seattle, where Allen already owns the NFL franchise.

The 23rd largest TV market, Portland, is left without a professional sports franchise.

With a beautiful, relatively new building, Portland is now in direct competition with KC for the next available NBA or NHL team.

A city without a professional sports franchise, Portland -- or -- KC which would be the smallest market with three professional sports franchises*.



*this does not include the Wizards, which it should. But, until they get a soccer-specific stadium ("SSS"), they don't count because...well..without an SSS they'll move.

Franchise relocation -- no more former WHA teams

When the discusson of an NHL team relocating to Kansas City comes up, inevitably Hartford, Quebec City and Winnipeg enter the discussion. "Those teams moved, why wouldn't a current NHL team move?", one might say.

Anyone that says that knows nothing about the history of the NHL and its cantakorous relationship with the former WHA.

The WHA, from 1972 to 1979, was a legitimate threat to the NHL. It was not like the WFL or USFL in football. These teams were stocked full of talent, offered multi-million dollar salaries (unheard of at the time in the NHL) and did not recognize the reserve clause, which made the league very appealing to NHL stars like Bobby Hull and Rick Dudley (oh, how my heart broke when Rick Dudley left the Buffalo Sabres for the Cincinnati Stingers).

The WHA also scouted internationally at a time when the NHL was made up of mostly Canadian and French-Canadian players.

The multi-million dollar salaries were the biggest source of contention. NHL owners weren't ready to offer that kind of money to Canadian farm boys.

For the first several years, the NHL owners did nothing...assuming the WHA would fold. When it didn't fold, merger negotations began.

In 1979, the NHL absorbed four of the remaining six teams (buying out the other two).

The old guard NHL owners never wanted to be in Hartford, Quebec City and Winnipeg in the first place. After each former WHA franchise was sold, the NHL didn't stand in the way of moves to Raleigh, Denver and Phoenix -- expanding the NHL's US footprint and washing the league of WHA remnants.

The 27 cities that comprise the current NHL were all hand-picked markets. The NHL chose to go into Columbus, Atlanta, Miami, Tampa, Anaheim, Nashville, St. Paul and Ottawa through recent expansion. Other markets were considered at the time each expansion franchise was chosen, including Oklahoma City.

These cities were strategically chosen and the NHL won't quickly abandon them like they did the cities that came to the NHL through a rival league.

You see...bringing up the relocation of former WHA cities is not relevant when discussing the potential relocation of a current team to KC.

The most recent franchise move that is relevant is the Minnesota North Stars to Dallas. That move appeased both a greedy owner and a league that wanted to enter a burgeoning metro area, Dallas-Fort Worth. And, in the end, the NHL realized the error of not having a team in the one of its best U.S. metro areas and gave Minneapolis-St. Paul another opportunity to get into the NHL.

Who might play in Sprint Center? Ask the right question

Which team will it be in the Sprint Center?
I think I may have the answer.


Ask the right question

Since the announcement of Sprint Center, the KC media and sports fans have wondered which franchise will move to Sprint Center. However, the KC media has asked the wrong question to arrive at the answer.

The KC media keeps asking, "Which NHL or NBA is a candidate to relocate to Sprint Center?"

Then, they look at attendance figures and make assumptions about which franchises' may move. They take AEG's word for it that teams are looking to relocate to KC.

Rather than asking the proper question is, "Which NHL or NBA team may be interested in relocating to KC?"

Asking this question changes the story. It would immediately eliminate the Nashville Predators. Because the Predators operate the arena in which they play. The franchise is not going to move to an arena that they do not operate (AEG will operate Sprint Center).

History of NHL franchise relocation
The next question that needs to be answered to find the franchise that may relocate to Kansas City is "What has happened in the past when franchises have relocated?"

There is a great Web site that documents each NHL team, past and present, and what caused them to move to a new city.
www.sportsencyclopedia.com

First, the KC Star says AEG's Brenda Tinnen said this:

Even though 2007 is fast approaching, Tinnen said there is time for a franchise to move to Kansas City and begin play in the fall. She said the NHL’s Quebec Nordiques moved to Denver and the Winnipeg Jets moved to Phoenix with three- to six-month turnarounds.

The Quebec Nordiques and Winnipeg Jets situations do not pertain the current NHL at all.

The Quebec Nordiques, Winnipeg Jets, Hartford Whalers and Edmonton Oilers all have one thing in common. THE NHL NEVER WANTED TO BE IN THOSE MARKETS IN THE FIRST PLACE.

The NHL absorbed those four teams from the WHA in order to stem the tide of rapidly escalating salaries as a result of the competing leagues. The NHL never wanted to be in those markets and allowed new owners to ditch Quebec City, Winnipeg and Hartford at the first opportunity.

If not for five Stanley Cups, Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, Jari Kurri, Glen Anderson and a heroic effort by the people of Edmonton, the Oilers may have left Alberta. Now, 30+ Edmonton investors own the team in the NHL's version of the Green Bay Packers.

The common thread
One common thread binds the NHL teams that have relocated. They relocated shortly after the franchise was sold.

The Hartford Whalers, Atlanta Flames, Colorado Rockies, Winnipeg Jets and Quebec Nordiques all moved within three years of being sold. (The California Golden Seals moved to Cleveland two years after being sold. This relocation was a particular bad move as the team struggled both years in Cleveland and was dissolved so the owner, George Gund, could re-start in the Bay Area as the San Jose Sharks).

Only the Minnesota North Stars and our Kansas City Scouts moved without a recent sale of the team. Norm Green moved the North Stars to Dallas because Minneapolis didn't build him his own arena and, well, he wanted to move to Dallas. And the Scouts moved because the 13 owners were morons. The Scouts lasted only two seasons, but remember the Rockies almost lasted only two seasons, too. The NHL initially blocked the move from Denver to New Jersey, only to allow the move three seasons later.

The conclusion
As we look at the current NHL landscape and study the events of the past, we can come to the following conclusion.

NHL franchises that own the arena in which they play will not move. NHL franchises that operate the arena in which they play are a long shot to move to an arena they would not operate. NHL franchises that are currently building new arenas will not move.

And, most importantly, in nearly every case of NHL franchise relocation a team is sold.

Now for the pure speculation...

The only NHL team that may meet this criteria, from public reports, is the Atlanta Thrashers. Atlanta Spirit LLC owns the Thrashers, Hawks and Phillips Arena. However, it is entirely possible that this ownership group will be split up as a result of a nasty court struggle for control of the teams. The compromise to this court struggle, could be to grant Steve Belkin, a Bostoner, the opportunity to purchase one or both franchises. If Belkin gains control of the Trashers, he will not want to pay rent to Atlanta Spirit LLC, from whom he is estranged, to play in Phillips Arena. He may look for a new home and could call AEG.

This is absolutely, positively speculation on my part. My speculation does, however, have as much merit as KC Star reporter Randy Covitz' comment about Nashville in a recent article. As a matter of fact, my speculation has more merit because I've done some research.

My call. The next NHL team to be sold will move to Kansas City. It may be the Thrashers
You know, I'm not sure Atlanta would miss them. Can't Find a Thrasher Anywhere

KC -- the high school boy of cities

I started thinking about this situation with KC, AEG, NHL or NBA and the Kansas City Wizards.

Indulge me for a sec.

Kansas City is acting like a high school boy. Let's call him K.C.

The NHL and NBA are like the hot, aloof girls in class.

K.C. continues to pursue the hot girls, who show no interest in him. All the while, the nice-looking, intelligent girl, who has shown interest in K.C., waits in the corner to be noticed.

The nice-looking, intelligent girl represents Kansas City Wizards.

The KCStar is K.C.'s best friend, another high school boy. Instead of telling his best friend, "hey, this nice-looking, intelligent girl really wants a relationship with you, maybe you should forget about the hot girls", the Star is doing what most high school boys' best friends do. They are saying, "yeah, yeah, they're hot...go after them." Even though he has no shot at these girls.

In time, the nice-looking, intelligent girl begins to lose interest. Wondering why she was even interested in the first place, the nice-looking, intelligent girl starts looking for other boys to date. She strikes up a conversation with a new boy, let's call him Phil A. Delphia.

Eventually, the dumb high school boy, KC, realizes the nice-looking, intelligent girl is worth his time.

It's too late. She's already dating a smarter, better-looking guy, Phil.

And the dumb high school boy is left with nothing.

The time to keep the Wizards in town is now. Kansas City should enlist the help of, oh I don't know, AEG perhaps.

AEG operates MLS teams and the unbelievably successful Home Depot Center. I have a friend that toured the facility and called me that day to say, "this place is awesome."

A Soccer-specific stadium, with an MLS tennant, surrounded by fields for youth/high school soccer and lacrosse is what this city needs. It's a sure fire money maker.

Someone get it done.

Before these articles come true.

Is MLS headed to the area?
Soccer could find a comfortable niche in this region

KC Star quotes Kevin Bacon -- says "Remain calm. All is well!"

Too early to panic for KC’s pro interests

Well, I commend Randy Covitz for actually givng voice to this story.
It is the most ignored story in Kansas City sports. However, I find some things in this article strange.

All those fretting about Kansas City’s chances to attract an NHL or NBA team as an anchor tenant for the Sprint Center need to relax.

Who is fretting? Fans?

No, all you hear around here is about who will back up Larry Johnson and who is going to play left tackle.

It’s too soon to panic. Yes, it looks as if Pittsburgh will retain the Penguins, and Oklahoma City is the future destination of the Seattle SuperSonics, but there will be other franchises looking to move in October 2007.

Lock this one in the vault. I'll be sure to bring this up again when it does or doesn't happen.

But you can’t expect an NBA or NHL team, no matter how bad their arena situation is, to start talking about a move in 2007 when there are tickets to sell and a season to play this fall. The Kings, already owned by Sacramento interests, didn’t officially announce plans to move from Kansas City until late January 1985.

Sure, but the Kings did stop TRYING to sell season tickets long before the beginning of the 1985 season? Yes, they did.

Los Angeles-based Anschutz Entertainment Group, which invested $50 million in the Sprint Center and will manage the facility, is well-connected in both leagues and has the ear of each commissioner.

"There are clearly candidates that have not been made public yet," said Michael Roth, vice president/communications for AEG.

Boy, I just think this is really bad PR. Spreading unsubstantiated rumors and speculation is no way to deal with the media.

I'm going to guess the question was, "Are there relocation candidates other than the Sonics and Penguins?"

How about a little honesty? Would that be so bad?

Mr. Roth could have simply said, "No, not at this time. We believe there will be within the next few months."

Instead of this silly "not been made public yet." You know what, as far as I'm concerned and I hope other KC sports fans agree, until they are public -- they are NOT candidates for relocation.

Since Roth said that, perhaps the Star should devote some resources to finding out who these "not been made public" franchises are. That is what a newspaper does, isn't it? Investigate stories...I could be wrong.

The ideal situation would be if someone with deep pockets in Kansas City stepped up and bought a troubled franchise and moved it here, the way Oklahoma City interests bought the Sonics, instead of having to convince an out-of-towner to move a club.

"That’s not impossible," Mayor Kay Barnes said Tuesday. "That may be part of the equation."

With all due respect Ms. Mayor, how about finding someone to purchase the Wizards and keep them here, first?

They're a great asset to our city. It would be a shame if we lost them to Philadelphia.

A new twist -- Penguins to Toronto?

Here's a new twist. A Web site, Howard Bloom's Sports Business News, suggests David and Sam Fingold may move the Penguins to Toronto and not Kansas City.

Of course, the article is wrought with errors and silly consiracy theories.

A so called Plan-B to keep the Penguins in Pittsburgh was floated two weeks ago.

Plan B wasn't floated "two weeks ago". Governor of Philadelphia, err, Pennsylvania Ed Rendell's press conference about Plan B was in March.

It’s been clear from the beginning, the only casino bidding group committed to building a new arena is Isle of Capri.

Um, no. The two other casino bidders, Harrah's/Forest City and Don Barden's NorthStar have agreed to the Plan B funding plan.

Sam Fingold may be based in Hartford, but he grew up in Toronto. His father and brother are based in Toronto. And the fourth member of the group, Michael Cohl, is also based in Toronto. In Cohl, Fingold has a partner who is recognized as one of the world’s leading concert/entertainment promoters. Cohl is currently managing Rolling Stones world tour and is putting together the upcoming Who world tour.

Consider this scenario and the Penguins could be headed for Toronto, not Kansas City if the arena deal falls through in Pittsburgh. Fingold’s group could offer Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (MLSE) $100 million in territorial rights to move the franchise into the Air Canada Centre, the current home of the Maple Leafs and the Raptors.

While we're coming up with ridiculous conspiracy theories, how about this one...

Sam Fingold owns Kenyon Investments, a real estate investment firm. Kansas City is building the new Power & Light District to go along with the new Sprint Center. Perhaps the Mayor has offered Fingold some kind of sweetheart financial arrangement that if he brings the Penguins to KC he will also have right of first refusal to develop a portion of the Power & Light District.

Then, Fingold would have a hockey team, a new arena, and 42 dates of foot traffic to his real esate development in downtown KC.

There. Two silly consipracy theories in two silly Internet postings.

Neither have any grain of truth.

Can we just wait to see if Fingold negotiates a lease for the Plan B funded arena...

How much for a new arena?

Interesting article about arena costs in the Pittsburgh paper today.

I suppose this applies to Orlando, too.

$290M in funding tight, but doable, for arena

Several analysts uninvolved in the Pittsburgh discussions view $290 million as a fair starting point for construction-related costs, if the arena is not intended to be among the league's largest, and if it doesn't necessarily include the most luxurious amenities.

This will be an interesting twist in the Pittsburgh arena saga. Let's say Isle of Capri doesn't get the slots license (seems likely). Sam Fingold and the city, county and state government will have to work out a lease for the $315M Plan B funded arena. But, who pays cost overruns?
Here's an important paragraph to remember.

The governor has laid out Plan B as a financial alternative relying on $7.5 million a year for 30 years from the slots licensee, $7 million a year from a state development fund covered by slots revenue, and an annual Penguins contribution that includes a $2.9 million payment and giving up $1.2 million in naming rights that would be directed toward the arena cost. Also, the Pens would be expected to pay $8.5 million up front, as team officials indicated in the past they would be willing to do.

Just so the Devils are never mentioned as a potential franchise looking to relocate, which some uninformed people say "Why don't the Devils move back to KC?":

The only NHL arena currently under construction, to open in 2007 in Newark for the New Jersey Devils, carries a price tag of $310 million. It will contain 18,000 seats, 78 luxury suites, 150 food and retail areas, a gourmet restaurant, 750 television monitors and 12 escalators.

Also, Guy Junker from the Pittsburgh Trib decides to frighten Pittsburgh hockey fans.

Junker: Future of Penguins grows cloudy

Early in his bidding process, he talked about moving the team to Kansas City, where there is a new building and a sweetheart deal all but set.

Well, there isn't a building, yet. And, we have no idea about a sweetheart deal. We know the deal doesn't include operation of the facility and we know AEG must get their cut from any deal in order to pay off their $50M investment.

Frank Gehry to build arena.

Remember Frank Gehry, the world famous architect that bid to be the architect of what is now Sprint Center?

The Frank Gehry that some sports talkers in Kansas City basically made fun of?

Well, he will build an arena afterall -- in Brooklyn.

Atlantic Yards will be the new home of the New Jersey (soon to be Brooklyn) Nets.

The development is backed by Forest City Enterprises. Yes, the group that is working with Harrah's to bidding against Isle of Capri for the slots parlor license in Pittsburgh.

I guess we'll see what Gehry can do when awarded the opportunity to build a sports facility.

You want to read great sportswriting?

Ladies and gentelman, Terry Frei.
Message to all things Penguin: Make up your minds


What a wonderful column.

I love this graph:

For one thing, with Sidney Crosby on the ice and Evgeni Malkin about to join him front and center, the names on the marquee (if the NHL actually allows star names on the marquee) will be compelling and the entertainment quotient high, regardless of where the franchise ends up.

And this one:

When Badger Bob Johnson, who coached the Mario Lemieux-led Pens to the Stanley Cup, reprised his trademark line, "It's a great day for hockey," he meant in Pittsburgh, too.


But at some point, the indignities pile up and become ridiculous, demeaning and even tiresome.


We're getting dizzy trying to separate the disingenuousness from the sincerity.

And, if you read this blog with any regularity, you agree 100% with this graph:

At some point, and that point is rapidly approaching, if not already past, somebody needs to step in and forcefully say: This is getting silly.

Do yourself a favor and read the entire column.

Orlando news columnist plays chicken with Magic

Interesting column in Saturday's Orlando Sentinal.

DeVos needs us more than we need him

But with DeVos, there is only vague talk about a "significant'' contribution toward a new arena that would cost between $350 million and $395 million. How do we define "significant"?

If you look at the market and other arena deals, DeVos should pay more than half the cost of the facility.

Really? OK, so some guy at Marquette backs up the claim, but David Glass is paying, I believe 7% and the Chiefs are paying, I believe 18%, for renovations to their facilities.

If Orlando insists on half then we may have the second DeVos owned team in KC (remember Dan DeVos owned the Blades).

A good model for us is the Dallas Mavericks' American Airlines Center. The city capped its commitment at $125 million, leaving the rest to the Mavericks and NHL's Dallas Stars. They had to cover all cost overruns. Mavericks owner Mark Cuban had plenty of them as he upgraded the facility into a high-tech, state-of-the-art arena with a final price tag of $420 million. The city's share of that came to about 30 percent.

Interesting, but two franchises who consistently put 95%+ capacity in the building kicked in for AAC. Orlando has one franchise that draws about 90%, 85%, 83%, 85% capacity over the last five years.

What if DeVos balks at this and threatens to move? We wave goodbye.

Good. That hack Mike Bianchi should be on the high school beat anyway.

Kansas City is overextended with football and baseball, and already has lost an NBA team.

Yes, we lost an NBA and an NHL team. We get it.
Of course, the NHL team was owned by a bunch of morons who couldn't make a go of it in Denver either and sold the team to John McMullen.

And, the Kings were in existence in the age before Jordan and the Internet. Some people have told me the Kings' season ticket campaign consisted of waiting for last year's season ticket holders to call to renew their tickets.
Charlotte lost a team and got one back.
New Orleans lost a team and got one back.

We have no other major sports franchises and, with all due respect to UCF, no competition from college sports. Kansas City is overextended with football and baseball, and already has lost an NBA team.

What do you want to bet me Thomas has never even BEEN to KC.

If the Magic leave Orlando, this simply creates a void that another franchise will fill, be it from the NBA -- with its ready supply of restless teams -- or another major sport.

I doubt, however, that NBA Commissioner David Stern is dumb enough to hand over his monopoly here to another league.

Why? So another team can NOT fill the building.

Look, I'm all for these owners paying for their own palaces. But, it's just not going to happen. The demand for these teams is too high and the supply to short.

Orlando better kick in at least $200M plus cost overruns or Devos will take his ball and go. I think asking for any amount more than 33% from this owner is asking for too much.

Fingold to buy Penguins

This is huge. I told you in May to get to know Sam Fingold.
Sam Fingold, the 34-year old who once said he would buy the Penguins and move them to Kansas City, will be the first to have exclusive rights to purchase the NHL franchise.

Fingold agrees to buy Penguins; Promises to keep team here if possible

"As passionate hockey fans, we are excited about this opportunity to purchase the Pittsburgh Penguins," Mr. Fingold said in a Penguins' news release. "We agree with the current ownership group that the Penguins should remain in Pittsburgh and that a new arena is crucial to the team's long-term success.

"So many of the elements for success already are in place here, including a loyal fan base and a spectacular core of young talent, led by Sidney Crosby. The Penguins are an important part of Pittsburgh's sports landscape, and it is our objective to do everything possible to secure their future here."

Even Paul McGannon has some spin on the topic:

The next 30 days will determine if Pittsburgh is able to come up with financial models and scenarios to stay in Pittsburgh," Mr. McGannon told the Star for a story appearing today.

"That's the first choice of the league and the current ownership group. But if for whatever reason that does not work out politically or casino-wise or otherwise, what are the other options? Fingold looks at us favorably as an option."

(and from Friday)
Fingold ices others in Penguins bidding


Fingold signed a letter of intent and will have 30-days to negotiate the purchase of the team. This does not mean he will buy the team. Dave Checketts and an Andy Appleby guy both had exclusive 30-day negotiating rights to buy the St. Louis Blues and didn't come away with a purchase. Checketts came back to the table later to eventually buy our beloved Missouri-based franchise.

Remember, it is still unlikely that Fingold will move the team to KC.

We need to get a couple of things straight.
1.) There is no lease agreement for the proposed new arenas in Pittsburgh.
If Isle of Capri is awarded the slots license, the team stays in Pittsburgh.
If not, there is a Plan B for a new arena. If a lease is drafted that allows the Penguins to operate the Plan B-funded arena, then the team will stay in Pittsburgh.

Why?
Because the team would generate more revenue by playing in an arena they operate than by playing in an arena they do not operate. AEG will operate Sprint Center.

What could cause the team to move even with Plan B?

If the Penguins will not operate the Plan B-funded arena.
Or
If the Penguins are on the hook for any cost overruns to the arena. Interest rates are not going down. The cost for the bonds to finance the Pittsburgh arena are not going to be any cheaper six months from now. The $300M arena Plan B is proposing could cost more than $350M by the time the agreement is signed and could push $600M by the time the debt is retired.

Regardless, according to a Post-Gazette story from earlier this week, the NHL may stand in the way of any move.
NHL bylaws, funding plans should keep Penguins here

The state and local government's proposed plan for alternative arena funding and the NHL bylaws have dovetailed nicely to make it difficult for a new owner to move the Penguins to another city.

A copy of the four-page Section 36 of the NHL bylaws, dealing with franchise relocations, was obtained from the league.

There are 24 areas of consideration that are to be used in determining whether to allow a team to move, including "whether there is a reasonable prospect ... that it could become financially viable" and whether the club received a "publicly financed arena, special tax treatment, or any other form of public financial support."

A new arena under Plan B would arguably give the Penguins a reasonable chance of financial health, and it could fit the criteria of public financial support.

Also considered under the NHL bylaws would be local fan support, whether local authorities could help reduce operating costs and whether a move would harm the league's image or make travel, scheduling and divisional alignment difficult.

The Penguins have no trouble with fan support. Last season they led the NHL in attendance increase. Even with a horrible team.

A move to KC would, actually, help divisional alignment as the Red Wings, the only Western Conference team in the Eastern time zone, could move back to the Eastern Conference.

There won't be a public comment coming from the NHL any time soon. However, Bettman has made it pretty clear that he wants to keep the Pittsburgh market in the NHL.

Let's compare Web sites

Winnipeg wants to get the NHL back. They have a guy (group?) trying to help lure an NHL team back to Winnipeg.

Here is the "Bring back the Jets" Web site.
Bring back the Jets

The Hartford wants an NHL team back. The Hartford Whalers' booster clubs still exists and is trying to help lure an NHL team back to Hartford.
Official site of the Hartford Whalers' Booster Club

KC wants to get the NHL back. We have a guy (group?) trying to lure an NHL team.

Here is the NHL21 Web site.
NHL21

Could Hornets buzz KC next?

By the end of 2006, George Shinn wants a final decision on where his team will play in the 2007-08 season and future seasons.

Basically, he's waiting for the NBA office to say it is OK to move from New Orleans. Why wouldn't they approve a move? New Orleans will never have the population it once had and is now smaller than Omaha.

Could KC be on Shinn's list?

Shinn wants decision soon

If Jason Whitlock thinks David Glass is the WOE (worst owner ever) wait until he gets ahold of George Shinn.

Fingold and two others still in bidding for Penguins

Three bidders still in running

Looks like the group with Andrew Murstein (who at one time inquired about buying our Kansas City Wizards) and his group with Mark Cuban and Dan Marino are still in the bidding for the Penguins.

Interesting quote here:

Business sense dictates that pushing the sale price closer to $200 million and working to keep the team here could be counter purposes.

It's thought that the Penguins are worth a lot more as a portable team. Forbes, for instance, most recently estimated the team's worth at $137 million. Several people close to the sale process have said anything significantly higher might reflect a value associated with a team coveted by another city.

Or perhaps the higher price is just what the market will bear at this time, regardless of where the team ends up, partly because the NHL's year-old collective bargaining agreement gives its teams a more sound financial footing.

I tend to think it's the NHL's new CBA, which is much more owner friendly -- especially for a team in a medium market like Pittsburgh.

But, one has to wonder why the Penguins are fetching $175M and the Blues were sold for $150. Perhaps Bill Laurie has no business sense and is a lousy negotiator (actually that's likely).

What event should open Sprint Center?

OK, let's talk about something exciting.

The opening of Sprint Center!

I think everyone in Kansas City agrees that the concept and building of Sprint Center is a much needed addition to downtown Kansas City's revitalization (along with H&R Block's headquarters, growth of loft apartments and condos and the proposed KCP&L district--photo below left) and the financing through hotel and rental car taxes was the way to go.

According to www.sprintcenter.com, the arena opens in 441 days.




What do you think should be the first event in the new arena?


Since the opening will be mid-October 2007, there are a few options.

A concert or a college basketball game
(and, I suppose, it could still be an NHL game. No chance for an NBA game since the NBA season doesn't start until November 1)

Either one, a concert or a basketball game, would have to appeal to a mass audience and ensure a crowed of 18,000+.

My thought
Big XII - Big 10(11) Challenge
Missouri Vs. Iowa

Kansas Vs. Illinois

Such an event would not only draw college basketball fans to the NABC Hall of Fame opening, but also appeal to both sides of the state line and would, most likely, draw national television from at least ESPN.

Missouri vs. a Midwest region powerhouse and Bill Self against his former team, Illinois.

In 2007, all four teams may be ranked in the preseason top 25.

The right concert, like Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, Jimmy Buffett, Billy Joel or the Rolling Stones would be sure sellouts, but would they capture the spirit of the arena as well as college hoops?

Your thoughts?

Hartford 2 Kansas City 0

Kansas City is being shutout by Hartford in its bid for a local owner for an NHL team.

Nothing would assure Sprint Center of a NHL or NBA tennant like a local, Kansas City owner purchasing a franchise in either league.


Hartford, on the other hand, has two finalists in the bidding for the Pittsburgh Penguins. The two bidders, Larry Gottesdiener and Sam Fingold even own real estate across the street from each other in the Connecticut city.


We're About To Save Pittsburgh Again

That could put Fingold on the same road to K.C. as Gottesdiener wants to take to Hartford.
Although he has lived in Hartford a number of years, we don't know Fingold. We don't know his game. We do know for some time he was talking as if he was going to move the Penguins to a new arena in Kansas City, but now he's found the Western Pennsylvania religion. In the process, he has taken some cracks at Gottesdiener and [Hartford Mayer Eddie] Perez.

One shot Fingold took at Eddie Perez was this.

"I'd rather buy a team and put it in another city than have it in Hartford and deal with [Mayor] Eddie Perez, because I don't think he quite understands all the economics associated with bringing a team to the city," Fingold said. "You think Hartford should spend $290 million on a new arena vs. trying to figure out how to fix the school system and cut down crime?"

You could replace Hartford with Kansas City in that sentence and it would apply.

They even have an NHL21-type group in Hartford.
Pens would find whale of a welcome in Hartford

Penguins fans might be devastated by that news, but the Whalers Boosters Club -- yes, it remains active -- would be thrilled. Gottesdiener spoke to the group this spring and vowed to work toward bringing the NHL back to Hartford.

"Nobody wants to see anybody lose their team," said Alan Victor, booster club president. "It's a terrible feeling and we wouldn't wish it on anybody. However, given the NHL is not going to expand, we want NHL hockey in Hartford."

Hartford currently does not have a new arena online.

Fingold hi bid -- now we know

Now we know why AEG and NHL21 were so confident an NHL team would come to KC for the 2007-08 season.

Because they probably knew long ago that the bidders they were working with, David and Sam Fingold, would come in with the high bid.
Hartford man top bidder for Penguins

Mr. Fingold has the highest offer of the four active bidders, a figure of around $175 million, sources with knowledge of the negotiation process told the Post-Gazette. At least one other bidder, believed to be Lawrence Gottesdiener, may still attempt to outbid him, a source said.

This is after another Canadian group, out of Hamilton or Waterloo, made the initial high bid, but supposedly dropped out because they were told relocating the franchise was not an option.

The $175M bid is $25M more than the St. Louis Blues sale price.

In the last week or so, the NHL has basically said "no dice" to a franchise relocation because the Penguins don't meet the criteria for such a location.

The criteria since 1993 seems to be "if the franchis is in a former WHA market".

During the first couple of weeks in May, Sam Fingold confirmed that he had conversations with a group in KC about moving the Penguins to Sprint Center in both the Toronto Star and on Toronot radio station The Fan 590.
Torontonian wants to move Penguins to KC
Sam Fingold -- Get to know him!

Then on July 13 Fingold told the Hartford Courant that he doesn't think the franchise will relocate.
Penguins Move Won't Fly, Developer Says

On July 18, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette printed a story stating the NHL will stand in the way of a Penguins' relocation.
Roadblock impedes Penguins' exit

AEG and NHL21 are still hoping.
Penguins fans seem to be on a roller coaster. Now, they are nervous again.

KC Star Op-Ed comes around to no Pens

The Kansas City Star's Op-Ed page is now on board that it looks bleak for an NBA or NHL team to relocate to Kansas City.

Keep pressing for events at KC’s Sprint Center

Let's break this opinion down paragraph by paragraph.

Construction is proceeding at a good pace on Kansas City’s Sprint Center. City officials report plenty of money on hand for the project.

Good news.

And the arena’s top leaders are working diligently to bring all kinds of events — from concerts to Arena Football League games — to the building once it opens in late 2007.

Has Tyler Prochnow and the Brigade officially announced that they can move to Sprint Center? I haven't heard.
That would be good. Arena Football is a nice addition to our sports landscape. Plus, the Brigade's logo is cool.

This is exactly what Kansas Citians had hoped would happen when they approved the arena in 2004 to help revive downtown and replace the aging Kemper Arena.

Well, almost exactly.

As the sound effect goes, Wa-wa-waaaaaa

This week Kansas City officials got some discouraging news about their attempts to woo a professional basketball or hockey team to the Sprint Center.

This week? This week? It has been nearly nothing but discouraging news for six months. Read through my 100+ posts. The Star chose to ignore what was happening in Pittsburgh, the Penguins inching closer and closer to staying in Pittsburgh.

One loyal Kansas City-area hockey fan once wrote, "Pennsylvania politics will prevail" more than a year ago about whether the Penguins would move. I don't know if it was the alliteration or the fact that he's a Western PA native, but it stuck with me. I began to follow what was going on in Pittsburgh, then, started this blog because I'd read about newsworthy events in Pittsburgh or other cities and find nothing in the Star.

It appears the Seattle SuperSonics of the National Basketball Association will move in a few years to Oklahoma City. And the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League will stay put. Both franchises had been on the list of possible major-league franchises for Kansas City.

Yeah.

Mayor Kay Barnes remains upbeat, putting some pressure where it belongs: on the Anschutz Entertainment Group. The company, which is the city’s partner in building the Sprint Center, is on the hook to cover operating cost overruns for the facility.

Of course Barnes remains upbeat. She's a politician. What is she going to do? Throw in the towel?
And, putting pressure on AEG is misguided at best. AEG can't WILL a franchise to break their lease or sell their arena.

Anschutz Entertainment needs to keep up the full-court press to get a NBA or NHL team to Kansas City. A club would bring thousands of people downtown about 40 times a year. Among other benefits, this would be a tremendous boon to the nearby Kansas City Power & Light District.

How come he didn't say "keep up the strong forecheck" instead of "full-court press"?

Yes, NHL or NBA would bring thousands of people downtown about 40 times a year. But, so would the AHL. Maybe 8,500 and not 17,000, but it's better than 0. Combine the AHL with the AFL and you have a base of nearly 500,000 visitors from which to build. Not bad.

In the meantime, Kansas Citians recognize that the Sprint Center promises to be a great addition to downtown.

Yes, we do.
And, yes it absolutely is.

However, continuing to misinform Kansas Citians about the possibility of the NHL is irresponsible. The NBA seems to be in a greater state of flux with the Orlando Magic, NO/OKC/Charlotte Hornets and Portland Trailblazers with tenuous arena deals.

I do believe, based on the history of NHL franchises, there is one NHL team that may consider relocating to KC. More on that later.

Serious competition from Hamilton, Ontario

So it seems this group from Hamilton, Ontario won't go away. A couple days ago we posted a link to a story in the Pittsburgh paper about a group from Canada that withdrew their bid for the Penguins because it looks as if the franchise will not leave Pittsburgh.

Well, according to a story in today's Pittsburgh paper, this Canadian group is still going to pursue an NHL team for Hamilton, Ontario -- just not the Penguins.

Canadian group still desires NHL

It appears the group from Canada that withdrew its bid to buy the Penguins is interested in bringing the NHL to Hamilton, Ontario.

It's just not likely to be the Penguins.

A group whose money men are so secretive that only a few well-placed government officials know their identity has had a $200,000 deal with Hamilton that gives it proprietorship over Copps Coliseum. That deal expires in about six months, but there were talks recently to extend it.

What does Hamilton, a city sandwiched between NHL cities Toronto and Buffalo have over Kansas City? A local ownership group who will operate an arena.

Honestly, I don't think the NHL would welcome a team in Hamilton. It doesn't extend the league's "footprint". But, when you have a bidder willing to put up $175M when the recent selling price of another medium-to-small market team was $150M, it certainly gets everyones attention.

Which franchise may be interested?

The question about who will play in the Sprint Center seems to be backwards.

Everyone seems to be asking, “Which NHL franchise is most likely to relocate to Kansas City?”

When the question really should be,“Which franchise may be interested in relocating?”

If you ask the second question first, you need to know each franchise’s arena agreement to get the answer.

The Star, with their huge staff of reporters and editors and ability to request necessary documents, hasn’t yet asked that question. Perhaps the loss of Jeff Passan and Wright Thompson has left them too short staffed to pursue such stories.

They could. It would make for a very interesting story. I’ll even show you an outline for the story.

Steps I, II and III happen before ever interviewing AEG or NHL21.

I. Intro

a. KC is getting an arena

b. AEG says they can bring an NHL or NBA team, yada, yada

II. Professional sports teams and lease agreements

a. All 30 teams have leases, blah, blah, blah

III. List the 30 teams and their lease

a. a. X number of teams own and operate the arena in which they play like the Vancouver Canucks and Philadelphia Flyers

b. b. X number of teams own the arena in which they play, but do not operate it (Ottawa Senators)

c.c. X number of teams do not own the arena, but have a contract to operate the arena (Washington Capitals, Anaheim Ducks)

d. d. X number of teams do not own the arena or operate the arena and are bound only by the lease

IV. Teams in a, b and c are not candidates for relocation

V. Therefore, these teams may be candidates for relocation

a. We asked for comments from AEG on these specific teams

b. We asked for comments from these teams’ presidents as to whether they are pleased with their lease agreement a

That’s it. It sure would clear up a lot.

It’s not that difficult a story and it would be so enlightening to Kansas City sports fans and tax payers who approved the arena financing, to whom the Star has an obligation to inform.

Oh, heck, I’ll do it for them.

Team Possibility? Why?

Montreal	No	Original 6
Tampa Bay	No	a. Own and operates arena
Detroit	No	Original 6
Philadelphia	No	b. Own but do not operate arena
Ottawa	No	b. Own but do not operate arena
Toronto	No	Original 6
Calgary	Maybe	Not sure who owns or operates SaddleDome
Vancouver	No	a. Owns arena
Minnesota	No	b. Operate but do not own arena
NY Rangers	No	Original 6
Colorado	No	a. Own and operate arena
Los Angeles	No	a. Own and operate arena
Dallas	No	favorable lease
Buffalo	Maybe	???
Edmonton	Maybe	Leases arena from city*
San Jose	No	b. Operate but do not own arena
Columbus	No	a. Owns arena
Boston	No	Original 6
Florida	No	b. Operate but do not own arena
Pittsburgh	Maybe	New arena pending
Carolina	No	b. Operate but do not own arena
Phoenix	No	New arena in 2003
Atlanta	Maybe	Possible ownership change
Anaheim	No	b. Operate but do not own arena
Nashville	No	b. Operate but do not own arena
New Jersey	No	Arena under construction
St.Louis	No	New owner, favorable lease
Washington	No	b. Team owns 44% of Washington Sports, the arena operator
Chicago	No	Original 6 -- jointly own and operate arena with the Bulls
NY Islanders	Maybe	New arena pending
		*the Edmonton Oilers are essentially owned by the citizens of Edmonton much like the Green Bay Packers

This took about two hours of Internet research, mostly on http://www.wikipedia.com/.

Two Canadian franchises, who Gary Bettman has explicitly said he does not want to move and four U.S. franchises. I couldn’t find the owner or operator of the HSBC Center in Buffalo. Pittsburgh and the New York Islanders are very close to solving their arena problems. The Atlanta Thrashers own and operate the arena, but the ownership of the team is in currently in question.

KC Star finally admits Penguins have slipped away

Five days after I said "It's over." The KC Star has decided to actually read the Pittsburgh papers and says the Penguins (and as a result of the Sonics announced sale yesterday) and the Sonics have slipped away from Sprint Center.

And in Pittsburgh, city and county officials announced they have solidified financing for a new arena, a move that could help the Penguins remain in Pittsburgh after their lease at antiquated Mellon Arena expires next spring.

Kay Barnes still says an NBA or NHL team is coming to Sprint Center for 2007.

“I am totally confident that AEG has been and will continue to do what is necessary to secure a NBA or NHL team or both for the Sprint Center,” Barnes said after hearing about the purchase of the SuperSonics.

I'm speechless.

Besides the Penguins, who are expected to be sold in the coming days, another NHL team that could be a candidate for relocation is the Nashville Predators, who are in the midst of battling the city for improvements to the Gaylord Entertainment Center.

Posted on www.kchockeybuzz.blogspot.com on June 17, more than a month ago. After I made that post, I sent an e-mail to Paul McCann of Sports Radio 560 WNSR in Nashville. He wrote back, "Interesting blog...from Nashville's vantage point, you're grabbing at straws...Pred's aren't going anywhere..." If you're a hockey fan, you'll love McCann's blog. Why is Nashville always mentioned? It's simlpy not fair and unjustified. Nashville was awarded an expansion NHL team because the LEAGUE WANTS TO BE THERE.

Even though 2007 is fast approaching, Tinnen said there is time for a franchise to move to Kansas City and begin play in the fall. She said the NHL’s Quebec Nordiques moved to Denver and the Winnipeg Jets moved to Phoenix with three- to six-month turnarounds.

How many times do I have to say this on this blog before someone from the Star reads it.

THE KEY IS IN THE LEASE AGREEMENTS. If you want to find the answer, look at the teams' lease agreements. If an NHL or NBA franchise owns and operates the arena, they are not moving. If a franchise has a sweetheart lease, like the Carolina Hurricanes, they are not moving.

Once the Star does this research, they will see that there are maybe four candidates for relocation in the NHL (not sure about NBA).

Penguins don't have reason to move, says NHL

Roadblock impedes Penguins' exit

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has an interesting story today. They say,

According to people familiar with the sale process, the Penguins were ready to sell to the high bidder, a Canadian entity or group that offered $175 million or more, but that bidder backed out over the weekend based on what it learned about the NHL's stance and the state's "Plan B" for arena funding.

So, the group rumored to be headed by RIM CEO Jim Balsillie wowed the Penguins with their offer and the Penguins were ready to sell for a rumored $175M. The bid would be $25M more than what the St. Louis Blues sold for -- and the Blues have a beautiful, new arena in which to play.

Apparently, Gary Bettman told them, "No, not if there is a plan for a new arena in Pittsburgh".

Well if this is true, all I have to say is, good for Gary Bettman. I must say before the lockout I was not sure about Bettman. But, the lockout was good for the NHL. The NHL now has the best CBA for medium and small markets like KC. And now, Bettman isn't allowing franchises to just take up and move on a whim.

It's believed the four remaining bidders -- whose offers are in the $150 million range -- are more willing to work with Plan B if the Isle of Capri does not get the slots license, although at least one of them might be holding out hope that if Plan B falls apart the team could still be moved.

So, Fingold isn't giving up on KC. I guess there is still a very slight ray of hope for those "spinning" that the Penguins may still play in Sprint Center.

The NHL's bylaws are not public documents, but they contain a passage that defines many conditions that need to be exhausted before a team would be allowed to move, NHL spokesman Frank Brown said yesterday.

Since the Penguins' major problem is its facility, the NHL probably would not approve relocation as long as there is an active plan for a new arena.

Wouldn't you love to know what those conditions are? I'm sure one of them is lack of attendance over a certain period of years. Considering the Penguins average attendance last season, I'm sure they wouldn't meet some of the conditions for moving a franchise. A franchise would have to meet those conditions to even consider moving to KC or Houston or Hamilton, or, heck with renovation to KeyArena, Seattle (since developments today point to that city losing the Sonics).

I guarantee you AEG knows the conditions...considering Phillip Anschutz is on the Executive Committe of the NHL Board of Governors (I believe).

I'm going out on a limb here. I think we start hearing about an AHL franchise in KC for 2007-08 in November.

Sonics sold to OKC investor group

Major development on the NBA side of things.

An Oklahoma City group of investors led by Clay Bennet will purchase the Seattle SuperSonics from majority owner Howard Schultz (Starbucks guy).

Sources: Sonics sold to Oklahoma City

Bennett is president of investment firm, Dorchester Capital. They specialize in property finance.

I guess that puts the nail in the coffin of Sonics to KC rumors.

This team may very well be on its way out of Seattle and into the Ford Center in OKC. Last season, Oklahoma City proved it could support NBA basketball as the temporary home of the New Orleans Hornets.

Now, a group of OKC investors owns an NBA team. Sure, the Sonics have a lease with KeyArena until 2010, but leases have been broken in the past in professional sports (didn't the St. Louis Rams break a lease?).

George Shinn can't keep the Hornets in New Orleans. The city, basically, doesn't exist anymore and corporations aren't going to return. Heck, the "new" New Orleans is smaller than Omaha. Shinn is going to have to find a home for his nomadic franchise.

Could it be KC?

An NHL or NBA franchise would be nice, but Shinn is, despite what Jason Whitlock calls David Glass, George Shinn is the second worst owner in professional sports behind the Chicago Blackhawks' Bill Wirtz.

It would be nice to have an NBA or NHL team in Sprint Center, but a George Shinn owned KC Hornets? No thanks.

NHL too expensive?

As I posted earlier this year, the average NHL ticket is $41.

Tickets in Miami for the Florida Panthers averaged $34. Now, the Panthers are raising ticket prices by $12 and $7, depending on the opponent. However, parking is now free.

The Panthers are including parking in the cost of the ticket. Part of the reason the Panthers are doing this is because fans would park at Sawgrass Mills, a retail shopping area, and walk to the games. Now, the Panthers get parking $$ out of everyone, regardless of whether they park at Sawgrass Mills and walk or park at BankAtlantic Center.

By the way, the Panthers are one of those teams that owns and operates the arena in which they play.

LV Mayor says Peguins to LV "a bunch of crap"

How refreshing is it to hear a politician not beat around the bush with spin?

Las Vegas' Oscar Goodman probably can't be categorized as "honest", but at least he doesn't pull any punches when someone misquotes him.

A Pittsburgh television station reported on its Web site (wpxi.com) that Goodman was set to "seal a deal" to bring the NHL franchise to Las Vegas. When informed of the report, Goodman was not amused.

"It's a bunch of crap," he said. "They're trying to use us again as a pawn, and I'm not going to allow that to happen."

"I told him (Pittsburgh Mayor Bob O'Connor) I hope the Penguins stay in Pittsburgh," Goodman said. "I have not had any discussions whatsoever that would even suggest the Penguins move here."

Goodman: Penguins not Vegas-bound

Good, now we won't hear Las Vegas associated with the Penguins again (until someone from the Star mentions LV).

This part of the story is interesting.

Goodman said he is continuing efforts to bring a major league franchise to the city, and rumors are swirling that the NBA's Sacramento Kings are interested if they cannot close a new arena deal.

The Kings' owners, the Maloofs, are from Albuquerque, but have operated casinos, food and beverage and banks in Nevada for years. They currently own The Palms casino.

As for Goodman's penchant for straight talk, wouldn't you love to hear Kay Barnes or someone from AEG say, "Looks like the Penguins are staying in Pittsburgh, so we're going to pursue other professional sports, like the AHL, National Lacrosse League and Arena Football League for now. There may be an NBA or NHL team available in the next three to five years."

Not going to happen while their spin machine is working overtime

Great story about Seattle's arena issues

Sonics ready third shot at arena funds

You want to learn about where Seattle has been and where they are going with the Key Arena issue?

Read this story.

What is becoming clear is that the Sonics are going to venture to Olympia for a third straight session and plead their case, either with the support of the city, or with the King County Council as a partner with Bellevue as a destination.

If this team doesn't play in Key Arena in the future, they will play in Renton or Bellevue.

It's over -- Pittsburgh will get an arena

Call Miracle Max because the "Penguins to KC" rumors may not be dead, but they are certainly "mostly dead."

Today, the Pittsburgh papers say that both Harrah's and Majestic Star agree to Plan B to fund Pittsburgh's new arena.
Leaders tout arena offer
All casino bidders pledge funds for arena

Both have pledged $7.5 million a year for 30 years toward construction of an arena. Mr. Onorato said both commitments are contingent on a company getting the state license to operate a casino and on the Penguins committing to staying in Pittsburgh.

In addition, Gov. Ed Rendell is prepared to advance $26.5 million in state money for site acquisition and preparation.

How did this all get started? Well, let me tell you a story. There was this hockey team. They played in the oldest and nearly the smallest arena in the NHL. Their lease on that building expires on June 30, 2007.

Well tie it up with a little bow and call it a present because that is when Kansas City's new arena will be ready, Fall 2007. The operators of KC's new arena said, "We could get an NHL team." An aggressive marketing group, NHL21, said "We could help lure an NHL team to KC." Sports fans thought this was great, because there is no NBA21 group working to bring us an NBA team, so this should work out swimmingly.

Then, the Pittsburgh Penguins entered into an agreement with Isle of Capri casinos. Isle of Capri is bidding for the one slots parlor license for the Pittsburgh area. To make their bid stronger they agreed to build the city of Pittsburgh a $290M arena in which the Penguins will play.

Only problem is that Isle of Capri is competing with the largest gaming company in the U.S., Harrah's. So, with all Harrah's, ahem, influence, it looks grim for Isle of Capri.

The Kansas City media took AEG and NHL21's word as gospel and said clever things things like March of (hockey) Penguins to KC?. Sam Fingold fed the fire by saying he'd move the Penguins to KC if he buys the team. He said this before he talked with Pittsburgh politicians about Plan B.

Enter the Governor of Philadelphia, err, Pennsylvania, Ed Rendell. He worked with Pittsburgh area politicians to come up with Plan B. It says Pittsburgh will get an arena with slots parlor revenue AND $7.5M per year for 30 years from whomever is awarded the slots license. The problem was that neither Harrah's nor Majestic Star agreed to the proposal at the time it was announced.

Some in KC still said, "We could get an NHL team". And, the Kansas City media ate it up with headlines like Penguins still may end up nesting here.

With yesterday's announcement, Harrah's and Majestic Star have agreed to Plan B. If Isle of Capri is awarded the slots license, they will build a $290M arena. If Harrah's or Majestic Star is awarded the slots license, they will kick in money for a $300M arena.

Folks, this is over. If an architect hasn't been chosen for Plan B, I'm sure Kansas City-based HOK Sports has their RFP group working overtime.

And, today, in the KC Star. Nothing. Leaving most Kansas City sports fans to believe there is still a chance that the NHL will come to KC. Oh well, that's why I have this blog, so the few readers I have know.

Contrasting stories from Pittsburgh and Hartford

On the same day a story ran in the Pittsburgh Trib-Review saying KC is going on a power play to attract an NHL team.

Kansas City goes on power play

A Hartford Courant story says that Sam Fingold says the team won't move.

This is EXTREMELY significant because Fingold is the only bidder for the team that has showed any interest in KC.

Penguins Move Won't Fly, Developer Says

But don't expect the relocation of the franchise, another bidder said Wednesday. Hartford developer Sam Fingold, who is attempting to purchase the Penguins with his father and brother, doesn't see the Penguins going anywhere.

"I know the Penguins' first goal is to keep the team in Pittsburgh, so I don't know what [Gottesdiener's] goal really is," Fingold said. "I have a hard time believing that team is leaving Pittsburgh."

Then, Fingold took a shot at Hartford's mayor. Remember, Fingold's U.S. home is in Hartford, as is Larry Gottesdiener's home. Gottesdiener is also bidding on the Penguins.

Hartford is not an alternative for Fingold, even though he is based in the city.

"I'd rather buy a team and put it in another city than have it in Hartford and deal with [Mayor] Eddie Perez, because I don't think he quite understands all the economics associated with bringing a team to the city," Fingold said. "You think Hartford should spend $290 million on a new arena vs. trying to figure out how to fix the school system and cut down crime?"

Told of Fingold's comment, Matt Hennessy, the mayor's chief of staff, said, "I think the city is excited that there are real developers with a history of success, such as Larry Gottesdiener, who are interested in bringing an NHL franchise to the city of Hartford."

Back to the Pittsburgh Trib review story, it says AEG will start selling the 1,800 club seats this fall.

The city sold all 72 luxury suites in Sprint Center, its new arena, and will start selling 1,800 club-level seats by fall. The publicly funded arena is scheduled to open in October 2007 and is trying to lure a hockey or basketball team.

OK, we know that is not right. According to a previous story in the KC Star, 63 of the 72 suites are sold because they are holding back nine suites for the future owner, etc.

The part about the club seats is the only new information in this story. AEG's Brenda Tinnen and NHL21's Paul McGannon both have quotes in the article, but it's the same spin.

I found this part interesting:

By contrast, Gov. Ed Rendell said Wednesday that his backup plan to build an arena in Pittsburgh would allow the Penguins to double -- maybe even triple -- the team's stadium revenue. His plan asks the team to pay $8.5 million up front and $2.9 million a year, while forgoing $1.1 million a year in naming rights.

The deal requires the team to pay 16 percent of the arena costs,

Now we have a little information about the type of lease AEG has to offer to lure the an NHL team.

Lacrosse for Sprint Center?

Ok, I'm like you and hate Hearne Christopher, Jr. Have you ever seen this dude in person? He is the kid in your kindergarten class who sat in the corner and ate paste all grown up.

However, in today's column he actually addressed a topic some KC-area sports fans have wondered about.

Can we get a National Lacrosse League team to play at Sprint Center?

KC dudes have their lacrosse to bear

Lacrosse is a very fast growing sport. I know from first hand experience that it is growing quickly in KC. We currently have eight area high school teams.

There is one error, of course, in Hearne's column (the guy does three stories a week and uses the same five sources over and over again...he can't do a little Internet research?) Rockhurst HIGH SCHOOL has a terrific Lacrosse team, current Missouri State Champions, however Rockhurst University does not (at least not in the USLIA-sanctioned Great Rivers Lacrosse Conference).

With a little research, Hearne could have discovered that KU, KSU, Mizzou and Missouri State all have teams and actively recruit high school players.

The National Lacrosse League is an indoor version of the fast-paced outdoor game. Personally, I prefer outdoor, but see the appeal of indoor. The NLL will have 13 teams next season in markets throughout the country -- not just the Northeast where the sport is extremely popular. Phoenix, Portland, Denver, San Jose and Minneapolis have teams.

There is a nationwide, 10-team outdoor Lacrosse league, too. Major League Lacrosse was founded by this guy.


DON'T QUIT!



I'd love to see the NLL at Sprint Center.

Number of bidders for Penguins narrows

According to Shelly Anderson of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the number of bidders for the Penguins could narrow to three this week -- or one.
Penguins' sale reaches crucial stage

When one offer is chosen, that bidder will sign a letter of intent for the right to negotiate exclusively for a period of time.

Although details of the bids remain mostly unclear, the sale price is expected to top $150 million.

We saw this happen with the St. Louis Blues. Dave Checketts signed a letter of intent to negotiate exclusively with Paige Laurie's father. The talks broke down and Checketts was out. He was, of course, back in later and eventually purchased the team.

A list of the four, possibly five, bidders for the team is in the article.

One of those five is from Hamilton, Ont and would like to move the team to that Canadian city. Hamilton reported back in NHL hunt

As I have said on this blog before, Jim Basillie CEO of the company that makes Blackberrys, is reportedly the money guy.

However, the Pittsburgh paper was unable to contact Richard Rodier, the Toronto lawyer who says he's working on behalf of a financer interested in bringing a team to Hamilton.

That money man is thought to be Jim Basillie, the co-CEO and chair of Waterloo-based Research and Motion (RIM), the company that makes the BlackBerry communications device.

Remember, only one is interested in POSSIBLY moving the team to KC, Sam and David Fingold. The other groups have no showed no interest in moving the team to KC.

KC one city in queue for Sonics

KC is mentioned in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer as one of the cities in line to attract the Seattle SuperSonics if they don't come to an agreement with the city for renovations to 10-year old Key Arena.

Plenty of cities waiting in line for NBA team

Once again, the media speculates about KC as a potential home for an NBA team because we have the ultimate pawn in the game, Sprint Center.

However, once again, an NBA ownership group has never actually mentioned KC as a possible site for relocation...and they don't again in this article.

"This is a huge basketball city. ... We think the NBA would be really popular here," said Lara Schopp, spokeswoman for Kansas City Mayor Kay Barnes.

No, Lara, this is a huge COLLEGE basketball city. And, as Charlotte has proven with the Bobcats, huge COLLEGE basketball cities do not necessarily support an NBA team.

I contend we are behind Anaheim for a relocated NBA team because Henry Samueli, Anaheim Ducks and Arrowhead Pond owner, is willing to BUY a team and move them to his arena. We don't have a local, or any, group interested in BUYING an NBA team and moving them to Sprint Center.

Fingold's interest in KC cools

On the same day a one-source story printed in the KC Star about how KC is still in the running to be the home of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Don't count on NHL preseason game in KC.

The article said,

McGannon attended the NHL draft recently in Vancouver, B.C., and spoke with commissioner Gary Bettman. Pittsburgh is up for sale and could move unless a new arena is built. Sam Fingold, a real estate developer, stated he’d like to buy the Penguins and would move them to KC unless Pittsburgh gets a new arena.

A key is the Isle of Capri gaming company, which will fund a new arena there only if it secures a slot machine parlor, and a decision on that is expected before the end of the year. But if it gets outbid for the slots license, Isle of Capri won’t be part of a new arena.

Not so fast there KC Star. Perhaps actually CALLING or e-mailing Sam Fingold would help.

Because Fingold, the ONLY potential Penguins' owner who has mentioned KC, told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in an e-mail that he is interested in talking to local politicians about Plan B and keeping the PENGUINS IN PITTSBURGH.

New arena financing could keep team here
Fingold changes tune, says Plan B may work


Fingold seems to have cooled in the idea of moving the team.

"In light of exploring some new options for Plan B ... a meeting with political officials could prove positive and very productive, now that there is a certain sense of urgency," Fingold said. "I have learned the best deals are made when time is of the essence.

"I believe in the last few weeks that the state and political officials have finally begun to understand the severity of the situation that the team is facing ... the potential of other offers being presented by other cities.

"With that in mind, I believe we may start to see some movement on the state's [part]. I believe it could change the dynamics of all bids submitted to this point."

PLEASE stop chasing this windmill Mr. AEG Quixote and sidekick NHL21 Panza.

Work on attracting the two AHL teams that do not currently have a home.

No Preseason game in KC this year

NHL21 officially announced that there will be no preseason game this year at Kemper Arena.

The press release said,

Currently the Pittsburgh Penguins in the NHL are undergoing an ownership change, and depending on circumstances in Pittsburgh, the Penguins could possibly be a candidate to move to Kansas City and the Sprint Center.

which is stretching the truth, a bit. The Penguins "could possibly" be a candidate for relocation, however "probably won't be" is more accurate. The city, county and state are working more collaboratively with potential ownership groups to secure a new facility in Pittsburgh, regardless of the slots casino license.

Other teams in the NHL also are prospects to call Kansas City home.

I don't believe it. This is just spin until a frachise comes out publicly to say they are considering relocation. Not ONE other NHL team has mentioned relocation.

Kansas City could possibly obtain an expansion franchise from the NHL in the years to come.

In the years to come? How vague. Could the NHL expand in 10 or 20 years, yes. Will it happen in the next five? No way. Not in the middle of this so-far-successful CBA.

“NHL 21 currently is devoting time, energy, and effort to obtaining an NHL franchise for Kansas City and the new Sprint Center. We continue to have productive talks with people associated with Pittsburgh as well as other NHL cities.” McGannon added,

Seriously, let's work on ATTAINABLE goals, like an AHL team.

Any question whether the NHL is healthy?

There shouldn't be.NHL makes save in return to ice

The on-ice product improved dramatically:

Difference from 2003-04
100-point scorers: 2005-06 SEVEN 2003-04: ZERO
50+ goal scorers: 2005-06 FIVE 2003-04: ZERO
Point-a-game scorers: up 360%
30+ goal scorers: up 135%
Hat tricks: up 72%
Lead changes within a single game: up 29%
Suspensions: down 51%

And a great discussion on the NHL's return with some of the games most respected hockey writers.
NHL Roundtable: The Writers' Edition

We feel the need to tell people we have this great game and you're not paying attention to it. Who cares? At a certain point, as long as this CBA has worked it to a place where everybody is making a profit, why does everybody have to make a killing? If the league is OK and it's not going to go away, then why do we dwell on these ratings so much? If people are ignorant of our game out there, too bad, you're missing something great.

There's nothing wrong with being a niche, there's nothing wrong with being what you are.

San Jose enters the mix for an NBA team

Late last week I posted a story about Henry Samueli, Anaheim Ducks owner who also owns the Arrowhead Pond, stating that he is interested in purchasing an NBA team that would play in the Pond.

Now, the San Jose Sharks are interested in an NBA team joining them in the HP Pavilion.

Sharks interested in NBA -- NHL team seeking help from San Jose

The city owns HP Pavilion, but, according to the lease agreement, the Sharks control the arena's revenue.

Of course, the Golden State Warriors, who play in Oakland, would object to a team in San Jose since they claim they have territorial rights to the Silicon Valley city.

Regardless, KC sports fans cannot just assume we are next on the list for an NBA team. Other cities, like Anaheim, San Jose and Oklahoma City are interested in the NBA, too.

More on Cuban-Murstein

The stories are coming in quickly.

Cuban joins financier's bid for Penguins

Cuban, Marino join financier's bid to buy Penguins

Dallas Morning News -- Cuban joins Marino in bid for Penguins

Nail in the coffin of the Pens to KC rumor

It was reported today on ESPN 1250 in Pittsburgh and in the Pittsburgh papers that Mark Cuban and Dan Marino are joining Andrew Murstein's bid to purchase the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Cuban and Marino are Pittsburgh natives. Cuban grew up in Mt. Lebanon, PA and Marino grew up in Oakland, PA. Marino also played at Pitt.

The Murstein group says they are committed to keeping the team in Pittsburgh and are willing to play in Mellon Arena. Murstein said in an interview today that other groups approached Cuban. Cuban decided to join the Murstein group because of the committment to his hometown.

Cuban wrote in an e-mail,

"To help keep the team in Pittsburgh," he wrote. "That's a condition of my participation."

The Penguins stay in Pittsburgh may not be tied to the Pittsburgh-area slots parlor license afterall. If the Murstein group buys the team, and with Cuban's passion and financial backing there is no reason to assume they won't, the team will stay.

KC Hockey fans, the KC Star, KC Business Journal, local radio and TV stations have not done a very good job of reporting this story. They have not reported, in any depth, what is actually going on and continue to sensationalize the story with headlines like "Penguins may still nest in KC". They took the comments of AEG and NHL21 at face value.

This is not a question of whether we, Kansas City sports fans, WANT the NHL or NBA.


It is a question of whether the NHL or NBA wants us. AEG says they do. In reality, it looks like we, and our wonderful new arena, are simply pawns in other cities' chess games to get new arenas or for franchises' to get better lease agreements.

A quote from today's article in the Pittsburgh paper.

The Penguins' current owners are accepting official offers this week and are expected to pick a winner in the next two weeks.

In two short weeks, this story may be dead.

The other bidders are Clarion Capital Partners, a New York private equity firm headed by managing partner Marc Utay; Ohio businessman Jim Renacci; Massachusetts real estate developer Lawrence Gottesdiener; and Toronto real estate developers David and Sam Fingold.

Only one group among these five has mentioned KC, David and Sam Fingold.

I said months ago, with the announcement of Pittsburgh's Plan B, that the Pens aren't coming. Now, I am even more confident that Sprint Center will NOT have an NHL team in 2007-08.

Can those in a position of power please start turning their attention to more realistic goals, like getting us an AHL team and, perhaps more importantly, a soccer-specific facility for the Wizards?

Dark cloud covers Sonics and it isn't just Pac NW rain

Dark cloud covers Sonics

Interesting article about the Sonics' future in Seattle. This columnist thinks the city and the Sonics are at a crossroads and that the Sonics will just play out their Key Arena lease (2010) and then just leave...yet not out of the Seattle area, but to a suburb like Bellevue.

From the discussion, as well as previous news coverage of the saga, the Sonics seem destined to serve out their KeyArena lease through 2010 and then leave. In my view, the consolation prize is that they won't go far, probably to a new arena in Bellevue.

Which seems odd because the Seattle-Tacoma area would then have three major indoor arenas, KeyArena, Tacoma Dome and the proposed arena in Bellevue.

He suggests a new arena in Bellevue would motivate the Sonics to put more money toward the project.

Would it be better in Bellevue? In principle, yes. A big, new arena free of the KeyArena footprint, the Center dilemma and city officials' reluctance would be more likely to generate bigger revenue from a wealthier demographic, thereby inspiring the Sonics' owners to invest considerably more in such a project than the $18 million now on the table for KeyArena.

I know the big question is NBA or NHL in KC, but it just doesn't seem like the NBA is interested and it doesn't seem like the NHL has any teams willing to move...

Wall Street Journal says KC's quest is misguided

Arenas of Dreams:
But Will Teams Come?

The Wall Street Journal recently wrote an article about our new Sprint Center and the "if you build it, they will come" attitude toward attracting an NHL or NBA team. The article says that we don't even have a minor league team for the area, which actually isn't true because the Brigade could play there and there is an opportunity to get into the AHL every year.

Are we misguided by trying to attract an NHL or NBA team when, by some accounts, these teams only add to a city's self image and not to a city's bottom line (and could operate at a loss).

Once again, the article has some factual errors (will there ever be an article when these journalists get the story right?)

Kansas City was once home to major-league hockey and basketball teams but lost both in the 1980s to other cities.

We lost a hockey team in the 1980s? Hmm, because, by all accounts, we lost the Kansas City Scouts in 1976 after two seasons.KC Scouts on Hockeydb

Tulsa, Okla., for example, is constructing the 18,000-seat Bank of Oklahoma Center to help it land the likes of the NCAA men's Big 12 basketball tournament, rock concerts and family events such as Champions on Ice. The arena, designed by architect Cesar Pelli, will also be home to minor-league hockey and arena football.

Tulsa is building at 18,000 seat arena?

Why?

Read this next quote from the article, as "your with me leather" would say, "Ouch, babe."

In "The Economics of Sports Facilities and Their Communities," published in 2000 in the Journal of Economic Perspectives, authors Andrew Zimbalist of Smith College and John Siegfried of Vanderbilt University argue that "independent work on the economic impact of stadiums and arenas has uniformly found that there is no statistically significant positive correlation between sports facility construction and economic development."

Now, the building is going to cost more than originally expected.

With Ms. Barnes pressing for a "cutting-edge, destination attraction," the overall cost of the project has crept up 10% above its original estimate of $250 million.

Who didn't see this coming? These things never come in under budget. Plus, the design consortium guys want to make this arena a crown jewel of their design because how bad would it look to have a crappy arena in HOK Sports' hometown?

The district, which is expected to open next year, replaces a blighted swath of surface parking lots, adult bookstores and strip clubs.

Oh, c'mon. That is an exaggeration and kind of p's me off. I haven't worked downtown in about eight years, but from what I recall the arena and P&L District is replacing, mostly, parking lots.

"People here are hungry for a team," says Kevin Gray, president of the Kansas City Sports Commission. "We're confident we'll get one."

Ugh, when is this guy going to go away. On his watch we lost the Big XII tourney, Big XII offices, the Blades, Knights, Attack and Royals (oops, only seems like the Royals are gone). He was in support of the silly idea to bring UHL hockey here and will be in charge of the Sports Commission when the Wizards go dark for a year and, maybe, forever.

I'm sure he'll claim some success for our wonderful Speedway when we should be give Carol Marinovich a parade each year for the unbridled success of the Speedway and the area around it.

KC Star says: Penguins may still land here...nothing new here.

Penguins still may end up nesting here

If you read www.kchockeybuzz.blogspot.com, there is not one thing in this article you wouldn't already know.

The second pick in the draft belongs to the Pittsburgh Penguins, and their selection has a chance of playing in a Kansas City uniform when the Sprint Center opens in the fall of 2007.

Wow, that's misleading the KC public. According to Pittsburgh papers, there are up to FIVE (possibly seven) bidders for the Penguins and only one wants to move the team, Fingold.

If Kansas City has a chance, it is a 20% or 14% chance of the Penguins playing in KC.

Covitz hits the high points, but seems to have interviewed just one person, Fingold. When did one source stories become OK? Covitz didn't interview Larry Gottesdiener, who wants to buy the team and keep them in Pittsburgh or move them to Hartford.

Stay tuned here. I'll keep you more up-to-date than the Star.

KC Biz journal chimes in on the Pens

Bidder remains interested in bringing NHL team to KC
The Kansas City Business Journal has a very short article about Sam Fingold and his possible purchase of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

There is nothing in this article that you wouldn't already know if you read this blog.

Well, you would learn some new, inaccurate things like:

The sale of the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League will enter a new stage in July, and could be completed by June of 2007, according to a Connecticut developer who has talked of buying the team and moving it to Kansas City.

June 2007? Really? Because the Pittsburgh papers, which I'm guessing have a better grasp of the situation, say it will be final before the 2006-07 season, which starts this October.

Sam Fingold, owner of Kenyon Investments LLC in Hartford, Conn., said he remains interested in buying the Penguins.

What did I say months ago? Sam Fingold -- Get to know him!

Several other casinos have submitted bids for the license, which should be granted by the state by the end of this year.

Several? Try two other casinos. And, one is a small fish, Don Barden's North Star, playing in a pond which is way too big for his little fins.

It's between gaming giant Harrah's and Isle of Capri.

Penguins sale process heating up.

Penguins' sale talks picking up steam
Will the Pittsburgh Penguins move to KC?

It depends on three things:
-Who purchases the Penguins? They are for sale right now and the sale should be final before the next hockey season begins in October.

-Will Pittsburgh get a new arena to replace aging Mellon Arena?
Whether Pittsburgh gets a new arena is much more complicated. However, if the city does not get a new arena, then the new owner will have to WANT to come to KC.

As it stands now, it seems only ONE of the FIVE groups bidding for the team are interested in moving to KC.

It's believed there are interested parties who have not been identified who want to relocate the team to various cities in Canada, Houston or Las Vegas.

Hmmm, no mention of KC. However, I think this is BS because Sam Fingold said that he looked into Las Vegas and says it is not a viable NHL market.

Sam Fingold says he'd move the Penguins to KC if Pittsburgh doesn't get a new arena.

Hey KC, get behind LA for an NBA team.

Henry Samueli, the owner of the Anaheim Ducks and the Arrowhead Pond, is trying to lure an NBA team to is arena.

By Any Name, Samueli Wants an NBA Team
He may even buy a team and put them in the Pond, which puts him one up on us. We don't hae a local owner willing to purchase either an NBA or NHL team and put them in KC.

Samueli said he and his wife, Susan, had met with NBA Commissioner David Stern and asked whether the league would allow a third team in Southern California. "He said that's certainly a possibility," Samueli said. "He did not rule that out."

By the way, the Anaheim Ducks are no longer "Mighty...of" and they no longer have those awful eggplant uniforms. They switched colors and logo.

Though unremarkable, it is an improvement from the Emilio Estevez, Joshua Jackson, Keenan Thompson-inspired logo.






And, at this time I must pay homage to one of the great actors of our time, Lane Smith. The Mighty Ducks, My Cousin Vinny and Lois and Clark (wife's fave) wouldn't be the same without him.

One week to go!

Wow! Do I have a lot of stuff for you this weekend.

I'll be uploading at least four stories after this one.

Sprint Center's Web site says 473 more days!

However, the biggest event in Sprint Center's future begins in SEVEN days.

On July 1, the Pittsburgh Penguins are no longer restricted, by their lease, from initiating conversations with prospective buyers.

Beginning July 1, it's on. Can Pittsburgh save their team?

Will the team move to KC, Houston, Hartford or Hamilton, Ontario?

Stayed tuned to this Web site and I will provide more up-to-date information than you will receive from the local paper or radio/TV stations.

Nashville and Predators agree to play nice

Over the past few weeks, Nashville's Metro Sports Autority and the Predators hockey franchise have engaged in an ugly back-and-forth over, what else, money.

Well, today the Nashville Tennessean says the two sides are willing to play nice.

The city and the pro hockey team will start meeting next week without lawyers present as they try to cool a dispute that has put about $28 million in taxpayer dollars at risk.

Regardless, I still think the Predators are a candidate for relocation to Sprint Center.

Predators could break lease for $30M

If the Nashville Predators decide to break their lease at the Gaylord Entertainment Center, they will owe the city $28M.

Honestly, $28M doesn't seem like the much considering how much money professional sports franchises earn (and spend). If the Preds decide to leave Nashville and sign a 25-year lease somewhere else, they only need to make an extra $2.1M per year over the course of the lease (assuming 5% interest) to pay off the $28M.

Doesn't seem like much of a penalty.

However, according to the Tennessean, if the city is found at fault, for not properly upgrading the facility, the Preds could get out of the lease for a whopping $0M.
$28 million on line in Preds feud

One Councilwoman, Brenda Gilmore, fears the Predators may leave

"My fear is we will invest almost $8 million to make improvements, and they will pack up and leave Nashville," she said. "There doesn't seem to be a lot of loyalty there. And taxpayers again will be left holding the bag."

Preds vs. Nashville -- "Ugly"

What did I say four days ago?

I said something smells bad about the situation in Nashville. I called it "ugly".

Well, now the Tennessean is calling "ugly", too. I've read this article more than once and The Tennessean's David Climer does an excellent job of telling the story.
Ugly game is a faceoff of lawyers

I love Climer's reference to Warren Zevon's Lawyers, Guns and Money. The bottom line is summed up in these two paragraphs:

Metro attorneys want the Preds to pony up with a $10 million letter of credit or some other means of financial assurance that they say would bring the team into compliance with the "tangible net worth" portion of the original contract with the city.

Predators attorneys countered with a letter this week demanding the city pay more than $1 million to cover bonus fees to Powers Management, which runs the downtown arena, and buy equipment for the facility.

Climer even asks the question KC-ians want to hear.

Are the Predators in this for the long haul? And do enough people in the area care about hockey and/or the Preds to make this marriage work in the long term?

Attendance for Predators' games is a good news/bad new scenario. Attendance is up, however paid attendance is still below the break-even level (rumored to be about 13,000)

After three years of declining attendance in the seasons before the lockout, Preds officials indicated attendance was up roughly 10 percent this season. But paid attendance — not including complimentary tickets, which often number well into four figures for weeknight games — remained below 13,000 a game.

That set off an alarm.

And there's nothing like an alarm to wake up the lawyers.

Perhaps familiarity breeds contempt, but I just don't see this kind of reporting in the KC sports page.

NHL tickets too expensive? Says who?

What are the average ticket prices for NHL games?
Well, here is the answer from the LA Times.
Average ticket prices for NHL teams was $41.19

So, when some uninformed blowhard who has never lived outside of Kansas City or Pittsburg, Ks says "NHL tickets are too expensive" tell them the average ticket price in a comparable market, like Buffalo, is $30.

The highest average ticket price is the Philadelphia Flyers at $54.81 (and they still sell out, by the way).
Flyers raise ticket prices

1. Philadelphia $54.81
2. New Jersey $54.67
3. Vancouver $54.08
4. Boston $53.05
5. Minnesota $50.11
6. Toronto $49.23
7. Montreal $47.58
8. N.Y. Rangers $44.63
9. Tampa Bay $44.27
10. N.Y. Islanders $44.01
11. KINGS $43.82
12. Edmonton $43.46
13. Detroit $43.13
14. Atlanta $41.68
15. Columbus $41.62
16. Calgary $40.92
17. Ottawa $40.76
18. St. Louis $39.92
19. Colorado $38.48
20. Chicago $38.26
21. Washington $38.15
22. Nashville $37.33
23. Pittsburgh $36.61
24. Florida $34.31
25. Dallas $34.24
26. San Jose $33.00
27. DUCKS $30.32
28. Buffalo $29.73
29. Phoenix $27.37
30. Carolina $26.15

Penguins have seven suitors?

KDKA "Investigative" reporter Andy Sheehan has proven in the past that he doesn't do his homework.

In reference to possible suitors for the Penguines, Sheehan said said, "...unlike investors in Kansas City -- who would move the team", which is absolutely, unequivocally NOT true.

KC has no local ownership group looking to purchase an NHL team.

Now, Sheehan says up to seven groups are looking to purchase the Penguins.

Seven Potential Buyers To Bid On Penguins
From simple 'net research, I can find five groups. There may be two more, but Sheehan's track record says that he's probably off by at least two groups.

Again, here is who is interested in the Penguins and where the team may play as a result of each potential suitor.

-Toronto-based real estate developers David and Sam Fingold, who have publicly said they are interested in moving the team to KC.

-Hartford-based Larry Gottesdiener, who has publicly said he is interested in moving the team to Hartford.

-Ohio businessman Jim Renacci, a Pittsburgh native, is interested in buying the team and keeping them in Pittsburgh.

-RIM (you know, the Blackberry people) CEO Jim Balsillie may be one of the bidders, but has not publicly said so. He's been interested in an NHL team in the past and may try to move the team to Hamilton, Ont.

-Financier Andrew Murstein, who looked into purchasing the Kansas City Wizards.

Sheehan's artilce says that Murstein told him the team would stay in Pittsburgh regardless of the Pennsylvania Gaming Commission's slots parlor decision. So, does this article.
New bidder for Penguins emergesYet, the Toronto Star says Murstein is intersted in moving the team to HOUSTON if the Isle of Capri doesn't get the slots license. Of course, the Toronto Star is the paper that called the Sprint Center "recently completed."

Whoa, Seattle voters say "Let the Sonics go"

A tax bailout? Let Sonics go, Seattleites say

According to a recent telephone survey conducted by an independent pollster, 78% of registered voters in Seattle are against using taxpayer money to subsidize improvements to Key Arena.

How would that make you feel if you were the Starbucks' CEO? Basically, your potential fanbase has said, "pay for it with revenues from those $4 lattes".

The Deputy Mayor did offer some perspective:

But Seattle Deputy Mayor Tim Ceis said the either/or question tilted the results.

"When you frame it that way, 'Do you want to pay taxes to build an arena or have them leave Seattle?' I think that's a pretty crude way," Ceis said. "That much ambiguity isn't going to elicit a very positive response no matter what."

But, seriously, how dumb does the Sonics' spokesperson think we are

Team spokeswoman Valerie O'Neil added that the survey question failed to fairly include the potential benefits of an arena overhaul beyond basketball.

"It's more than just a Sonics/Storm issue," she said. "It would be more than just the Sonics and (WNBA) Storm benefiting from the investment."

But, it's the Sonics that MOSTLY benefit from the investment and, it seems, Seattle's registered voters know it.

People across the country, from Orlando to Seattle, are catching on that these unbelievably wealthy men are fleecing taxpayers with these publicly funded mausoleums that have a shorter life span that a guy with a cholesterol level of 270.

Are the Predators building a case against Nashville?

The Predators and the city are in a dispute over bonus fees and new equipment for the Gaylord Entertainment Center ("GEC").
In dispute's latest turn, Predators demand $1M from Metro

I find this disagreement curious. Actually, on the surface, it seems extremely petty. However, this line in the story could be the most telling:

The Predators and the related company, Powers Management — which runs the GEC for Metro — said they were prepared to take action to enforce their demands, which they outlined in four letters delivered to city attorneys Monday. Under the Predators' contract with Metro, that could include terminating the agreement that has given Nashville pro hockey since 1998.

Terminating the agreement? That would mean the franchise would be free to find another arena in another city.

The Tennessean posted the PDF of the aforementione four letters the Predators lawyer sent to the lawyer for Metro (I guess Nashville calls their city government "Metro").
Letter from Predators lawyer to Metro's lawyer

Bottom line: Metro Government says the Predators are not meeting a Minimum Net Worth Agreement requirement. Predators say Metro Government is in default for payments to Powers Management and in default for improvements to the GEC.

Something about this situation smells bad. It seems as if the Predators are building a case against Metro so they can get out of their agreement at the GEC. And, it seems the Mayor wants to accomodate the Predators yet the Metro Government, through their lawyer, does not.

Sports fans, it doesn't matter if it is NBA or NHL, if we get another city's franchise it is going to be the result of an ugly dispute. Some city's sports fans are going to get screwed. The only way to avoid this is to get an expansion franchise, which isn't going to happen any time soon in either league.

It's time to watch this situation with the Predators very closely.

Take the Preds situation and relate it to KC in, let's say in 12 years, who is going to pay for a new scoreboard at Sprint Center? AEG or the city? It'd be nice if some enterprising journalist in KC asked those kind of questions...sorry, that may be asking for too much.

Pittsburgh's arena gamble

Prisuta: Arena gamble
Mike Prisuta of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review writes this column about the state lending money to the Pittsburgh-Alleghany County Sports & Exhibition Authority to begin purchasing land for a new arena.

Regardless, the Penguins' future is uncertain. Prisuta writes:

It's plausible new ownership could consider Rendell's "Plan B" proposal acceptable and keep the franchise here.


But it's also plausible the eventual new owners of the Penguins will decide a sweetheart deal in Kansas City, Las Vegas, Portland or Houston is preferable to $8.5 million up front and $4 million annually over 30 years.

Yes, but can we please throw Las Vegas off of these lists. Sam Fingold, who is actually trying to purchase an NHL team, says Las Vegas is not a viable NHL market. I'd take his word over some newspaper guy.

Here is the bottom line that everyone in Kansas City (media, hockey fans, those who have purchased Sprint Center suites) needs to realize.

Should Isle of Capri Casinos land the slots license, the Penguins are staying put, period. But Isle of Capri remains the only slots-license applicant that can guarantee the Penguins' long-term future in their current home. And for some reason, Rendell, mayor Bob O'Connor and Allegheny County chief executive Dan Onorato refuse to throw their public and private support behind the Penguins-Isle of Capri partnership.

It's a dangerous game they're playing.

We'll know a lot more in about 18 days. On July 1, the Penguins will be within one year of their current leases expiration date and they can begin discussions with other cities at that time.

Do we still want the NHL?

Today, Jeffrey Flanagan wrote this in his column.

Still want hockey?

Is hockey’s popularity falling even further, or is the league just suffering the effects of a bad decision to shift its cable rights to OLN?

Consider that only 610,836 households watched game one of the Stanley Cup finals last Monday. It got worse on Wednesday for game two when only 605,501 households tuned in.

Poker and paintball do better.

I love hockey, but do we still want it for the Sprint Center?

Jeff, Jeff, Jeff...you are a devout hockey fan and Kevin Constantine's friend, I expect so much more from you. I guess I can classify Flanagan with all the other Kansas City journalists that just don't get it. Hockey needs an advocate in this town. Someone with a positive spin. Who is it going to be?

Yes, OLN, soon to be Versus, ratings are bad.

But, this is a result of two things:
#1 -- OLN is hard to find and, on most cable systems, it is on the extended or digital tier rather than the basic tier.

Those of us who are sports fanatics don't think twice about purchasing the extended or digital tier, but we must realize that most people don't buy the extra tier. Overall viewership of the NHL is suffering because OLN is on so many fewer households.

#2 -- This is what you get when you have market parity. You get two small markets battling for the Stanley Cup which negatively effects ratings. Two small market teams battling for the World Series title will never happen under MLB's CBA. This year's Stanley Cup Final is good news for KC.

• Gate receipts are germaine to the NHL's success, not television ratings. The new CBA, with the $39M cap, is built around this fact.
  
  
• Attendance at NHL games was up in 2005-06 over 2003-04.
  
  
• NHL teams drew an average of 91% of building capacity. (thank you, Bill Wirtz for throwing the average way off)
  
  
• Total NHL revenue was 2.1B or 300M more than the 1.8B projections.
  
  
• The salary cap will increase from $39M to $42M to $45M.
  

Do we still want NHL? Well, yeah. Personally, I think the AHL would be better, but of course we still want the excitement of the NHL.

Sprint Center Web site is up

The Sprint Center Web site is up.

Now, you can find out all you need to find out about our new arena and vote on whether you want an NHL or NBA team in KC. Like Chicago during the first Richard Daley era, vote early and vote often.

Of course, Rick Westhead of the Toronto Star thinks the Sprint Center is already complete. In a May 8 article he wrote,

But Kansas City has recently completed construction on the new 18,500-seat Sprint Center, a $276 million arena that needs a tenant like an NHL team to pay down its debt.

Ugh. This is why we have blogs.

Stern wants amateur basketball reformed

David Stern told the LA Times that young basketball players get exposed on their way up and would like amateuer basketball reformed.
Stern Says Amateur Game Needs Reform
To be more like HOCKEY perhaps.

Hockey has the Major Junior leagues that develop players between 16 and 20-years old with organized, well-run leagues. The Canadian Hockey Leagues offer scholarship money to these players with each year they play. If a kid playing for the, for instance, Everett Silvertips is not going to make it in the NHL, AHL, independent minor league teams or overseas, that player can use scholarship money from the Major Junior leagues to get an education and find a career outside of hockey.

With the Major Junior leagues, the NHL doesn't have to have the age limitations (which borders on racism) because 18-year old kids who are not ready for the NHL can play on a Canadian Hockey League team with other kids near his own age.

In the NBA, an 18-year old has to make the decision to go to college or ride the bench on an NBA team with 25, 30 and 35-year old men with whom they have nothing in common. It's a decision that is too difficult for a young man to make and an incredibly flawed system.

Why won't the NBA establish a REAL minor league and possibly a Major Junior basketball league where players could earn scholarship money? Because it would take money out of the hands of these AAU coaches and shoe companies.

It's sad, really. The NBA does a disservice to a majority of young players, where the NHL tries to nurture these players. Fewer NHL players get in legal/criminal trouble than NBA players. Perhaps it has nothing to do with race and more to do with how amateur basketball is set up.

It's not an arena...it's an EVENTS CENTER.

Oh, so now Orlando wants to replace TDWaterhouse Arena with an EVENTS CENTER rather than an arena.
Mayor changes message

This reminds me of a quote that former Royal Danny Jackson once made. Jackson wanted to open his business, Incred-A-Bowl , at 151st and Antioch in Overland Park. A local TV news reporter asked Danny, "What do you think of the neighbors' objections to a bowling alley going up their neighborhood?" to which Jackson curtly responded, "It's not a bowling alley...It's an ENTERTAINMENT CENTER."

Whatever, they call it in Orlando, they're still asking for approval of a tourist tax to foot the bill. The Magic asked for the same type of tax in 2001 and were pelted with rocks and garbage by taxpayers (ok, not really, but you get the idea). Opponents of the tax made bumper stickers and signs that said "NO-RENA". Calling it an Events center is smart because a NO-VENTS CENTER sign wouldn't work very well.

But Centroplex director Allen Johnson said profitable concerts are passing over Orlando in favor of newer venues in Tampa or Jacksonville. The Rolling Stones chose Tampa's St. Pete Times Forum last fall, and the Dixie Chicks will play there in October.

Sound familiar? We heard the same thing about Kemper Arena and that we were losing concerts and events to new arenas (oops, Events Centers) in Omaha, St. Louis and Des Moines. Same spin, different city.

I'm all for our arena and how it is funded. Kemper Arena was a poorly managed facility in a location that is not conducive to serendipitous businesses and revenue. I think Global Spectrum does a nice job of managing Kemper now (except for the ill-conceived notion that the UHL would work in KC). I had a great experience at Cirque Du Soleil early this year.

I simply find it interesting that the same sales campaign that worked in Kansas City is now being used in Orlando. I guess that's politics these days. It's kind of like Old Navy pushing track pants. Find a message that works and pound it into people's heads.

No mention of the Magic relocating, but you know that will come up if it looks like the "tourism tax for an Events Center" message doesn't work. The next message will be, "pass this tax or we're moving to Walt Disney's former home, KC."

Blazing a trail to the Pond

Trail Blazers Interest Ducks' Owner
The owner of the soon to be renamed Anaheim Mighty Ducks is interested in purchasing the Portland Trailblazers and moving them to the Arrowhead Pond.

There isn't much else to this short article other than the Arrowhead Pond President confirms that they are looking at purchasing the moribund NBA franchise.

This is bad news for those interested in bringing an NBA team to KC. We, Kansas City, don't have a local owner that is interested in purchasing a franchise and moving them here. We will have to get in line behind any city that does.

I think this also squashes any rumors of the Ducks moving to KC because their attendance isn't very good. BS. Henry Samueli is not going to sell the Ducks. He just bought them. And, he most certainly is not going to move the team out of the building he owns and operates.

Penguins will have new owners by next season

According to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (again, how great would it be to have COMPETING newspapers in a city), the Pittsburgh Penguins will have new owners when they begin play next season.
Penguins to score new owners before next season


The paper says four to five groups are seriously considering buying the team, according to Steve Greenberg of Allen & Co., the company brokering the deal.

Of those four or five groups, only three have publicly stated their intentions.

-Toronto-based real estate developers David and Sam Fingold, who have publicly said they are interested in moving the team to KC if Isle of Capri/Penguins are not awarded the slots license.

-Hartford-based Larry Gottesdiener, who has publicly said he is interested in moving the team to Hartford if Isle of Capri/Penguins are not awarded the slots license.

-The paper says Ohio businessman Jim Renacci, a Pittsburgh native, is interested in buying the team. However, in another paper Renacci said he has not made an offer.

-I guarantee you RIM (you know, the Blackberry people) CEO Jim Balsillie is one of the bidders.


The bad news for KC

Elected officials in Pittsburgh plan to begin buying property to secure a site for an arena.

The state will lend the city-county Sports & Exhibition Authority $25 million to $30 million in coming weeks to start buying Uptown properties between Fifth and Centre avenues for an arena, Onorato said.

"We can increase our chances of keeping the team here if (the new owners) see there is movement on the new facility, and movement now," Onorato said.

The other bit of bad news is that NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman says, "no other teams are looking to relocate."

Bettman: It's about hockey, not the markets

Bettman said there are no plans to expand the NHL, nor does he anticipate any teams moving -- notwithstanding the Penguins' tenuous hold on life in Pittsburgh. Still, when someone suggested that the new CBA might make a return to other Canadian markets more viable, Bettman agreed. Sort of. "I do agree with your observation that the ability of, say, a Winnipeg, with the right building and ownership, to be able to not just survive but be competitive." Still, no one should be setting up the Jets season-ticket booth at Portage and Main. "I don't want to get anyone's hopes up because we're not planning on going anywhere," Bettman said.

So, when AEG, NHL21, Frank Boal and Neal Jones say, "up to six NHL teams are looking to move" there is no public evidence on which to base this statement. Which is precisely why I am asking members of the media to hold AEG's feet to the fire when they say these things.

Don't get me wrong, I think AEG is doing a great thing for KC, but OUR MEDIA needs to be a little more inquisitive...a little more...cynical, perhaps.

Whitlock says KC needs the NBA

Jason Whitlock's column from today says that KC needs the NBA.

Jason is basing this on watching some NBA playoff games. I have news for you Jason -- PLAYOFF GAMES ARE EXCITING IN EVERY SPORT.

Tonight's Game 1 of the Stanley Cup playoffs was a classic.

-The rest of the NHL playoffs have been amazing.
-I'm sure the MLS playoffs will be exciting this fall.
-The last 10 NASCAR races are exciting.

The question is -- can KC fans stand a mid-season snoozefest between the KC NBA team and the Oklahoma City/New Orleans Hornets when they just shelled out $40 to go to KU-Oklahoma at Allen Fieldhouse the night before.

I don't think so and it seems the NBA doesn't think so either. They have shown no interest in KC.

-No NBA21 group exists in KC
-No NBA exhibition game has been here since Shaq played for LA and LeBron was in Junior High.
-No potential owner has said they want to come here.

The NHL has had all three of these in the past nine months.

I think either an NBA or NHL team needs to go in the Sprint Center. Lately, I haven't seen the interest from the NBA.

KC Stars asks -- What'll it be, KC? Ice or Hoops?

Steven Penn has a column in today's Metro section.


What'll it be, KC? Ice or Hoops?





Obviously, Steve Penn doesn't have an editor checking his facts.

Seriously, can we get a little more in-depth, perhaps cynical, reporting from the Star? Please.

Penn writes:

All around town — especially on local radio talk shows — the hot topic being debated is whether Kansas City would more readily embrace the NHL or the NBA.

Really? Because all I hear on local talk shows is entertainment hosts droning on and on about Larry Johnson's bad attitude, Willie Roaf's knees, David & Dan Glass' ineptitude, their own golf games or who they interviewed while working in some small market in Oklahoma.

Pittsburgh isn’t the only team AEG officials have had discussions with; it just happens to be the most public.

I call B.S. How about if the Star lists all 30 NHL teams and their current lease agreements? Then, try to find a team other than the Penguins who may relocate.

You can tell a lot from a team's lease agreement. Yet, the Star's unbelievably lazy reporting hasn't looked into this yet.

Instead, all we get is rumor and speculation taken as fact from AEG. Well, of course, AEG is going to overstate the number of NHL teams that may move. They are protecting their own "spin" for why KC needed this arena.

The NHL is further down the track in Kansas City than the NBA. And that’s because of something called NHL21. That’s a group led by Paul McGannon that is actively trying to cultivate NHL interest here.
Right now there’s not even an “NBA1” group.

Well, ok, I'll give Mr. Penn a break on this one. Very true and it makes you wonder why there isn't a NBA21 group. Could it be because the NBA just isn't that interested in KC?

Selling all of the 61 suites at the new Sprint Center well before any team ever comes here is clearly a positive development.

61? I thought there were 72 suites.
And, so does, KCMO.

So does that mean 61 of the 72 suites are sold or does that mean Steve Penn needs a fact checker?

Tinnen said she’s almost sure the NHL commissioner would prefer to keep the team in Pittsburgh.

“They are due a new arena,” Tinnen said.

Finally, something truthful from AEG. We are in the backseat for the Penguins and will remain there until the slots casino license is awarded.

In a few weeks, the Sprint Center will launch its Web site. It will be a place where fans who want one league over the other can vote.

Good gravy, is anything more ridiculous than an Internet poll? Why not commission Gallup, a company with strong Midwestern ties, to conduct a study, using a random sample that mirrors the Kansas City metro areas' demographic, to find out which league KC residents are more interested in attending? Instead, we're going to get a ballot-box stuffing Internet poll. Great.

C'mon, KC Star, please try to step up your reporting to the level Seattle residents get from the Times and Post-Intelligencer.
Tale of two arenas, here and in Denver, is revealing
Nothin' But Profit: Winning no longer key to new NBA
What happens to Key Arena if Sonics leave?
Decade-old deal bungles talks for revamped KeyArena

Sam Fingold -- Get to know him!

Sam Fingold is a name you will want to know over the coming months.

Thanks to our friends at Hockey Populace , a great hockey blog, I have a link to an interview with Sam Fingold, the real estate mogul that wants to purchase the Pittsburgh Penguins and, possibly, move them to KC.

The interview is from The Fan 590 in Toronto.

Where will Fingold take the Penguins if he purchases them?
Fingold says he's had preliminary conversations with the new arena in Kansas City and says he has had a quick conversation with Winnipeg. He says the Winnipeg Arena is a bit too small for the new NHL.

Fingold says his first choice is to stay in Pittsburgh if the Isle of Capri/Penguins group is awarded the slots license.

Does Fingold want the Penguins or any NHL team?
He says his motivation is to purchase the Pittsburgh Penguins and not just any NHL franchise. He says there are six or seven teams he could look at purchasing (which, I still don't believe). He says the Penguins are attractive for two reasons: the Penguins are a fantastic team and they are "portable."

He says he had no interest in bidding on the St. Louis Blues because they are a terrible team that needs rebuilding.

Is Las Vegas really a contender?
He says people have to shift their focus OFF of Las Vegas. He says it's not going to happen because "the casinos" don't want the competition for the entertainment dollar. They want people to stay in their casinos, see shows in their casinos and go to Championship Fights in their casinos.

The Fan 590 host doesn't agree, but when a potential NHL owner says Vegas isn't a possibility, I tend to agree with the potential owner over the talk show host.

Sam Fingold lives in Hartford and says he has no intention of putting a team in Hartford.

How Professional Sports Franchises Make $$ with their Arenas

This is a simply outstanding story about Key Arena and how it compares to the rest of the NBA.
Nothin' But Profit: Winning no longer key to new NBA

Why don't we get this kind of reporting in Kansas City?

When AEG says "six NHL teams may be unhappy with their lease" why don't we get an analysis of the 30 NHL teams and their current lease agreements.

Why does everyone seem to take AEG's word for it?

Newark's new arena for the former Scouts

Great article on the New Jersey Devils new arena in downtown Newark.

Portland JailBlazers may start looking for a new home

Blazers see sale negotiations as hopeless

Well, the struggles of the Portland Trailblazers continue. The uber-wealthy Microsoft dude Paul Allen owns the worst franchise in the NBA. Allen is trying to find a way to sell the team and the Rose Garden, controlled by those who financed the arena, together to make the franchise more attractive.

How does this effect KC and the Sprint Center? Well...

Brimmer declined to specify what those possibilities might be, but Vulcan has not ruled out selling the team, moving it or putting it in bankruptcy.

Allen has said he has lost hundreds of millions of dollars on the Trail Blazers as player payrolls ballooned in his quest for a championship. Meanwhile, with attendance at an all-time low since the move to the Rose Garden, and receiving no money from luxury box contracts, permanent signage in the building, and concerts -- which all go to the Rose Garden owners -- the team is expected to lose more than $100 million in the next three years.

Isn't Paul Allen losing $100M like you and I losing $100 bucks? And, c'mon, he spent hundreds of millions of dollars on MISGUIDED contracts for awful players. I think the 'Blazers were the only franchise that thought hundreds of millions of dollars to Zach Randolph or Darius Miles would improve their "quest for the championship".

Allen previously owned the Rose Garden but complained of the debt payments on the construction loans and turned over ownership to lenders in 2005.

The funny thing about this whole situation is that Allen OWNED the Rose Garden, operated it and his franchise so poorly that his arena management company filed for bankruptcy, renegotiated the lease with the lenders, signed the lease and now he's whining that the lease HE renegotiated isn't fair. Oh, the plight of the super rich.

Allen and Stern have both said they would like the team's future settled before the June 28 draft.

Because starting July 1 they will begin negotiations with AEG to move to Kansas City's Sprint Center in 2007 perhaps?

What would Kansas City fans do with one of the worst baseball teams and one of the worst NBA franchises in the same city? At least the Pittsburgh Penguins have some hope for future success with Sidney Crosby, Evgeny Malkin and Marc-Andre Fleury.

I don't think the Blazers are improving anytime soon. There is no LeBron James in the 2006 NBA draft. Tyrus Thomas, LaMarcus Aldridge and Adam Morrison are nice players, but none are going to turn a franchise around in two seasons.

Hamilton, Ont. group gets in line to purchase the Penguins

Supply meet demand.

The supply for NHL teams is very small and the demand seems to be high. According to this article, a group in Hamilton, Ontario wants to purchase the franchise and move them to Hamilton, Ont.

Hamilton is the 8th largest metropolitan area in Canada with a population of about 715,000. It is the second largest metro in Canada without an NHL team. (Quebec City is larger, however, Quebec City, Hamilton and Winnipeg are all about the same size)

There are plenty of people in Hamilton (and St. Catharine's, too) to support an NHL team. The big problem for Hamilton as an NHL city is:

1. Too close to Buffalo and Toronto. It's only 45 miles from Toronto and 65 miles from Buffalo.


2. The arena -- Copps Coliseum was built in 1985 and seats 17,500.

Hamilton won't add the US TV households the NHL may be looking for, but the people there are hockey crazed.

People in line to purchase the Penguins:

Larry Gottesdiener, Real Estate mogul, Hartford, Conn. -- Willing to relocate the franchise to Hartford.

David and Sam Fingold, Real Estate moguls, Toronto/Hartford. -- Willing to relocate the franchise to KC.

Hamilton Group(The primary backer is anonymous, however it is most likely Jim Balsillie, the CEO of Research in Motion -- you know the Blackberry people), -- Waterloo, Ont. -- Willing to relocate the team to Hamilton, Ontario

KC Star story on Penguins to KC

A day after a story in the Toronto Star (see below), here is the link to Randy Covitz' story.
March of (hockey) Penguins to KC?

And, now, here is my breakdown.

All-in-all a good story. However, I have a couple of problems with it.

"The Penguins play in antiquated Mellon Arena, and their lease expires at the end of the 2006-07 season. The franchise has struggled in recent years with revenues and attendance"

OK, yes, the team has struggled financially, but the Penguins FAR from struggled with attendance in 2005-06. The Penguins were #20 in NHL attendance at 15,804 per game which is 93.2% of capacity. The league average was 91.2% of capacity. Remember, the Penguins may have had Sidney Crosby last season, but they were HORRIBLE, second worst record in the NHL. Putting butts in 93.2% of seats for a really bad team is pretty good.

"The main hope for funding a new arena in Pittsburgh would be through granting the city one of the state’s 14 licenses for slot machines. That decision by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board is due by the end of the year. All three companies applying for a license have promised to chip in money toward a new arena. Isle of Capri Casinos has gone a step further, saying it would pay $290 million for a new arena if it wins the license."

Yes, that is the main hope, but Covitz fails to mention the Governor's Plan B. Click here to read more about it.

In a nutshell, the Governor's Plan B calls for upfront money from the Penguins, plus a few million per year. Then, $7 mil per year from whomever is awarded the slots license, money from naming rights and paying off the rest of the $291 mil bond from a tax on the state's slots parlors.

The Plan B still has not received buy-in from Harrah's/Forest City, one of the potential slots licensees.

"He also speaks almost daily with Paul McGannon, president of NHL21, the local group dedicated to bringing the NHL to Kansas City."

OK, this is good for KC. McGannon really is doing a good job, especially since he and Tom Reiger stopped talking about the CHL.

Torontonian wants to move Penguins to KC

Wow! You knew there was going to be a twist. A Toronto businessman, David Fingold, and his son Sam, want to buy the Pittsburgh Penguins and move the franchise to KC, if Isle of Capri isn't awarded the Pittsburgh-area slots license.

The Penguins are currently for sale.
Torontonian may move Penguins
Fingold might take club to Kansas City
Team's `great investment,' says magnate


I was starting to get complancent, as were many Penguins fans, because it looked like Pittsburgh solved their arena issue. And, that no NHL team may be available to move into the Sprint Center in 2007.

Not so fast.

"What we would get with the Penguins would be an affordable franchise and a portable one," Sam Fingold said in an interview. "We think this could be a great investment."

Fingold says the franchise is worth $120 - $130 mil if it stays in Pittsburgh, but $150 mil if a potential owner buys it to move it.

The Fingolds are Canadian real estate developers.

The article also says that at least six franchises are up for sale.

As the NHL moves into the playoff mode, after the first season following the league's season-long lockout, investment bankers who specialize in the pro sports business say that, strong attendance figures and TV ratings aside, at least a half-dozen franchises are up for sale.

While the owners of teams such as the Atlanta Thrashers, Nashville Predators and Phoenix Coyotes would certainly entertain buyout offers, the Penguins may present the most compelling package for interested parties.

Which is simply stunning because of the NHL's new CBA and that Atlanta, Phoenix and Nashville operate the building in which they play, therefore generating revenue from events other than hockey games. They would not operate the building in KC.

I guess it goes to show that a guy on the outside of professional sports looking in has no idea what these mega-wealthy folks are thinking/plotting/scheming.

What would happen to Key Arena in Seattle?

OK, this article is bad for KC (that is if you want an NBA team here).

If city officials in Seattle, who are dragging their feet on a deal to renovate 10-year old Key Arena, read this article they may realize that renovating the arena for the Sonics is their only choice.

What happens to KeyArena if Sonics leave?

Basically, if the Sonics leave the Seattle area completely, Key Arena may be alright as a concert facility and home to the Seattle Thunderbirds, a Junior 'A' level hockey team. If a new building is built in Renton or Bellevue, Key Arena may as well be raised.

They'd also likely need to sign a second minor-league team to help the Thunderbirds hockey team playing there now fill out the calendar, according to the committee's report

If a guy by the name of Richard Adler calls, run away screaming...

Interesting part of the story as it pertains to KC.

Some of the old facilities become throwaways, white elephants that sit empty or underused. Most are demolished; others stay afloat by booking concerts, high school graduations, church assemblies, tractor pulls and minor sports.

It's created a big problem for city officials.

I guess the American Royal will keep Kemper from being a "throwaway, white elephant". It'll be interesting to see how our two arenas get along.

Adult hockey in Kansas City

Play hockey? Or, want to try it?

Both adult leagues are gearing up for the Summer session. The Summer session starts the first week in June, is about 12 weeks long and generally costs around $150 - $175 per player.

There is a league for every skill level whether you played in college, high school or have only played with your kid in the driveway.

KC Hockey
Pepsi Ice Midwest hockey
(links are on the right also)

If you don't want to join a league and would rather play shinny (proper term for pick-up hockey), go to AMF Ice Chateau on Sunday nights.

I'm warning you. Don't try it unless you have at least one night a week to play. Once you try it, you will be like me, a hopeless hockey addict.

Don't have gear? Well, you're online now, just go to www.greatskate.com or www.hockeymonkey.com and buy your gear. Or, head over to Nill Brothers on 119th.

The lowdown on the American Hockey League

Let's get something straight.

The AHL Board of Governors' goal is to have 30 teams, with 30 different owners with each team affiliated one-to-one with an NHL team.

Currently, the AHL has achieved one of these goals. There are 30 AHL teams with 30 different owners. However, not all of these teams are "active" or have homes. Right now, it looks as if the the AHL will have 27 teams in 2006-07 with three teams "dormant" for the upcoming season.

The deadline for establishing a team in the 2006-07 season is May 15. We will know in the next two weeks how many teams will be in the 2006-07 AHL.

The three dormant franchises are:

Utah -- privately owned -- Rumor is that the owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers purchased the franchise and will move them to Cleveland in 2007-08. This should be announced at the May 15 AHL Board of Governors' meeting.

Edmonton -- Oilers own and operate the franchise and are looking for a new home.

Cincinnati
-- privately owned -- the owner, Pete Robinson, also owns the Cincinnati Gardens. Last Winter, Robinson started a campaign to get enough season ticket holders to bring the AHL back to Cincinnati in the form of the Railraiders who would play at the Gardnes. They didn't make their goal and the Cincinnati franchise will remain dormant and is, most likely, for sale. www.railraiders.com


The AHL is a fantastic league. If you need convincing,

from www.theahl.com

"As the 2005-06 season kicked off on Wednesday, there were a total of 534 American Hockey League graduates spread out over 30 National Hockey League team rosters.

Better than three of every four NHL’ers on opening night were AHL alumni (76 percent),"

Hockey is not like baseball. In baseball, many of the top up-and-comers player AA baseball, i.e. the Royals in 2006 where Billy Butler, Chris Lubanski and Alex Gordon are playing AA. Many Major League Baseball teams treat their AAA farm club as a holding tank for older guys that can help in a pinch. The Royals brought up veteran Kerry Robinson from AAA Omaha.

In hockey, if a top prospect is 20 or older, he is, most likely, going to play in the AHL before being called up to the NHL. A few players, especially goalies, go to the ECHL to get extra ice time, but not many.

If a prospect is younger than 20, they, most likely, are playing in a Canadian Major Junior league (OHL, QMJHL or WHL) or with their NCAA team, like Hobey Baker winner Matt Carle, who was called up to San Jose after his season with Denver University ended.

Surprisingly, the NBA is finally catching on that a major, affiliate minor league is the best way to develop 18 - 20 year old athletes. The Lakers now own their own 'D' league team.
Lakers buy 'D' league team

Of course, the NBA continues to shoot itself in the foot at the same meeting by outlawing tights.


Now, c'mon, why in the world would you outlaw an article of athletic clothing that may help your league's players avoid and recover from hamstring injuries. Some of these NBA courts are placed on top of ice rinks and if a player has a nagging injury the chill of the arena may continue to aggrevate that injury.

Orlando' Sports Future

A three-part series in the Orlando Sentinel about Orlando's sports future. To be honest, I haven't had a chance to read the whole thing, yet.

I'll post it here first, then comment later. We are mentioned.

Other cities are on the hunt for an NBA franchise, including Kansas City, Mo., which is building a $250 million arena hoping to land a team by the time its doors open in 2007.

Another UHL team bites the dust

My first post on this blog generated this response,

"KC won't get an NHL team, live with it! What I thought was pathetic was that last year I came from St. Louis to see our River Otters play your Outlaws and the fans there, with their turned up noses at the UHL made me sick. You ingrate people haven't had pro hockey in 3 years to that point and just because it wasn't triple A level it got snubbed, sad to say the least."

So, now that the River Otters are folding does that mean that St. Louis' hockey fans have "turned up noses" and are "ingrates".


Shanahan pulls plug on the River Otters


No. What that means is that the UHL is a product that just isn't right for markets like Kansas City and St. Louis. It's a fine product for places like Fort Wayne or Rockford or Quad Cities.

Ultimately, St. Louis may be the wrong size city to support a minor league team such as the River Otters. A bigger city, such as Chicago, can accommodate a team because of the many millions of people there. And smaller cities, such as Fort Wayne, Ind., can support a UHL team because there is no big-league alternative.

Places like Kansas City and St. Louis have too many other entertainment options to plunk down good money to watch bad hockey. Smaller communities respond better to minor league sports. The River Otters averaged less than 2,500 fans this season. I guarantee that number would be more than double if the team in St. Charles was an AHL team (an ECHL team, affilated with Peoria and the Blues would draw 4,000+).

Look, it's NEVER the FANS fault when a professional sports team folds. It is the OWNERS' fault. Just as it isn't the casual diners' fault when a restaurant fails or consumers' fault when a clothing store folds or travelers' fault when Vanguard Airlines folded.

This market simply wasn't right for the UHL, especially a team that was rushed to market and poorly operated. I told people that worked at Kemper Arena the UHL wasn't the right product before the team was ever announced and that they should hold out for the AHL.

Now, hopefully, we can get an AHL team in the Sprint Center and see some terrific young players come through town.

Speaking of the UHL, how about the FBI targeting Danbury Trashers owner James Galante in a FBI racketeering investigation. Galante owns numerous trash companies in Connecticut.

Minor league hockey official, players, subpoenaed in trash probe

"With more than 60 companies named in FBI documents, the trash probe is shaping up as one of the largest ever to target organized crime in the industry."

HOCKEY TALK RETURNS TO KC

Not since Blades announcer, and all-around great guy, Bob Kaser had a successful show on KMBZ has KC had a really good hockey show. Now, "Drop the Puck" will air Friday afternoons at 3 p.m. on Hot Talk 1510.

Justin Scholtes, assistant program director at Union Broadcasting, will host and produce a one hour radio call-in program to highlight the game of hockey. The program premieres Friday, April 28th and will run through the Stanley Cup playoffs in June.

"I've been working on this program for quite some time," said Scholtes. "Now, is the right time to launch it."

The one hour, fan-interactive format will focus on everything from the NHL, AHL and other North American minor leagues. In addition, the program will discuss local youth and amateur teams and the business of hockey in Kansas City. (see the links on the right side of the page for more info about KC-area hockey).

Hot Talk 1510 is also available via live stream at www.1510.com.

This is a great addition to efforts being made to build and maintain Kansas City's hockey fan base. Justin plays in local adult hockey leagues and is a great advocate for our game at one of Kansas City's most influential media outlets. Union Broadcasting also owns Sports Radio 810. He is an important voice within Union Broadcasting's walls for getting the hockey message out. The noon show host on 810 is a hockey fan, but the afternoon host has a severe case of Midwestern myopia (if it isn't Chiefs, Royals or Big XII, he doesn't think it exsits or has a bias against it) and getting time on the afternoon show will be an uphill struggle for any team (NHL, AHL, or even NBA). Justin's influence will be very important.

Listen beginning this Friday!

Great job, Justin.

History of Seattle's arena problems

Really interesting article on Seattle's Key Arena and the terrible lease deal the Sonics have.
Decade-old deal bungles talks for revamped KeyArena

It's terrible because it is detrimental to both the team and the city. The team doesn't get enough revenue from luxury boxes, ticket sales and naming rights.

The bond for the 1995 renovations is supposed to be paid for with arena revenues from ticket sales, etc. The first four years the city received a surplus. Since the 1999 NBA lockout, the city has had to cover debt costs out of the general fund.

See, terrible for both sides.

Still curious to see how this plays out.

The team is probably for sale and basketball hasn't been very successful in the Pacific Northwest, unless you are a Gonzaga fan. However, as I will always say. It is not the FAN's FAULT if a team fails.

It is the OWNER'S FAULT or the LEAGUE'S FAULT.

Both cities (Portland and Seattle) have a rich hoops tradition that has produced thrills, championships and sold-out buildings. If the NBA fails here, it can fail most anywhere. That is a prospect that should scare the hell out of the shareholders (NBA owners), not because of what fans in the Northwest might think, but because it diminishes the value of their investments.

The North American market has reached its saturation point for cash-ravenous pro sports teams. There are few, if any, new cities that are worth the risk for an NBA that is floundering where it flourished.

Even Oklahoma City, which has responded well as a rental home for the orphaned New Orleans Hornets, doesn't have the population or the corporate base to sustain long term an NBA payroll.

Neither is KC. The NBA doesn't have the "cost-certainty" of the hard-cap NHL.

However, there seems to be a much better chance that the Sonics or Blazers move to KC than the Penguins. Portland and Seattle's arena problems are in flux, Pittsburgh's seems to have settled.

Nick Collison plays for Seattle. He would be an instant draw for half of the basketball fans in KC (Mizzou fans would probably still boo him.)

How will Pitt. get a new arena?

It's easy for those of us in Kansas City to say, "We'll have a new arena in 2007. An NHL or NBA team will move here." It's also easy for those of us in KC to say, "I think it will be the Penguins, they have an old outdated arena."

However, what are people in Pittsburgh saying. Well, Bob Smizik from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette agrees with me.

Which slots plan is best?

"It seems pretty clear that either by the Isle of Capri plan or by the funding process in Plan B proposed by Gov. Rendell that there will be a new arena in Pittsburgh. The Penguins probably will stay"

This is an interesting column about which slots casino plan is the "right" plan.

ESPN's John Buccigross disagrees with me

ESPN's John Buccigross writes a weekly hockey column for ESPN.com. It is, quite honestly, the best hockey column out there.

I love Buccigross and wish he was part of OLN/NBC's television package.

In this week's column, Buccigross thinks the Pens WILL move. Here are his interesting answers to e-mail questions.

John,

All right, with all this talk of slots licenses and Plan B's, I can't take it anymore. Just give it to me straight: do you think that the Pens are going to stay in Pittsburgh? I know there's really no way to be sure, but it'd just be comforting for us die-hard fans to feel like someone's with us on this.

Peace, Love, and Pens,
Nancy
Pittsburgh

My instinct says no. Bored rich men with money and real estate love the action, and they will risk a major investment because that is how they operate. And they will usually invest in a hot market. However, this isn't the '90s anymore. States and cities don't throw outrageous money at professional sports teams. So, if a wealthy person cuts a deal quickly, or an arena is already available, the Penguins are safe. But you can feel the sharks circling and you don't sense a palpable enthusiasm to keep the Penguins in Pennsylvania. It reminds me of the New England Patriots when they were all but gone to St. Louis. Robert Kraft came in and saved the day. Now, New England is a gigantic market compared to Pittsburgh, but Pittsburgh can be saved by a prince or a casino. Casinos seem to be America's answer to just about everything these days. Personally, I find the Penguins being saved by a casino a little creepy. But, as Chuck Noll used to say, "Whatever it takes."

John,

I saw this article floating around. "Developer May Move Penguins to Hartford." I always have to support New England states, so I'm rooting for it. I was wondering if you think (a) Hartford is a viable location for an NHL franchise; and (b) How much of this rumor is an effort to force the city of Pittsburgh to pony some dough for a new arena? Do you think there's any chance at all that Hartford could be the new Minnesota?

Matt K.
Massachusetts

Absolutely. There are about 3.5 million people in Connecticut. Springfield, Mass., has another 150,000. There are enough people. And the grass roots of amateur hockey is strewn throughout the state, from In House to NCAA Division I. The travel is easy on the players: It's close to Canada, and rookies can billet at Trey Wingo's house. The Penguins are an unrestricted free agent. The NHL is a strong international brand with almost a century of history. Communities and arena owners with only NBA, or no NBA team at all, are salivating at having an NHL team with such high-end young players who will be good for a long time. Hartford, the new Minnesota? Not quite. The hockey is high-quality and plentiful in Connecticut, and a riverside arena would be slammin', but there is no other place in the U.S. that even approaches hockey in Minnesota.

We'll see. I think, with Sidney Crosby, M-A Fleury and Evgeny Malkin creating new enthusiasm and the potential for a new arena, the Pens will stay.

Penn. Gaming Control Board Meets the Public

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board held their first public hearings about the Pittsburgh slots parlor license yesterday.

Ladies and Gentleman of Kansas City, in homage to Dan Rather, I am ready to call this race over. You can keep hoping this situation will crumble, but I am going to declare it now.

THE PENGUINS WILL NOT BE MOVING.

Here is Mike Prisuta column in the Pittsbrugh Tribune

Penguins, people have spoken

The Penguins Ken Sawyer said. "There is no other plan (referring to the Pens/Isle of Capri Plan) that has surfaced that guarantees the Penguins will be here. Unfortunately for you people, you may be deciding the fate of the Penguins."

"Sawyer was responding Tuesday afternoon to Mayor Bob O'Connor's contention yesterday morning that the arena issue had been "solved" and Allegheny County chief executive Dan Onorato "declaring victory" in the wake of Forest City (Harrah's) announcing Plan B was acceptable to them if it was acceptable to the Penguins."

But, c'mon, what is Sawyer going to do? "Yeah, we're good with either plan." No f'n way.

He is going to vehemently defend his position. He is going protect his investment and IofC commitment to the Penguins.

This is a done deal. Even if Isle of Capril doesn't get the license, Pittsburgh will get a new arena and the Pens will stay.

Don't get me wrong. KC will still come up as a viable alternative. But, sadly, it will just be leverage to get the best possible deal out of the "Plan B" arena.

The NBA doesn't interest me, but I think it's coming; either the Kansas City Blazers or Kansas City Sonics.

And, in the end, we hockey fans in KC will be treated to the AHL, the league we should have been all along (rather than the short detour through the UHL bus league).

Just for more reference, here is an article in today's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Penguins loyalists rally for casino-arena plan

Remember, these fans supported a complete loser. The Pens were awful, and yet, 15,804 per night (93.3% of capacity) turned out to watch this lousy team.

Stanley Cup fearless prediction

Who will win the Stanley Cup?

It's time for the greatest playoff in professional sports. The Stanley Cup Playoffs are a challenge of will, stamina, determination, toughness and superior athletic ability. Those of use who have played the game know how difficult it can be to play every other day for two months.

Now, it all begins.

Well, #7 and #8 seeds rarely, if ever, win the Cup. Eliminate: defending Champ Tampa Bay, Montreal, Edmonton and Colorado.

Rookie goaltenders do not win the Cup. Eliminate: Nashville, Buffalo and the Rangers.

Who knows if Hasek will be back or if he will be sharp. Too many questions and Ray Emery is not a Cup winning goaltender. Eliminate: Ottawa

In the East it could be Carolina, New Jersey or Philadelphia
In the West it could be Detroit, Dallas, Calgary, San Jose or Anaheim.

Coaching makes a big difference which is why I will eliminate Carolina and Anaheim. Laviollette and Carlyle are a terrific coaches, but neither has experience deep in the playoffs. Tortorella didn't either, but I don't think lightening strikes twice.

New Jersey or Philly -- Brodeur still has it. NJ
Detroit, Dallas, Calgary or San Jose -- There is no strong case against any of these four teams. San Jose is very hot. Dallas has a great goaltender as does Calgary. Detroit is unbelievable efficient and Mike Babcock may be the best coach in the NHL. I'm going to go with Calgary. They have the recent experience deep in the playoffs and Kiprusoff is the best goaltender in the NHL.

Calgary over New Jersey for the 2006 Stanley Cup.

KC future home to Edmonton AHL affiliate?

A writer who covers the AHL for the Peoria Journal-Star says the AHL and the Edmonton Oilers are looking at KC as a possible home to an AHL team.

AHL MUSICAL CHAIRS

NHL Edmonton's search for a farm club has turned toward Kansas City, say league sources, as the Oilers protracted talks with Quad Cities seem to be losing momentum.

Since it looks as if no NHL teams will be relocating and that at least two NBA teams (Portland and Seattle) might be moving, then there is probably some legitimacy to this.

I could see the Kansas City Sonics (NBA) and Kansas City Oilers (AHL) playing in the Sprint Center.

I, of course, wouldn't spend a dime on NBA games and most likely purchase season ticket to the AHL. Regardless, I think this would be a good combo, along with the Brigade, for AEG and the Sprint Center.

Frank Boal says eight NHL teams looking to relocate

OK, so I have little respect for local TV talking heads in the first place, but Frank Boal has now re-inforced my lack of respect.

Today, I listened to his radio show while I cut the yard on a gorgeous Good Friday in KC. He says up to eight NHL teams are looking to leave their current market.

You see, this is why I have this blog. The amount of misinformation in the KC media is astounding.

Is this guy nuts? Does he know there is a new CBA in the NHL which allows a team in ANY market to successfully compete?

I must shoot holes in this statement, quickly.
BOSTON, CHICAGO, MONTREAL, DETROIT, NY RANGERS, TORONTO = Original Six teams -- WILL NEVER MOVE

ST LOUIS, PHILADELPHIA, SAN JOSE, DALLAS, PHOENIX, MINNESOTA
, VANCOUVER, COLORADO = New Arenas or franchises that are so stable they would not move.

Teams owned by local owners (real hometown guys): OTTAWA, BUFFALO, ANAHEIM, WASHINGTON

Owners committed to their markets because they either have a sweetheart lease or own and operate the building: CAROLINA*, ATLANTA, COLUMBUS

New arena on tap: NY ISLANDERS, NEW JERSEY

Well, I'm down to six. The teams in Canada aren't moving: EDMONTON, CALGARY

That leaves these four teams: FLORIDA, PITTSBURGH, TAMPA BAY, NASHVILLE

Pittsburgh will be on or off the list by the end of this year

Where does Frank Boal come up with eight teams? I can only come up with four and I'm not familiar with Tampa Bays situation, but I'd bet they're pretty stable in that market.

Hartford Courant says KC ahead of Hartford for NHL

A nice article about KC in the Hartford Courant.

K.C. Has Edge In NHL Pursuit

Nothing really earth shattering in this article.

NHL21 is trying to lure an NHL team to KC. We have a new arena. The luxury boxes are sold out. Kevin Gray says something incoherent.

Blah, blah, blah.

There is a mention of AEG being a powerful force in the NHL because they are already "in the tent", a term that owners use when referring to other owners in the insulated world of professional sports, I guess.

However, is AEG really that big of a boon for KC's arena? Professional sports these days is all about "revenue streams". Teams that own their own arena, or have a sweetheart deal from the local municipality (like Carolina has with Raleigh), are able to succeed. Those that don't have these sweetheart leases, like the Portland Trailblazers and Seattle SuperSonics, are not succeeding and looking to leave their current homes.

Will AEG give another NHL ownership group a "sweetheart deal"? I'm not so sure they will because they will want to recoup their $50 million investment. A favorable lease to a professional sports team, NHL or NBA, may preclude them from quickly doing so.

Kansas City has a local investment group for the NHL?

According to KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh, there is a local group of investors in Kansas City looking to buy the Penguins.

(KDKA) PITTSBURGH KDKA Investigator Andy Sheehan has learned that there's another suitor for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

But unlike investors in Kansas City and Hartford, Connecticut -- who would move the team -- this investor wants to keep the team here.

Really? I'm not sure who Andy Sheehan is investigating or exactly what he is investigating, but I have never heard of a local group of Kansas City investors.

Sure, we have an arena. And, sure, we would like to have a NHL or NBA team. But, I don't think we have a group of "investors".

Hartford -- from a Pittsburgh paper

This article actually mentions KC -- as if Hartford has passed us by.

Hartford suitor ready to woo Penguins

First it was Kansas City, and now it's Hartford, Conn., that wants the team if it can't get a new arena in Pittsburgh.

Lawrence Gottesdiener, CEO of Massachusetts-based real estate developer Northland Investment Corp., said Thursday he's looking to buy the Penguins, either to keep them in Pittsburgh with a new arena -- or move them to Hartford, where he is lobbying state officials to build an arena.


"(The Penguins) are an excellent entry point to get into the NHL," Gottesdiener said. "We've said that we're in this to buy an NHL team."

More on Hartford

Hartford Developer Shops For NHL Team

"We're out there looking for a team," said Gottesdiener, head of Northland Investment Corp., which owns roughly $500 million worth of real estate in Hartford. "Hartford is my goal, but you can't bring a professional sports team to a secondary market in this day and age without a brand new, beautiful arena.

"So if that's not available here, then we'll own it somewhere else."

Gottesdiener isn't the only hockey suitor - Kansas City, Houston and Winnipeg are cities with new or soon-to-be opened arenas in search of a team.

Should an NHL team not be in Gottesdiener's future, he's willing to be flexible, he said.

"Right now we're focusing on the NHL," he said. "But if we find ourselves frustrated in that regard, the search will be expanded [to include the NBA]."

Hartford back in the NHL before KC?

www.hockeypopulace.blogspot.com sent us a great link.

http://www.wtic.com/

There is podcast interview about bringing the NHL back to Hartford. It is a four-part series. Absolutely fascinating interviews.

This is a must listen if you are interested in whether KC gets an NHL team.

Hartford and KC are going about this in completely different ways.

Hartford = has local owners looking to buy a team now
KC = no local ownership group

Hartford = No new arena -- only the Hartford Civic Center. Would pursue a new arena with the commitment of an NHL (or NBA) team relocating
KC = has a new arena under construction with no NBA or NHL commitment

Northland Investment Corporation CEO Larry Gottesdiener is really committed to bringing an NHL team back to Hartford. As a matter of fact, he says he is pursuing the purchase of an NHL team right now. Gottesdiener is a New London, CT native and his company has already been involved in the revitalization of Hartford's downtown.

Also, Howard Baldwin, formerly the Managing General Partner of the Whalers, wants to bring an NHL team back. The guy made a killing as the producer of Ray, which won an Oscar and he wants to get back into professional sports.

Both say they have no reason to believe the NHL has plans for expansion. But, Baldwin did say that what Gary Bettman and NHL Board of Governors did was give small markets like Hartford the ability to compete.

Gottesdiener's plan is to purchase an NHL (or to a much lesser extent NBA) team now and move them to Hartford. He says his ideal timetable would be get a team and the financial underpinnings of a new arena by fall of 2006. He says a more realistic timetable is to construct a new arena and begin play in that arena in fall of 2008.

Baldwin wants to take more of a slow growth approach by purchasing an AHL team, renaming them the Whalers and waiting for the right opportunity get back into the NHL.

Unlike KC, Gottesdiener's Hartford group say they want the NHL and would, possibly, settle for the NBA. From all accounts, KC doesn't care which (though I would rarely, if ever, purchase a ticket to an NBA game when I can see better basketball at Allen Fieldhouse).

So, Hartford has two advocates; Gottesdiener and Howard Baldwin. We, KC, have one, AEG.

Well, what do you know, I had Hartford on the list of possible cities two months ago.

Penquins officials agree to talk about 'Plan B'

Well, another blow to KC's chances of getting the Pittsburgh Penguins to relocate to the Sprint Center.
Penquins officials agree to talk about 'Plan B'

Penguins officials are planning to talk this week with Pittsburgh and Allegheny County leaders about an alternate plan to build an arena, a spokesman said.

If they are willing to talk, I believe they are, most likely, going to find a solution.

The fees the Penguins will have to pay for the plan 'B' are not that much higher than what they would pay for the IofC arena. They are going to pay $3M under their own/IofC plan. And, under the Plan 'B', the Penguins still receive some revenue from non-hockey related revenue streams. The problem with the Plan 'B' isn't the Penguins. It is whether the other two proposals (Forest City/Harrah's and Don Barden) will agree to the $7M payment each year for 30 years.

And, if you think the local sports talk shows were acting irresponsibly over our stadium questions on the April 4 ballot with their petty bickering, you should hear what is going on in Pittsburgh over the Penguins/slots casino proposals.

Slots debtate tunrs into uncivil war

Can we just start pursuing the AHL now? The Edmonton Oilers are looking for a home for the AHL affiliate that they own and operate.

Great column on Pittsburgh's arena situation

Nice column in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review about Thursday's announcement.

Still, if you believe in the need for the arena and the Penguins in the region, there's reason to be encouraged.

The alternative plan would cost the team $8.5 million up front and $4 million annually over 30 years.

The Penguins would prefer to spend nothing, but if they can afford $25 million for Sergei Gonchar they can afford this.

Rendell's plan takes money away from the Gaming and Tourism fund, so taxpayers are, I suppose, indirectly paying for Pittsburgh's new arena. Whereas, the Penguins/IofC plan is 100% private money.

Still, it looks like a deal will get done.

Is the Penguins plan still the best plan? Perhaps.

Rendell, O'Connor and Onorato insist their plan requires no public money, but there's $7 million a year over 30 years included from the Gaming Economic Development and Tourism Fund, $210 million, in other words, that could serve the public elsewhere.

An eventual alternative awardee -- Harrah's, for example -- would be responsible for $7.5 million annually over 30 years, a total of $225 million). It would be $290 million in 90 days from Isle of Capri.

Good news for Penguins fans -- Bad news for Kansas City landing an NHL team

I told you Thursday was a big day.

It appears the Pittsburgh Penguins will not relocate to Kansas City or any other city. With Governor Ed Rendell's announcement yesterday, the Pittsburgh Penguins will stay in the Steel City regardless of whether the Penguins/IofC are awarded the slots parlor license.

The Penguins have a great plan for building a new arena in Pittsburgh. The plan involves private money from slots casino revenue funding a new multi-purpose arena in Pittsburgh.

But, what if the Penguins/IofC aren't awarded the slots license.

Now, there is a Plan B and, surprisingly, it's palatable.

Penguins officials react cautiously to Rendell's backup arena plan

Rendell's arena plan hinges on Pens, casinos

The governor's proposal would require annual debt payments of $18.56 million for 30 years. That money would include a voluntary $7.5 million annual contribution from whichever group receives the slots license; $7 million a year from the state new Gaming Economic Development and Tourism fund derived from slots revenue; $2.9 million a year from the Penguins'; and $1.1 million a year from naming rights and food and beverage sales at the arena.

"There is no free lunch, but with reasonable contributions from key players, this arena can be built with no taxpayer dollars," Rendell said.

Really a decent plan. The sports franchise that is the major tennant of the arena pays 17% of the cost of the arena. Relatively low by today's standards, but still seven percentage points higher than what the R's are putting in the Arrowhead/Kaufman renovation project.

And, granted, the other two casino companies have to approved their payments to the arena, but, all-in-all, this is a palatable plan for any municipality. I wish we could get our casinos to kick in some money for new/renovated stadiums.

So, what now?

Well, now another NHL team would have to desire a relocation. I supppose both Penguins plans could fall through, but, it seems, Pittsburgh, Alleghany County and Pennsylvania politicians are willing to find a way to get this done.

With the new CBA and hard $39 million cap, I simply don't see a team being so unprofitable that they would want to move.

I'll be very interested to hear what AEG has up their sleeve.
There is an opportunity to get into the AHL every year. AEG knows the AHL is a good product. They own the Manchester Monarchs, one of the most successful teams in the AHL.

Let's do it. The AHL is great hockey.

Pittsburgh arena is hot button political issue in Governor's race -- Portland news, too

What's the latest?

Here's my take.

It's looking bad for KC's chances of luring the Penguins. On March 28, 2006, I say it is 75% the Pens stay and 25% the Pens relocate.

Portland is also in trouble, but I don't think they are going to move, either.

It is really hitting the fan in Pittsburgh.

Pens' allies rip other casino plan

Today, Lynn Swann, potential Republican candidate for Governor, will hold a press conference to endorse the Penguins/IofC proposal for a new multi-purpose arena in the Steel City

Genius.

Because tomorrow incumbent Governor Ed Rendell will announce his "Plan B" for an arena should the gaming/slots license go to a party other than Penguins/IofC.

Rendell's proposal involved public money. The proposal Swann supports does not.

Swann's handlers are making a very shrewd political move by endorsing the Penguins/IofC plan one day before Rendell's announcement.

Also, it is VERY obvious that Forest City/Harrah's, the group that is the Penguins prime rival fo r the slots casino, padded their numbers to astronomic proportions on their application.

Is there really any way a Pittsburgh slots casino would bring in more than double our Harrah's casino?

How does this effect Kansas City?

Well, it's fairly obvious that Pittsburgh/Alleghany County is going to do whatever it takes to get a new arena. It doesn't look like the Penguins will relocate.

PORTLAND
Portland may relocate because Paul Allen has a bad arena deal after his arena management company filed for bankruptcy.

Paul Allen is having discussions with the city over a new lease agreement. The one the Blazers have now doesn't allow for any revenue from the "money making" seats on the lower level and club seats. The lease was restructured when Paul Allen's arena management company filed for bankruptcy.
Allen calls Blazers' discussions with city, mayor 'productive'

But, a Portland columnist is calling Allen's bluff...saying the bondholders flopped a nut straight and hold all the cards.

See how Mr. Allen blows his own bluff

"I believe Allen’s motive is to foster an atmosphere of uncertainty around the team that would panic the bondholders into giving him back the arena at a reduced price. At one point during the Sunday interview, Allen raised the specter of the team moving out of Portland, but when asked to give a scenario that could allow such a move, Allen offered up the possibility of selling the team. Sorry, Paul, that’s covered in the Exclusive Site Agreement you personally signed with the city. You even guaranteed that if you sold the team, the new owners couldn’t move the franchise."

Best alternative is for Allen to sell the Blazers according to former team president

"Once the Rose Garden opened, there were some pretty good years. Then I started noticing changes in the way the Blazers managed their business. These changes were not only reflected in the poor character of many of the players they brought in, but also in how management responded (or didn't respond). "

SEE!!! As I have said all along, it's not the building in which a team plays, but the way it is run that makes it successful. Do you hear that David Glass?

This is why it is ridiculous to blame fans for at teams' failure i.e. the KC Knights, Attack or Outlaws.

"The best solution for all concerned would be for Paul Allen to sell the team to people who understand that owning Portland's only major league team is a privilege. I would imagine any buyer would insist that his purchase is subject to once again aligning the interests of the Blazers and the Rose Garden.

In that case, I would encourage the city and the lenders to work with a new owner and find a solution that can work for all parties. In return, the Portland community should expect a new owner who will be the caretaker of the community's franchise, whose mission is to make Portland proud. If they do that, the financial part will take care of itself. "

Other cities aren't too small -- Why are we?

I don't understand it. In the Kansas City Star, Randy Covitz says other cities are lining up to take the Royals and Chiefs if the April 4 stadium vote fails. In the article, he writes that it is because the other cities have pending stadium deals, yet ground is not broken on any single one of them.


Others eye KC’s prizes

"So in a mirror image of how Kansas City is monitoring distressed arena situations in the NBA and NHL in hopes of discreetly attracting a basketball or hockey team to the Sprint Center when it opens in 2007, other cities are whispering about the availability of the Royals and Chiefs for new stadiums they have on their drawing boards."

Yet, the public sentiment doesn't seem to be a mirror image. In this article there is no mention of whether these cities are "big enough" to support the team -- only that they want to build a new stadium to lure a team.

The general sentiment in Kansas City is that we can't support an NHL (or NBA) team if one comes here. Unlike other cities "proposed" buildings, we have already broken ground on an arena.

KC -- can't support NHL (or NBA) because we're "not big enough" -- an arena under construction

Other cities -- can support a team because they MIGHT construct an arena -- no mention of "not big enough"

See the problem here? It makes no sense to me. Why won't we be successful with our new building yet other cities will be successful IF they get a new building?

I think it's just the general malaise and pessimism of Kansas City residents. It's sad really.

As always, Randy's article has a factual error showing he didn't take five minutes to www.google.com 2000 Census data.

"The Portland/Vancouver, Wash., area, with a metropolitan population of about 2.3 million, is the largest community in the country with just one major-league team,"

Portland-Vancouver, according to the 2000 Census is 1.9 million not 2.3 million, which makes it only 91,000 people larger than KC.

Here's a link to a spreadsheet that shows how wrong Randy is.
Metro area size spreadsheet

Riverside-San Bernidino-Ontario is the largest community without a "major league" team. Does that mean that area should have one? Since Portland is the 25th largest community, are they entitled two "major league" teams. What about Buffalo, the 43rd largest metro area? Perhaps they should be stripped of one of their two teams since it is the smallest community with two teams.

And, Randy doesn't mention, at all, the fact that Portland could very well lose the only team that they have (but you know that from reading this blog).

Thursday, March 30 -- Big Day for KC's NHL future

Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell will unveil his alternate plan for bringing a new arena to the Pittsburgh area on Thursday.
Gov. Rendell promises to reveal alternate arena plan Thursday
Says proposal will keep Penguins here

As you know, the Penguins have an agreement with Isle of Capri casinos. If Isle of Capri gets the Pittsburgh slots license, the Penguins get a new arena.

If not, they may move.

But, Governor Rendell needs to carry the Pittsburgh vote to win re-election against possible Republican candidate Lynn Swann (yes, that Lynn Swann).

So, Rendell is working very hard to find a way for taxpayers to pay for a new arena.

Could be bad news for KC. Pittsburgh is really the only team in the NHL that is considering relocation.

Mr. Rendell said he believes the plan is good enough to keep the Penguins in Pittsburgh even if Isle of Capri Casinos Inc. doesn't win the state license for the city's slot machine casino. Isle of Capri, in partnership with the Penguins, has pledged $290 million toward construction of an arena.

The Penguins, of course, are sticking with their plan.

"No matter what plan anyone comes up with, the Isle of Capri plan is the best one for the region. It provides an arena at no cost to the taxpayers and frees up any other money that otherwise might be targeted for a new arena for other projects," spokesman Tom McMillan said.

Blues sold -- Good news for StL. Bad for KC?

It's official.
Dave Checketts will own the St. Louis Blues.

Blues sold

This is good news for St. Louis, but potentially bad news for Kansas City. Dave Matlin of the MatlinPatterson investment group will now turn his attention to purchasing the Pittsburgh Penguins from Mario Lemeiux. If so, the rumor is that Matlin wants to move the Penguins to Las Vegas.

Perhaps AEG can talk Matlin into looking at the Sprint Center.

Or, perhaps the AHL is the best we can do...

NHL to KC -- It won't be the Islanders

Some uninformed fans will say, "What about the Islanders moving to KC. They're last in the NHL in attendance."

Well, aside from the obvious question -- Why would you move a professional sports franchise from the #1 media market to the #30-something media market -- Islanders' owner Charles Wang is committed to staying on Long Island.

Here is the proof.

Isles owner's group chosen to renovate Coliseum

Besides renovating the 36-year-old hockey and basketball arena in Uniondale, the proposal submitted by Islanders owner Charles Wang and his partners -- Long Island developer Reckson & Associates -- calls for a canal lined with retail shops, residential housing, office space, transportation and infrastructure improvements and the construction of a minor-league baseball park.

So, there is absolutely no chance that the Islanders move.

By the way, growing up a Sabres fan, I absolutely HATED the Islanders. Clarke Gilles, Bryan Trottier...and especially Billy Smith. Man, I hated that guy. (When I was 11 or 12, I caught a puck during warm-ups off a Bobby Nystrom deflected shot, so he wasn't so bad.)

NBA or NHL -- more NBA teams looking to relocate

Chris Sheridan of ESPN.com writes about the instability of the NBA.

But the fact remains that the NBA is on the precipice of moving into an era of franchise relocation unlike anything the league has experienced since the 1970s, when four teams -- the Rockets, Kings, Clippers and Jazz -- called in the long-haul moving trucks and three others -- the Nets, Bullets and Warriors -- relocated within their geographical regions.

Remind me again which league is more stable?

The league that just came off a cancelled season with revenue sharing, a $39 million hard cap, a profit sharing agreement between the players’ association and ownership and a solid minor league system which develops players at both a AAA (the AHL) and AA (ECHL) level.

Or

The league with a soft-cap, an age requirement which borders on racism, virtually no minor league system, which relies on the NCAA to “develop” its players and may have up to 20% of the league’s franchises “either openly seeking to relocate or actively discussing the possibility of setting up shop in new cities.”

The list could grow by one more if Herb Kohl sells the Bucks to someone that wants to relocate them.


Six NBA franchises might be moving to a city near you

You need to be an ESPN Insider to read the article.

The article starts out rather blustery with teams moving all over the place and ends rather weakly with Sheridan predicting that only the Kings move – to either Anaheim or Las Vegas.

Sheridan makes the bold prediction that the Nets will move to a new arena in Brooklyn. No great revelation there. I don’t work in the media or even follow the NBA very closely and I can tell you that the Nets will move. It just makes good business sense. The Meadowlands is not a place to attract or develop a loyal, rabid fan base.

The Devils are leaving The Meadowlands for a new arena in downtown Newark.

The Nets will move, too and develop a terrific fan base right in the city. Ratner will be a hero for moving a professional sports franchise back to Brooklyn.

How does this relate to Kansas City? Well, Mr. Sheridan doesn't think a team will move here. I think either a NHL or NBA team will make Kansas City home within the next 3 years.

Pittsburgh -- Rendell's hot seat

A couple good articles from Pennsylvania papers paint the picture of what is going on now that we are getting closer to the end of the Penguins season and the end of their lease.

Rendell expects hockey arena deal

This makes it sound like something will get done in Pittsburgh, regardless of the arena vote.

I’ll say it again, this is simply a move to put the blame on the Penguins new ownership if the team moves. The governor can say, “We tried to find a solution, but the Penguins wouldn’t negotiate with us…it was the arena deal or nothing.”

However, read this article in the Philly Inquirer, Rendell’s hometown paper. Remember, Rendell was Philadelphia’s mayor and has been called, “Governor of Philadelphia”.

(see, it isn’t just KCMo people that fight with cities on the other side of states)

A city that takes sports seriously presses Rendell for a new arena

Fair or not, it is a sentiment echoed in pockets across the city as the question of how - and whether - a new hockey arena should be financed festers without a solution. It has the potential to hurt Rendell on Election Day. And some analysts say that losing Pittsburgh could translate into a statewide loss for him.

There it is.

That is the first time I’ve seen it in writing. Rendell needs to win Pittsburgh to win re-election. Therefore, his ridiculous, disingenuous promises to Penguins fans that he will come up with a “Plan B” seem more and more transparent.

The guy wants to win an election, not find a solution for Pittsburgh’s arena problem.

And, other Rendell supporters add, the governor has delivered some major wins to Pittsburgh, including helping the city get its troubled finances in order, and sending millions of dollars to its distressed transit system and to clean up brownfields and repair infrastructure at the city's airport.

And yet, Rendell wants to come up with a “Plan B” that involves taxpayer and public money for a new arena which could put Pittsburgh’s finances right back in the “troubled” category.

I still say whether the Penguins stay in Pittsburgh is a toss-up. It could go either way. However, I'm fairly confident that if they do decide to leave Pittsburgh, they will come here. I don't think the other markets have the clout the comes with AEG operating The Sprint Center.

NHL in KC? Take Dallas -- for example

I just returned to my room at the Hilton Park Cities after attending the Dallas Stars game at American Airlines Center.

This was my third NHL game this season, which is pretty good for a guy who lives in the hockey vacuum of Johnson County, Ks.

After attending tonight’s Stars game, I have come to the realization that anyone that thinks the NHL wouldn’t work in Kansas City has either:

A) Never been to an NHL game
B) Has no background in, experience with or knowledge of marketing, or
C) Suffered blunt trauma to the skull

If Kansas City gets a team (whether it will happen is another discussion for a future blog post…say in about July), the Stars would be a great example to follow.

Dallas is an NHL success story. Granted, it is a huge market. Still, this town has absolutely fallen in love with hockey and the Stars can take a great deal of the credit. Sure, the Stars have put a great product on the ice since their move from Minneapolis, much of that a result of the large market in which they play allowing Tom Hicks to spend big $$ on players. And sure, having one of the great American-born players of all time, Mike Modano, anchoring your franchise helps.

Regardless of those obvious advantages, the Stars were not a guaranteed success. Dallas had no hockey history and a city with a lot of, well, Texans (ugh).

I spend a lot of time in Dallas and I’ve always thought the Stars marketing, promotions and game production were first rate. Remember, a professional sports franchise isn’t selling a sport…it is selling fun. And, the Stars have always done that (and so have the Mavs…well...since Mark Cuban took over).

The Stars have also done a terrific job of being a catalyst to grow the sport of hockey throughout the Metroplex. Currently, the Stars operate seven Dr. Pepper Star Center hockey facilities throughout the Metroplex. What better way to develop your fan base than to give them a place in which to learn and play the game!

I read that in 1995 Dallas-Fort Worth had four high school hockey teams. FOUR. The 2005-06 season has 28 Varsity teams and 43 Junior Varsity teams. Wow!

The Dr. Pepper Star Center in Frisco is host to one of the top Junior ‘A” teams in the country, the Texas Tornado.

The day will come, in the not too distant future, that a kid who grew up in Dallas will play for the Tornado, move on to NCAA hockey and then suit up for the Stars. It will happen. That kid will be a hero in Dallas and will spark even more hockey growth.

This is the type of thing a Kansas City team must do. A complete marketing program that includes selling tickets, promoting the personalities, getting butts in the seats AND GROWING THE SPORT.

Our city has four rinks with five sheets of ice, all in Johnson County except one (not counting the private Carriage Club). None of the operators of those sheets of ice work together. As a matter of fact, they do nothing collaboratively and, it could be argued, their contentious relationship has HURT hockey's growth in Kansas City. One of the great companies in our city, Hallmark Cards, constantly tells their people they want to "Grow the category". They don't care from whom people buy greeting cards, just that they are in the habit of buying them. Hallmark believes, then, with successful marketing they can get MORE of the card buying public to see out their brand.

The people that run the rinks in Kansas City can't see this forest of opportunity through the trees. "Growing the category" is a completely foreign idea to them. They are too busy with their petty arguments to see they're, ultimately, hurting their product.
(wow...got off on a rant there...if you want to see more, click the rinks' links on the right...I want to grow the category, so I'm providing all the information you need about hockey rinks and leagues in KC)

To be successful, a relocating NHL franchise will need to help finance the construction and operation of, at least, a couple more rinks. There is currently a giant, gaping hole in the Lee’s Summit, Blue Springs, Independence area when it comes to ice rinks. Let’s face it…hockey is an expensive sport to play. However, that area of the KC metro has the demographics to support a rink.

Back to tonight’s game.

What a great atmosphere they have in the AAC. Obviously, it is a great sports venue. On top of that, the Stars’ game production staff is first rate. I can honestly tell you that I enjoyed this game more than the other two games that I attended this year (which were also playoff-caliber teams). The building was sold out…on a Monday.

Those that think KC should host the Big XII tournament every year have not been to Dallas. What they are doing around the AAC is absolutely amazing. From the Terrace, to Victory Park to the ‘W’ Hotel, the area around the AAC is booming. Victory Blvd. creates a great walkway from Dallas’ West End to the arena. Heck, even Dick’s Last Resort, a West End staple, has moved closer to the AAC.

Boy, I hope the addition of the Sprint Center can create half the development the AAC has created in Dallas. I think it will.

Now, you’ve reached the end of my latest opinion on the Dallas Stars, the AAC and hockey in Kansas City. I’d like to qualify this whole blog entry by saying I believe the NBA can work in KC, too.

I think the demographics of our city better suit the NHL, however I’m not one of those that says the NHL will work and the NBA won’t, or vice versa. I believe a good organization, properly marketed will be successful.

Penguins to start shopping for a new city

It's official.

In a meeting with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette editorial board, the Penguins President said the team may begin discussions with other cities.

As you know from reading this blog, the Penguins are awaiting a decision from the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board about their bid for a slots license in the city, which would fund a new arena to replace Mellon Arena, the oldest in the NHL.

Under terms of their lease, the Penguins can field calls from potential suitors, but cannot initiate discussions. They can initiate discussions beginning June 30.

This is it.

The first major salvo over the hull of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board/Alleghany County ship.

AEG will contact the Penguins on June 30...guaranteed. AEG doesn't contribute $50 million (plus cover cost overruns) for this place for the Kansas City Brigade to be the major tennant (though the Brigade's box office success is impressive...nice job Tyler & crew).

I said last month when I started this blog that this story would break in 8 to 10 months and really heat up this summer. Stay tuned..July and August will be VERY interesting.

Paul Allen -- hated in Portland - loved in Seattle

Would we really want the Portland TrailBlazers to move to KC if they decide to relocate?

This article talks about how villified Paul Allen is in Portland, while he is loved in Seattle.
Paul Allen: Seattle's savior, Portland's problem child
One thing you MUST consider, the TrailBlazers are in trouble, in part, because

The NBA with its inability to control salaries,

This doesn't speak well for medium-sized markets like KC. Whereas, the NHL has a hard salary cap of $39 million (probably $42 next year).

Wrote John Canzano, a columnist for the Oregonian, "Allen's dirty little secret is that he wants to own a basketball operation in Seattle, and he sees a coming opportunity to buy the Sonics, who are also trying to get a new deal with state and local governments."

There were even rumors that Allen would try to move the Blazers to Seattle if the Sonics tried to move to another city.

What do we make of all this?

First of all, the Sonics are under contract to the city of Seattle until 2010. They say they plan to honor their commitment.

Allen, on other hand, seems cooked, left in a stew of his own making, the bevy of botched trades and acquisitions and the bankruptcy that has left him holding an empty bag.

Sounds like a classic Art Modell move. Mismanage your business so badly that in order to recoup your investment, you must move your franchise to another city. Unfortunately, Kansas City would get an owner that doesn't really want a franchise in KC and has managed the one he has so poorly that the team probably wouldn't be successful.

I'm not excited about an owner that committed $100+ million to Darius Miles and Zach Randolph.

KC named top 5 NBA worthy cities

Interesting article
Top 5 NBA worthy cities

The article says Kansas City is the #2 NBA worthy city behind Las Vegas.

Take this article with a grain of salt. It says St. Louis would be a good NBA town.

No, it wouldn't.

It also mentions San Diego, which doesn't have an arena and Vancouver, which the NBA already tried.

I find it interesting that three franchises in the NBA are unhappy with their arenas and looking to relocate. Only one NHL franchise MAY relocate.

So, which league has more stability? Which league has a HARD salary cap making it easier for mid-market cities lik KC to compete?

That would be the NHL.

Clock is ticking for Sonics -- Portland on the list, too

Sorry, I haven't had much time recently to follow what is going on in Seattle.

How does this relate to hockey? If an NBA team decides to relocate, and KC is the place, there will not be an NHL team in the Sprint Center...heck, there may not be an AHL team either.

Clock is ticking for city, Sonics to reach deal

The City and the Sonics need to strike a deal within the next few days for the Washington Legislature to consider a $200 million Key Arena overhaul.

See...a vibrant downtown and a new arena is not a guarantee of success. Seattle has one of the best downtowns of any city in America and a 10-year old arena, yet they are still trying to find a way to make the Seattle Center, the area around the arena which includes the Experience Music Project and the Space Needle, profitable.

The Legislature may extend "visitor taxes", which helped fund the new stadiums for the Seagals and the Mariners.

PORTLAND MAY RELOCATE
Stern wants Blazer ownership issue resolved by June

Paul Allen may sell the team.

The Blazers have a convoluted agreement with the Rose Garden, in which the Blazers do not operate the arena or have access to 4,000 of the 20,000 seats in the arena. The revenue from those seats goes to Portland Arena Management, the entity that operates the arena.

So, David Stern is trying to help the Blazers and the Arena Management company come up with an agreement that helps keep the Blazers competitive.

Could the franchise move?

"“I don'’t want to start playing that game,"” Stern said. "“I would say I wouldn'’t rule out circumstances under which the franchise could be moved, although I am planning to dedicate hours and hours of my time and my staff and lawyers’ efforts to ensure in a positive way that doesn't happen. I want to see whether we can't come up with a long-term situation that keeps the Blazers in Oregon and playing at the Rose Garden."”

Of course, there is no mention of the fact that the Blazers are one of the worst run franchises in the NBA. They continue to throw tons of money at unproven players and malcontents.

Good God, if the Blazers moved to KC they would be a hard team for which to root.

If the Blazers left Portland, I would think they'd move to the top of the NHL's list. An NHL team would be the only game in town (like the Bluejackets in Columbus) and Portland has decent history of attendance for the WHL team, the Winterhawks.

Commitment begins at the top with Allen

It's frustrating enough to witness the demise of a franchise that delivered playoff teams for 21 consecutive seasons. But Blazers fans now have more to worry about -- namely the financial future of their beloved team.

Emissaries from owner Paul Allen have been passing the hat with local political leaders, signaling something significant is up regarding the Trail Blazers' future. The team has been bleeding dough ever since Allen's Oregon Arena Corp. declared bankruptcy and the creditors took back the Rose Garden and its revenue engines.

Here's another scathing article of how awful the Blazers have been.

Roses aside, things not pretty in Portland

I love this quote.

Imagine flushing bagfuls of cash down your garbage disposal, then telling the landlord at your posh apartment that a little help is necessary because you’re tired of losing so much money.

If voters in Oregon had gone to the polls and elected to give long-term, expensive deals to players such as Damon Stoudamire, Rasheed Wallace, Theo Ratliff, Derek Anderson, Zach Randolph and Darius Miles; voted to trade Jermaine O’Neal for Dale Davis; or marched on the state capitol to demand Shawn Kemp be added to a team that had just reached Game 7 of the Western Conference finals — then the Blazers might have a legitimate beef.

NHL's take and possible private funding plan in Pittsburgh

OK, so the NHL, Pittsburgh's Mayor and the Allegheny County Chief Executive met about an alternative arena proposal and have agreed to improve communication.

However, the league came out in support of the Penguins/Isle of Capri proposal and suggested "local leaders get behind the existing arena funding plan".

NHL committed to helping Pens solve arena issue

To be honest, I don't know how this affects whether the Penguins move or not. Things will really start happening in June.

You can't say people in Pittsburgh aren't trying to find creative ways to finance a new arena.

A conservative think tank proposes creating an "arena corporation" to find private money to fund a new arena for the city.

Possible avenues for private money, the institute said, included the issuance of shares in the corporation or the recruitment of investor partners and the sale of naming rights, with a goal of raising $100 million to $150 million from those sources.

Other revenues for financing the arena, which is expected to cost about $300 million, could be generated through the sale of seat licenses, luxury box rentals, concessions, in-arena advertising and event fees.

The Penguins say they already have a plan to privately fund an arena.

Funny...because they do...the only problem with the Penguins proposal is that it isn't lining the Governor's pockets.

Plan B in the works

It's tough to say which direction this situation is going to go.

One day it looks like the Penguins are doomed in Pittsburgh and that the team will definitely move.

The next day it looks like Pittburgh will do whatever it takes to keep the team.

This article is particularly interesting because, for the last six weeks, it has looked like a Plan B was not a possibility -- that it was the Penguins/IofC proposal or nothing.

Now, state and local officials say they are working on a Plan B, without the Penguins input. The key here is that the Penguins cannot work on a Plan B. It is part of their contract with IofC.

Penguins officials maintain they cannot discuss an alternate plan with elected officials during the licensing process.

Of course they can't. Why would IofC enter into an agreement with the Penguins if the team could just work on a publicly financed arena at the same time? The arena is the cornerstone for IofC's proposal and they want to protect their interests.

Penguins' stay in Pittsburgh looking iffy

Tim Panaccio, a very well-respected hockey writer for the Philadelphia Inquirer, chimes in on the Penguins arena situation.

Panaccio gives a view from outside Pittsburgh, which is pretty gloomy for the Pens fans.

Post-Gazette says ANY slots parlor license should include new arena

If you live in Kansas City, you could reap the rewards of backdoor politics and inept leadership.

Without a new arena, the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins could leave the Steel City. Kansas City, with a new arena under construction, could be the team's new home.

The new arena is a political football that is being kicked all over the home of the Super Bowl Champions.

Now, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's editorial board think all plans should include a new arena.

We'll say this, however: Harrah's/Forest City and Mr. Barden should amend their plans to direct funding to build Pittsburgh a new arena. And the Gaming Control Board should look unkindly on proposals that fail to include such revenue. The city's need and opportunity to get a privately funded arena from the gambling license is simply too good to pass up.

The Penguins are up for sale. Let's say the Penguins do not get the slots license, but the group that is awarded the slots license, for arguments sake let's say Harrah's/Forest City, is required to fund a new arena.

Why would the new owners want to wait for a group that is being arm-barred into building a new arena to provide the funding? This smells like a potential law suit and the Penguins playing in Mellon Arena for at least four more years. A new owner wouldn't want to do that.

The Penguins and the Isle of Capri are pledging to address one of the city's greatest needs -- and are also, of course, promising the casino, the surrounding development and the tax revenue that are expected of any casino applicant.

If the other applicants want to stay in the game, they should address that need as well.

If the Penguins aren't awarded the slots license, they are gone.

NHL's Daly says Pens must resolve arena issue

Now, Bill Daly, the NHL's Deputy Commissioner, says the Pens must resolve the arena issue within months or the team will look at other options.

"The time window for the Penguins to get financing on a new arena is short. I believe the city of Pittsburgh deserves to have the Penguins, but the Penguins also need a new building and they've needed a new one for years," Daly said.

Part of the problem is that when Mario rescued the team from bankruptcy seven years ago, he was promised a new arena...well, was told the city and Allegheny County would look at finding a way to get a new arena.

Nothing has happened for seven years. Now, the Penguins have a plan, but it's tied to the decision of seven people (the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board). Fans and residents of Pittsburgh have no say in the matter.

As usual, KC is mentioned as a possible relocation destination. This time with a twist. The reporter added the fact that Paul McGannon and NHL21 have approached the Penguins about playing the Blues on September 30 at Kemper.

Kansas City, Mo.; Portland, Ore.; and Houston are among the cities looking to acquire the Penguins if they leave Pittsburgh, their only home since beginning play as an expansion franchise in 1967. Kansas City wants the Penguins to play one of their preseason games there next season.

Team USA & the 2006 Olympic Hockey Tournament

"I'm not looking for the best players. I'm looking for the right ones" -- Kurt Russell as Herb Brooks in the movie Miracle.

Didn't Don Waddell watch this movie before choosing Team USA?

He may have chosen the best players.

He certainly didn't choose the right ones.

Ryan Miller is at home in Buffalo. There is no excuse for this what-so-ever.

Chris Chelios, though a stand-up guy and loyal Team USA member, should be a figurehead on this team only. His game is no longer fit for the International ice.

Tony Amonte, Brian Leetch and Jeremy Roenick are a veteran players who were loyal to Team USA, yet they were left home. Chelly should be home, too.

Derian Hatcher also doesn't belong. He's too slow for the NHL, must less International hockey.

Who should replace them?
Bret Hedican was a late addition. He should have been on the original roster.
Joe Corvo would help. He's a speed guy and a strong offensive defenseman.
Ryan Suter belongs on this team. THERE IS NO DOUBT IN MY MIND ABOUT THIS. He's played the International game recently. His game is fit for the bigger ice and he has already proven he is one of the top young defenseman in the NHL.

I really don't have a problem with the forwards on this roster. The two guys I think should be in Italy are Jeff Halpern and Tim Connolly. Halpern a face-off and defensive specialist who would help against the Russian, Slovakian and Swedish power play units. Connelly is a speed player. He creates opportunities with his speed and would be perfect for the wider ice, less hitting style of Olympic play.

Bryan Burwell, a terrific writer for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, nailed it. Team USA is a poorly constructed, second-rate outfit. Whereas, Team Canada constructs their team and treats them like Gold Medalists, before they even hit the ice.
Real zombies aren't on ice; they oversee USA Hockey


Team USA didn't fly a charter like Team Canada. They flew commercial from scattered parts of the country.

As opposed to Dan Wetzel, who totally missed the boat, blaming Gary Bettman. What does Gary Bettman have to do with choosing the wrong goaltenders, not chartering a flight to Italy and not choosing the right players for International-style play?

Time to pull plug on pros

I have no clue why Wetzel has such a problem with "pros" in the Olympics. Did he have such a problem after the 2002 appearance in the finals?

He speaks of our silver medal performance and the league's shutdown in the same breath. I have no idea how the two relate. The league's shut down was about cost certainty and viability of the small US and Canadian markets. NHLers appearing in the Olympics neither caused nor attempted to stave off the potential lockout.

If Team USA continues to play mediocre hockey, it will have nothing to do with "pros" in the Olympics. Team USA needs the "right" pros in order to repeat their 2002 appearance in the final game.

Seattle and Sonics in a stare down

The fight between the Seattle City Council and the Sonics is heating up. Here are some interesting articles from the last three days.

A response to Howard Schultz
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/levesque/259553_leve15.html

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/basketball/259749_keyarena16.html

Interesting article about a recent Seattle City Council committee meeting. An analyst for the Seattle City Council said that a professional sports teams' most valuable asset, next to its players, is its arena lease.

Five former KC Blades in Olympic tourney

The Olympic Hockey Tournament is the best hockey tournament in the world. It is akin to the World Cup of Soccer, which is coming this summer.

Five former Kansas City Blades are playing in this year's Olympic Tournament.

Latvia -- Arturs Irbe, Viktors Ignatjevs, Sandis Ozolinsh
Italy -- Jason Cirone
Russia -- Viktor Kozlov

The Blades history is slowly fading. The Sharks roster is completely void of former Blades.

The Sharks do, however, have headshots of every single player that ever put on a Blades roster. It's cool to go to the Shark tank and see photos of J.F. Quintin, Gary Emmons, Kenny Hammond, Jaroslov Otevrel and so many other Blades we loved watching.

Could we keep the Sonics name?

Click the headline for the link to a story in the Seattle Times.

I'm stunned. The Seattle City Council President came out and said the City owned Key Arena could be profitable without the Sonics.

The scenario that Key Arena could make a profit isn't without some cost.

Seattle Center staff told the mayor's task force that KeyArena needs $20 million in renovations to attract the mix of events that would produce a profit. Fixes would include improved dressing rooms, catering areas, technology upgrades and a $3 million curtain system that would help convert KeyArena into a 5,000- to 7,000-seat concert hall.

Hey Mr. Licata, come to KC and see if our city owned arena was/is profitable without a NBA, NHL or AHL team. And, Seattle doesn't even have the American Royal to lean on.

The Sonics asked for $200 million in renovations to expand the arena and add restaurants, etc. The team says if they dont' get the renovations to a the 10-year old building they will have to look at relocating.

KC is a possibility for relocation, but building an arena in Bellevue, WA is a possibility, too.

Voice of Steelers endorses Pens slots proposal

Myron Cope, the former voice of the Steelers, wrote a letter to the editor of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (again, how great would it be to have competing newspapers?)

Cope is a Pittsburgh icon and has made his feelings known on the slots parlor/arena deal.

You need to scroll half-way down on this link to see Cope's letter.
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06039/651691.stm"

I still have no idea what will happen in Pittsburgh. On one hand I think public sentiment will sway the Governor and political leaders in Pittsburgh to "find a way" to get a new arena with slots revenues. On the other hand, I think Harrah's, with their massive financial and political influence, will win the slots parlor license and the Penguins will say bye-bye to the Iron City.

NBA or NHL -- KC has stiff competition

The Sprint Center will be ready in 2007. Whether KC gets an NBA team, NHL team or neither is very up in the air.

The competition is fierce. Oklahoma City is proving a viable market for the NBA. As of February 7, the OKC Hornets are drawing 17,805 fans per game, an improvement of more than 4,000 from last season in New Orleans.

A week ago, Stern announced the team would play 35 games at the Ford Center in 2006-07, but said he hoped the team will return to New Orleans full time in 2007-08.

OKC courting Sonics

If it is an NHL team that is ready to relocate, KC must fight with Houston, Winnipeg and, possibly, Hamilton, Onatrio for the relocation city. Hamilton may have trouble because it is considered within the Toronto Maple Leafs immediate market.

And we know Las Vegas is courting either a NBA, NHL or Major League Baseball team. It is the home of a future NBA All-Star Game.

The failure of the Kansas City Knights means no NBA

(no links...just opinion in this post)

The Kansas City Knights, a minor league professional basketball franchise in Kansas City, was a tremendous failure.

They played at Kemper and nobody went.
They moved to Hale Arena and nobody went.
They moved to Johnson County Community College to try to appeal to Johnson County families and nobody went.

Does that mean that an NBA team won’t come to KC?

OF COURSE NOT

The failure of a minor league team, whether it is the Knights, Sizzlers, Outlaws or Blades, has absolutely no bearing on whether an NHL or NBA team comes to KC.

The promotion, marketing and sales organization of a minor league team is vastly different than that of a NHL or NBA team. The high-profile of the players, and subsequent media attention, provides an NHL or NBA team with instant fan interest.

A minor league team will need to build a brand and spend a significant amount of money to increase awareness. An NBA or NHL team can use strategic public relations and the resulting media attention to increase awareness without spending much money.

Remember, a team (like any product) cannot succeed without successful marketing. An NBA or NHL team will have a great deal more money, and I suspect a larger, more experienced marketing organization behind it.

To say the failure of a minor league team has any influence on whether an NHL or NBA team comes to Kansas City is absolute nonsense.

Bettman: New arena or 'no question' Pens will go

"We never want to move a franchise, but the team's lease expires in a year and if there's no new building, there's no way this club can have any future in Pittsburgh," Bettman said during a radio interview with Penguins announcer Paul Steigerwald on Wednesday in New York.

Bettman has put the cards on the table. The NHL, yes it may be greed, wants to the Penguins to play in a new arena with the additional revenue such an arena would generate.

Remember, this is not a professional sports franchise holding a city hostage. The Pens simply want the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board to fairly consider their slots parlor license proposal, which includes a new arena, not just for the Penguins, but for the city. The Penguins are up against a real gaming heavyweight, Harrah's Entertainment.

KC is one of the cities to which the Penguins may move.

This blog was set up to follow what is unfolding. Whether the Pens move, and whether KC is the city of choice, will break in this calendar year.

I will continue to follow it closely, provide links and try to keep you up-to-date.

Pittsburgh Governor says the Penguins won’t talk to him about an arena.

Great editorial in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

“But don't fault the Penguins for not talking about how to fund a new arena. They've been ready to talk for years.”

As noted in a previous post, the Pennsylvania Governor wants to talk with the Pens about a Plan B for a new arena (should the Penguins not receive the slots parlor license). However, he says the Pens won’t discuss it with him. The Penguins entered an exclusive agreement with Isle of Capri casino that said they could not negotiate a Plan B. A smart move by IoC to protect the integrity of their proposal since it is tied to an arena.

Interesting how the Governor never attempted to engage the Penguins in arena discussions, for the entire seven years of Mario’s ownership, until AFTER the Pens had an exclusive agreement with Isle of Capri.

Now, after the Penguins have an agreement NOT to talk about a Plan B, the Governor said yesterday on Pittsbrugh’s ESPN1250, “Hey, I’ll talk to the Pens about a Plan B, but they won’t talk to me.” He’s trying to make the Pens look like the bad guys.

Can you see how disingenuous this guy is?

Like him or hate him, you must admit 810’s Kevin Keitzman (a bit of a conspiracy theorist) follows this type of backdoor politics in Kansas City very closely. If this back-and-forth was happening in Kansas City, Keitzman’s head would explode.

SI says Sonics may move to KC

SI writer Ian Thomsen says the Seattle Sonics could be on the move if, (have we heard this before), they don't get a new arena. The building they play in is 10 years old, 10!

The article is in the February 6 issue and is available online as exclusive content

"One of those alternatives would be to investigate the construction of a privately built arena in Greater Seattle, perhaps in suburban Bellevue. Another would be to move the Sonics to a market known to be interested in acquiring an NBA franchise (Las Vegas, Norfolk, Oklahoma City) or to one of the three cities -- Anaheim, Kansas City and San Jose -- that, according to team sources, have privately made overtures to Sonics officials"

This is bad news for NHL fans in KC. If an NBA team comes to KC, there will be no hockey.

Unlike the Pens, we'll know the Sonics fate in three weeks.

Is the NHL coming to KC?

IT’S TIME FOR FACTS RATHER THAN POSTURING

(the first post is quite long, sorry)
The announcement of Kansas City’s Sprint Center, a beautiful 18,500 seat downtown arena, has spurred speculation of either an NBA or NHL making the arena home.

The purpose of this blog is to follow the drama that is unfolding surrounding an NHL team coming to KC.

No flowing prose. No quotes from NHL21. No posturing from parties involved on either side.
Just factual information (and my opinions…but mostly facts)

This will be a long, slow, drawn-out process over the next 8 – 10 months.
The situation is constantly changing, evolving, and I will try to provide you with links to stories from around the country that mention Kansas City and the NHL.

The Pittsburgh Penguins seem to be a likely candidate to move from their current home, the outdate Mellon Arena, to the Sprint Center.
If one oversimplifies the situation, as some Kansas City journalists have done, yes it seems the Penguins are a likely candidate to relocate. However, it is much more complicated.

Here is the bottom line to the entire situation:

• The Pittsburgh Penguins are officially for sale. Their current ownership, Hall of Fame player Mario Lemeuix and a group of investors will not move the Penguins. However, a new ownership group might.
• The current ownership says that in order for the team to survive in Pittsburgh they must have a new arena in which to play. Mellon Arena is the oldest arena in the NHL.
• The Penguins ownership is NOT holding the city hostage for public money for a new arena.
• The Penguins are bidding for one of five slots parlor licenses in Pennsylvania. The state approved slots gambling at 14 locations throughout the state (seven racetracks, five parlors and two resorts). One of the parlor licenses will go to the Pittsburgh area. The Penguins, in partnership with Isle of Capri Casinos, has entered a proposal for the Pittsbrugh slots parlor license. The team has said that they will use their portion of the slots parlor revenue to fund a new arena in the lower Hill district (near the current Mellon Arena).
• The Penguins are in a serious battle for the Pittsburgh slots license with a heavyweight champion, Harrah’s Casinos, the largest gaming company in the U.S. Rumor has it that Harrah’s Casinos is the preferred choice of Democratic Governor Ed Rendell.
• As part of the sale of the franchise, the new owners must agree to honor the partnership with Isle of Capri Casinos. If the Penguins/IOC is awarded the slots parlor license, the new owner must keep the team in Pittsburgh and play in the resulting arena.
• For more information go to http://www.slotsformario.com/
• The Penguins lease at Mellon Arena is up in 2007.
• The slots license will be awarded in late 2006.
• The bottom line to all this is summed up in the final paragraph in a recent Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article.
• “The state Gaming Control Board will decide, after reviewing the proposals and holding hearings, which is best for Pittsburgh.”
• The Penguins may start negotiating with other cities beginning June of 2006, one year from the ending of their current lease.
• The Penguins ownership will begin taking offers for purchase of the franchise now.
• All of this adds up to a 50/50 chance that the Penguins will stay in Pittsburgh.

KANSAS CITY MENTIONED ON HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA

On Saturday, January 23, NHL analyst and former NHL goaltender John Davidson said “…if the [Pittsburgh] Penguins move, from what I hear, the frontrunners are Kansas City, Houston, Las Vegas and Winnipeg.” This mention was on “Satellite Hot Stove” which is the segment between the second and third period of the early Hockey Night in Canada game. Of course, take this with a grain of salt because one of the other “experts” on the show said that if the “Penguins win the slots lottery” they won’t move. Slots lottery?

This isn’t a “lottery” at all. The slots license is a political football that is being kicked all over Harrisburg and, may, include some corrupt dealings with EXTREMELY powerful lobbying organizations.

Another HNIC expert said that Mark Cuban, a Pittsburgh native, could purchase the Penguins and keep them in the Iron City. No way. Cuban has said publicly that he is NOT interested in owning another professional sports franchise. He has said he is busy enough with the Mavericks, HDNet and Landmark Theaters.

Let’s take a quick look at the cities mentioned and one more that could enter the mix.

• Houston
  
• Pro – new arena and Houston Rockets owner Les Alexander expresses interest in owning an NHL team also.
• Con – not necessarily a hockey market…may be a tough sell

• Winnipeg
  
• Pro – new arena and successful season ticket campaign for a NHL team
• Con – EJ Hradek of ESPN.com says, even though the building, the MTS Centre, has been refurbished, it is still too small for an NHL team. Hradek says the “footprint” of the building is also small, which means the corridor, etc. are more narrow than some of the other new arenas.
• Canadian cities add zero US TV sets, which is important to the NHL. Some in Winnipeg admit they are a long shot for an NHL return.
• 10 years later, Jets fans still holding out for hope

• Las Vegas
• Pro – fastest growing city in the country may be the home of a NBA, NHL or MLB franchise within the next 10 years. Boots Delbaggio once entered into an agreement with Mario Lemeiux to purchase part of the Penguins. However, Boots says he is not interested in purchasing the team, which severely hampers Las Vegas’ effort. The rumor was Boots, a San Jose businessman, wanted to tap into the LV market.
• Con – does not have an NHL ready arena like the other cities. Still only the #51 US TV market

• Hartford
• Pro – proposal on the table for a new arena
• http://www.courant.com/sports/hc-civic0112.artjan12,0,4021754.story
• Con – lost an NHL team eight years ago (though, arguably, they lost the team unfairly as attendance was similar to attendance in the new market, Raleigh)
  

MARIO SKATING OFF INTO THE SUNSET

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06019/640471.stm

Mario Lemieux seemed rejuvenated when the Penguins won the post-lockout lottery and won the right to draft Sidney Crosby. Mr. Lemieux had met and played pick-up games with Crosby in the past. Mr. Lemieux knew and liked Sid the Kid and was thr