Pittsburgh fans seem to be born and raised to love their sports teams. With a so-so arts scene in a bankrupt city, sports are the axis of communal activity. For non-sports fans, me being among them, this often seems to be an axis of evil and wasteful spending on the Penguins, Steelers, and last and oh so least, the Pirates.
What a waste of money sports teams can seem, but they are the keepers of the flame of passion for this waning city. They are part of the rich cultural identity of Pittsburgh that we should keep here.
Mario Lemieux, the former Penguin who saved the team from bankruptcy, and governor Ed Rendell finally negotiated a deal for the feasibility of the hockey team staying in Pittsburgh. Currently, Mellon arena is the oldest and smallest arena in the National Hockey League (NHL).
By Stephan Puff,
Senior Staff Writer
Pittsburgh fans seem to be born and raised to love their sports teams. With a so-so arts scene in a bankrupt city, sports are the axis of communal activity. For non-sports fans, me being among them, this often seems to be an axis of evil and wasteful spending on the Penguins, Steelers, and last and oh so least, the Pirates.
What a waste of money sports teams can seem, but they are the keepers of the flame of passion for this waning city. They are part of the rich cultural identity of Pittsburgh that we should keep here.
Mario Lemieux, the former Penguin who saved the team from bankruptcy, and governor Ed Rendell finally negotiated a deal for the feasibility of the hockey team staying in Pittsburgh. Currently, Mellon arena is the oldest and smallest arena in the National Hockey League (NHL).
The arena has a leaky roof, obstructed seats, and a poor layout due to necessary expansions. It makes it much harder to attract concerts and other events in a rundown arena. I mean, who wants to pay for Justin Timberlake tickets only to have upper seating block the view of him bringing sexy back? A new stadium will help bring more activity and excitement to Pittsburgh.
Plus I�ve never heard of a more dedicated team, especially when money has become far more important than team loyalty. Kansas offered the Penguins the Sprint Center, a rent-free arena, no obligation to pay for construction and arena profit sharing.
Still Lemieux settled on paying Pittsburgh $3.8 million in annual rent and $400,000 a year for capital expenses which would total over $120 million during a 30-year lease for the new arena, just to stay in Pittsburgh.
The Penguins had negotiated with Isle of Capri Casinos to pay $290 million toward the new arena had Capri been chosen. However, the Pa. Gaming Control Board instead went with a Detroit businessman Don Barden. For a team that has one of the best ticket sales and fan base in the NHL, Rendell has not taken the situation seriously. But why should he? The majority of his fan base is in Philly.
I was indifferent when told that if Bob Casey won the senatorial that western Pa. would have no political representation. Both Gov. Rendell and senator Arlen Spector live in Philly, while Casey lumbers and slumbers, somewhere in the middle of the state. Not a good enough reason to have voted for Rick Santorum or Lynn Swan, but who in the government was fighting for the interests of Pittsburgh and the Penguins?
No one, that’s why the negotiations were at such an impasse. The Steelers� and the mangy Pirates� stadiums were built with private and public funds. The Penguins deserve the same recognition and accommodations.
Jersey 87, Sidney Crosby, has scored 100 points for the second year in a row. He leads the league in points at age 19. The team is young too – the oldest center is 23 and the starting goalie is only 22. Unlike the Pirates, the Penguins know how to scout and build a successful club. Not only successful but determined to stay where they know the fans appreciate them. Even the top ranked Nashville Predators, 46-18, had wanted to move in to Pittsburgh if the Penguins moved out. In Pittsburgh the fans are not just fair weather followers, Pirates excluded (on no fault of the fans). Western Pennsylvanians make the effort to celebrate hockey culture.
Personally, I�ve never fully appreciated hockey. Most popular sports, football, baseball, basketball and soccer use shoes, but on ice the speeds are quicker so the shots are faster and the body checks harder. We might not all agree what makes a sport exciting or worthy of taxpayer money, but I appreciate the development of hockey and its teams.
The history of a team that maintains earnest relation to its city is rare, its why Pittsburgh loves the Steelers too. So since the Penguins are dedicated to Pittsburgh then it’s worth Pittsburgh to be dedicated to keeping the Penguins.
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