[Sly Fox]

Obviously Houston is the largest market without an NHL franchise and there is already and arena and hockey fanbase in place. But i still have a hard time seeing the Pens here. The guy writing this story is the Rockets' beat writer so you know where his sources are coming from. Although I admit it would be cool having Sidney playing in my backyard.

Jan. 23, 2007, 5:03AM
Lemieux to visit, assess
NHL's Penguins exploring a move; Alexander mum

By JONATHAN FEIGEN
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle

NHL legend Mario Lemieux is expected to lead a delegation from the Pittsburgh Penguins to visit Houston and Toyota Center this week, according to an individual expected to be part of the talks.

Lemieux, the Penguins owner and a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, said in December that the franchise, whose lease expires after this season, would "explore relocation offers in cities outside Pennsylvania."

Tad Brown, CEO of the Rockets and Clutch City Sports and Entertainment, which operates Toyota Center, would not describe talks, if any, with the Penguins. Rockets owner Leslie Alexander would not comment.

"We look forward to seeing them if they're here," Brown said. "We'll show them how great a city Houston is and how great Toyota Center is."

Pittsburgh (21-17-8 ) is in third place in the NHL's Atlantic Division, and the Penguins are considered a team on the rise because of a pair of young stars — centers Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.

Janis Schmees, executive director of the Harris County-Houston Sports Authority, said she had heard talk of a visit by Penguins officials this week but that the Sports Authority was not involved and that it would be handled by Mayor Bill White's office.

But Schmees did tell the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review there have been "preliminary discussions" about the team's visiting Houston.

"We will work with the mayor's office on this," she said.

Lemieux, in Dallas for the NHL's All-Star Game this week, would not comment about a visit to Houston.

Alexander has said he would like to own an NHL team in Houston and has met on several occasions with potential investors.

The Penguins, whose lease at Mellon Arena expires June 30, had reached an agreement with Isle of Capri Casino through which they would work together to try to win Pittsburgh's only slots parlor license, with Isle of Capri offering to build the Penguins an arena if awarded the slots license.

When Isle of Capri did not win the license last month, the arena plan fell through, too, and Lemieux and co-owner Ronald Burkle began considering options around the country, receiving an offer from Kansas City, Mo., to move the team to Sprint Center.

Pittsburgh and Pennsylvania officials have met with Lemieux and Burkle to try to form an arena plan, but talks bogged down.

"I heard it wasn't very good," Lemieux told the Tribune-Review on Monday in Dallas. "Our people were offended and very disappointed. Now, as always, we have to go out and explore our options. Once we find a deal we like, we'll sign it up."

Alexander's interest has seemed to be to own a team, but the Penguins have been for sale in the past. Canadian businessman Jim Balsillie pulled out of an offer, expected to be worth roughly $175 million, to buy the team in December when the NHL required that the deal be contingent on the Penguins' remaining in Pittsburgh.

That was before the Isle of Capri deal fell through, and NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly has since said the league would not stand in the way if the team does not have an arena deal in Pittsburgh and moves.

Daly said a decision could come in two to three weeks.

jonathan.feigen@chron.com

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/4490532.html

[bigsmooth]

the pens belong in pittsburgh, and i would cringe seeing them in another city, though seeing sidney crosby live is a real treat in any city. the PA governor is not giving up though!

Rendell: Appeal to NHL possible if Penguins try to leave
Tuesday, January 23, 2007

By Mark Belko and Rich Lord, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The deal offered by local officials to the Penguins for a new arena is so good that, if the team tries to leave town, Gov. Ed Rendell would take his case directly to the National Hockey League, Mr. Rendell said today.

The governor, speaking at another event in Downtown Pittsburgh this morning, was asked his reaction to comments yesterday by team owner Mario Lemieux. Mr. Lemieux said he was "very disappointed" with the deal being offered and reiterated his willingness to "explore other options," including relocation of the team.

But Mr. Rendell revealed more about the offer by the state, city and county, including some sweeteners, and repeated his statement of last week that it is the best deal any sports team in the state has received in recent years to build a new facility.

"We do not want to have to go to the NHL Board of Governors. We want to conclude this deal," Mr. Rendell said. "But we will have no alternative," given the proposal, if the Penguins reject it.

Mr. Rendell said the state is offering some funds for infrastructure and would even be willing to direct some tourism funds for advertising at a new arena.

But one sticking point is that the team wants to be compensated for a $10 million payment it owes Isle of Capri, which had a development deal with the team to build an arena if if won a license to build a casino in the city. Isle of Capri lost, triggering the $10 million payment. Mr. Rendell said public officials are not inclined to cover that debt.

Isle of Capri's failure to get the license led to the current round of talks.

Mr. Rendell said he has also heard that Penguins officials plan to visit Houston to check out facilities there.

Earlier today, Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl and Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato said they are still optimistic they can negotiate a deal.

"We understand the frustration," said Mr. Ravenstahl. "It's been seven years" since Mr. Lemieux first approached public officials for help with financing a new arena.

"We're negotiating, we're optimistic, we continue to believe we can get a deal done," said Mr. Onorato.

The Penguins are upset over a proposal that would require them to share development rights near Mellon Arena and parking revenues with Pittsburgh casino developer Don Barden.

Mr. Ravenstahl and Mr. Onorato refused to discuss specifics, but the mayor referred to Mr. Rendell's statements last week that "there are always steps forward and steps back" in negotiations.

The two officials would not say when further meetings would occur.



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[Sly Fox]

You weren't cringing watching the Whalers in Raleigh.

[bigsmooth]

that is true, and im sure the minnesota north stars fans were upset too, and the quebec nordiques when they moved to denver...oh well if they move it will suck.

[A.G.]

Return of the Houston Aeros

[Innocent Bystander]

You mean these guys?

http://www.aeros.com/

[A.G.]

I googled Houston hockey and came up with this, from the hidden history of Houston hockey:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Houston_Aeros_(WHA)

Before my time, though.

[Sly Fox]

Gordie Howe and sons back in the wild west days of the WHA ... which was sort of the USFL of hockey back in the day.

Actually the Aeros draw fairly well to Toyota Center despite little to no media coverage. That said, even the Rockets aren't drawing particularly well to the Showroom. So I am having a difficult time seeing this being a rip-roaring success in Houston. The Stars were an immediate success thans to being int he Stanley Cup Finals right from the get go. But the novelty has worn off in Big D and it isn't the big deal it was just a few years ago (of course the emergence of the Mavs as a legit pro franchise certainly contributed as well).