#23 Hartford Penguins
So it looks like Sam Fingold's bid to purchase the Pittsburgh Penguins is going to go through. Fingold is a Toronto native, and a Hartford business man. His $75 million bid somehow seemed more attractive than a bid put together by people absolutely commited to keeping the team in Pittsburgh. Fingold has ties to Hartford, and has also openly admitted to being open to moving the team to Kansas City's new arena. He has changed his story now, and has said
It sounds good, until you focus on the last line - EVERYTHING POSSIBLE. That's sports business talk for it's as good as gone. If the current ownership was so committed to keeping the team in Pittsburgh, they would have taken the Cuban and Marino groups offer instead of this clearly unstable ownership team. Safe money says the Penguins are no more come 2010 at the latest. And with the "hockey" that they've been putting on the ice in resent years, maybe it's for the best.
As passionate hockey fans, we are excited about this opportunity to purchase the Pittsburgh Penguins. 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.
It sounds good, until you focus on the last line - EVERYTHING POSSIBLE. That's sports business talk for it's as good as gone. If the current ownership was so committed to keeping the team in Pittsburgh, they would have taken the Cuban and Marino groups offer instead of this clearly unstable ownership team. Safe money says the Penguins are no more come 2010 at the latest. And with the "hockey" that they've been putting on the ice in resent years, maybe it's for the best.