PITG wins slots casino license for North Side of Pittsburgh

Looks like, after all the conditions the NHL tried to put in place (where were such conditions when Winnipeg was in trouble?), that Balsille made the right move in withdrawing his bid. Free arena? If the Pens want an arena, they should build it themselves.

Posted by mkn at 2006-12-20 11:59 PM | Reply | Flag:

The board also awarded the two licenses available outside the big cities to the Las Vegas Sands for Bethlehem and Louis DeNaples for Pocono Mountain. The board chose those over a controversial proposal to locate a casino near Gettysburg National Battlefield. Janice Pietrone, a former Pittsburgh teacher who is one of the leaders of the Gettysburg casino opposition, was part of a contingent at the meeting. She said the battlefield already brings in substantial tourist dollars. The Battle of Gettysburg pretty much exemplifies the idea of "gambling". "$50 on gray." Something to think about.

Posted by Samsonov14 at 2006-12-21 12:14 AM | Reply | Flag:

I'm totally confused on how Pennsylvania can tell a company they don't want a FREE arena. I'm afraid the Penguins will moving come this summer unless the city comes up with something quick. It continues to amaze me that people hear a team say something and totally buy in. The Penguins still get a good deal with PITG chipping in, only problem for the Penguins under this plan is they have to pay some too. PITG is still putting up a ton of money to develop parts of the city, and money will still be marked for a new arena, just not all of it. Problem is the Penguins want to cry to get it for free. Great PR campaign by Isle of Capri and the Pens, though.

Posted by SummersEve at 2006-12-21 06:10 AM | Reply | Flag:

This is awesome, Gene Collier is one of my favorite columnists... Predictably, the maddest bunch were and shall be, for a time, Penguins management and the club's loyal, vocal, emotional, and often enough paranoid fans, including those without media credentials.

Posted by SummersEve at 2006-12-21 06:53 AM | Reply | Flag:

That piece is the most optimistic thing I've seen about this whole development. I sincerely hope he's right.

Posted by chicobangs at 2006-12-21 10:08 AM | Reply | Flag:

The Battle of Gettysburg pretty much exemplifies the idea of "gambling". "$50 on gray." Something to think about. Samsonov14, I don't quite understand what you are driving at. I would suggest you visit a Civil War Battlefield National Park (other than Gettysburg, which has been ruined by the developers - Antietam and Shiloh are the best I have seen), and listen to some of the presentations by the Park Rangers. You might learn that the men who were there fought not for commercial interests, but for pure ideals. I don't mean to flame you by the above. I think you might have been trying to inject some humor into the debate, but when you understand what Civil War soldiers went through, you will see why it might not be funny to some.

Posted by Howard_T at 2006-12-21 10:36 AM | Reply | Flag:

Check out TomB for more.

Posted by garfield at 2006-12-21 10:54 AM | Reply | Flag:

The other thing is, not only did the decision affect the Penguins, it also affected the Steelers and Pirates. Neither one of them wanted PITG to get the bid because of where they want to build (which is between both stadiums). This is going to take up valuable parking that doesn't grow on trees here in Pittsburgh. I don't think this was thought out very well by everyone involved.

Posted by dbt302 at 2006-12-21 11:49 AM | Reply | Flag:

The problem here started when the Penguins owned Super Mario money, and handed him ownership instead. He really thought that he had no choice on the matter. Now as an owner he needs to put out money, get a big loan and be a business man. Is that what Super Mario was cut out for. The answer is in this saga, and to me it is obviuosly not what he was meant to do. He is the best stick handler that ever played the game, but not the best business man!

Posted by sap_basis at 2006-12-21 12:00 PM | Reply | Flag:

I think you might have been trying to inject some humor into the debate, but when you understand what Civil War soldiers went through, you will see why it might not be funny to some. A. He was. B. There's no one around who should get offended by Civil War jokes.

Posted by yerfatma at 2006-12-21 12:03 PM | Reply | Flag:

Gambling could really damage the integrity of Civil War reenactment groups.

Posted by BullpenPro at 2006-12-21 12:17 PM | Reply | Flag:

It'll be west of the two stadiums, not between, but the limited parking point is valid just like any other city. For now. There are talks of (much needed) improvements to the infrastructure including a parking garage. The North-Shore-congestion-line was started by The Steelers and the Pirates. Rooney is adamantly anti-gambling to begin with. So for 8 Sundays, it'll be busy. McClatchy and the Pirates should worry about getting people in the stadium before he starts crying about it being busy on game day. I can't believe how much P-burgh is whining about this. It's actually becoming quite a joke for the rest of the state. sap_basis (welcome to sportsfilter, by the way) nailed it... Mario is whining that for seven years he's tried to get funding. I think the problem is just that the funding isn't there, the problem is they don't have the people to go get it. it is possible to privately fund an arena. I'd hate to see the Penguins move, but I'm getting close to volunteering to help them pack up the truck.

Posted by SummersEve at 2006-12-21 01:00 PM | Reply | Flag:

Bettman, via Collier's column: "The decision by the Gaming Commission was terrible news for the Penguins, their fans, and the NHL," read that statement. "The future of this franchise in Pittsburgh is uncertain, and the Penguins now will have to explore all other options, including possible relocation. The NHL will support the Penguins in their endeavors." Gee, who wouldn't want to buy a franchise under a commissioner like this? No sense letting the actual owners of the franchise have their say, huh, Gary? Bettman has no idea how damaging it is to the value of every NHL franchise to have the negotiations take these turns. When the league can't sell a team with three bona fide superstars and get the state to roll over on a new stadium deal when it did for the other two professional franchises in town, who the hell would be buying? What a turd.

Posted by wfrazerjr at 2006-12-21 02:50 PM | Reply | Flag:

Mario is talking about moving the team. http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/ 20061221/sp_nm/ nhl_penguins_dc_2

Posted by FonGu at 2006-12-21 04:37 PM | Reply | Flag:

Holy cow, don't let the facts get in the way of a good story. Reuters is totally misleading as they left off the last line of his statement: As soon as we are no longer restricted by our agreement with Isle of Capri from negotiating an arena deal here, in the next few weeks, we will also begin discussions with local leaders about a viable Pittsburgh arena plan. In other words, Mario's trying to play hard ball with a wiffle ball bat. By the way, if the Pens want to move to KC they'd have to sell a chunk of the team to Boots Del Biaggio because he has a contract with the arena that was built.

Posted by SummersEve at 2006-12-21 05:38 PM | Reply | Flag:

Oh, and look who's back. Jim Balsillie: "All it takes is three motivated parties and a five-minute phone call to get this deal back on track," Balsillie said in an e-mail. "We've fully studied the situation and are prepared to complete the purchase and immediately commence good-faith 'Plan B' negotiations with the government officials to keep the team in Pittsburgh." Maybe the sky isn't falling after all.

Posted by SummersEve at 2006-12-21 05:42 PM | Reply | Flag:

Samsonov14, I don't quite understand what you are driving at. I would suggest you visit a Civil War Battlefield National Park (other than Gettysburg, which has been ruined by the developers - Antietam and Shiloh are the best I have seen), and listen to some of the presentations by the Park Rangers. You might learn that the men who were there fought not for commercial interests, but for pure ideals. No doubt, Howard. I know you weren't trying to be a cock or anything. When I referred to "gambling", I was actually thinking of Pickett's Charge, which was one hell of a gamble. Hence the $50 on Gray comment. I didn't flesh out the comment enough, I guess. Anyway, no offense taken, and I hope you don't think I was belittling the deaths of 50,000 soldiers. There's no one around who should get offended by Civil War jokes. And I think so too fatty, but you'd be surprised. I still have a redneck uncle who refers to the Civil War as "The War against Northern Agression" or "The War against Lincoln's Tyrany." No shit.

Posted by Samsonov14 at 2006-12-21 07:17 PM | Reply | Flag:

Unlike last time.

Posted by yerfatma at 2006-12-21 07:19 PM | Reply | Flag:

I still have a redneck uncle who refers to the Civil War as "The War against Northern Agression" or "The War against Lincoln's Tyrany." No shit. Before I moved to Indiana this year, I lived in North Carolina for ten years, and you betcher ass they ain't forgotten how those damn Yankees made them fire on Fort Sumter. Bastards. In all seriousness, I once heard a man in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, running for public office, say that we should be receiving more federal money after hurricanes, but our government's been keeping the South down since the Reconstruction, why should they stop now?

Posted by The_Black_Hand at 2006-12-21 07:48 PM | Reply | Flag:

After paying for 2 new stadiums the taxpayers are not going to pay for another. The team ca not afford it either. They need to sell the team to a company that will ay for a new stadium. The current location SUCKS. I hate driving to the arena. But that said, it is by far the worst arena in the league. But as soon as the team leaves they will find away to build an arena for another team. Look at Huston, Cleveland ETC in the NFL. The team has a great future. Someone needs to payoff the money owed to Mario and get him out of ownership. I dont know the ins and outs of the slot deal but some people got their pockets lined to vote the way they did in my eyes.

Posted by vipers-pit at 2006-12-22 02:52 PM | Reply | Flag:

The Penguins franchise has been f'd up for many years.I remember them winning 2 Stanley Cups in the early 90's and almost immediately there was financial problems.

Posted by sickleguy at 2006-12-22 04:51 PM | Reply | Flag:

some people got their pockets lined It's politics, dude, does that really surprise you? Mario needs to find people that can do what Barden did. Seven years of failure should show he has no one to blame but himself.

Posted by SummersEve at 2006-12-22 05:36 PM | Reply | Flag:

The candidates by chance: 1. KC 2. Winnipeg 3. Hamilton 4. Waterloo/Kitchener (Balsillie) 5. Vegas 6. Portland 7. Houston 8. Seattle 10. Hartford 11. Halifax It seems like it's KC or Winnipeg. I say if KC chokes on this one, the Winnipeg Penguins at MTS Centre will be for real. Anyway, we all agree that they'll out of the Steel City after this season.

Posted by LA_Dude at 2006-12-22 10:30 PM | Reply | Flag:

No, we don't all agree on that.

Posted by chicobangs at 2006-12-22 11:45 PM | Reply | Flag:

Yeah, I don't agree either. And if you took time to read any comments, you'd see KC's kind of a longshot.

Posted by SummersEve at 2006-12-23 07:43 AM | Reply | Flag:

Anyway, no offense taken... Sammy, glad there was none given. Re Pickett's Charge being a gamble; to use a football analogy, Coach Lee seriously misread the defense's ability to stop a 3rd and long situation. Anyway, we're talking hockey here. Fraze's input about Bettman's inability to wield any clout with the politicians does not reflect anything on Gary Bettman. Rather, it speaks volumes about the low esteem in which hockey is held as a sport. Save in a few of the diehard NHL cities, there are very few politicians who will risk a political reputation for the sake of a very few fans. There would be no national recognition, as there likely would be in the case of an NFL, MLB, or NBA franchise, for keeping the team in town.

Posted by Howard_T at 2006-12-23 04:49 PM | Reply | Flag:

Believe me, I hope they stay there, I had a friend who loved the Pens, I want them to stay. Also, about KC, I believe they'll choke. They might land the Sonics or some other NBA team, but I believe they'll choke. I think Winnipeg is the only viable destination if the Waterloo miracle doesn't happen. However, let's wait and see, Mario might get his arena, somebody might have mercy on him, although he seems to be left out in the cold now. I hope he gets the arena for Christmas and is able to save his team... again.

Posted by LA_Dude at 2006-12-23 05:29 PM | Reply | Flag:

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