Pens' future in Pittsburgh in doubt after slots vote
Casino aligned with Pens not awarded license
ESPN.com news services
The Penguins' future in Pittsburgh might be in doubt after a casino the team had aligned with, in the hopes of getting a new arena built, wasn't awarded a slots license by the city.
PITG Gaming was awarded Pittsburgh's first license to operate a slot-machine casino, beating out two other bidders, including Isle of Capri casino, which had promised to build the Penguins a new arena if it was awarded the license.
Isle of Capri had said it would build a $290 million facility for the Penguins to replace 45-year-old Mellon Arena -- at no cost to taxpayers or the team -- if it obtained a slot-machine license from the state.
Penguins owner Mario Lemieux said this week that the Penguins would have to "consider all of our options" if Isle of Capri wasn't awarded the license.
On Wednesday, after the Pittsburgh Gaming Board's rejection of Isle of Capri's bid, the team released a statement calling its future uncertain.
"Had Isle of Capri been selected, it would have ensured the long-term future of the Penguins in Pittsburgh and would have delivered a $1 billion development opportunity to the Lower Hill and Uptown," the team said. "At this point, our franchise enters a period of uncertainty, with our lease at Mellon Arena set to expire this summer. We will re-evaluate all of our options before deciding on a course of action and making further comment."
Earlier this week, Lemieux called a deal to sell the team to a Canadian billionaire "unequivocally" dead.
Jim Balsillie last week withdrew his offer to buy the Penguins for $175 million but has said he might still try to purchase the team. Lemieux said that won't happen and the club will try to make Balsillie forfeit his deposit.
"We can say unequivocally that the deal with Mr. Balsillie is dead," Lemieux said. "We were shocked and offended that Mr. Balsillie would back out of such an important deal at the last minute -- and less than a week before a decision on the funding of a new arena that will have far-reaching implications on our franchise, our city and our region."
Detroit-based casino developer Don H. Barden's PITG Gaming has proposed building a casino and entertainment development on the city's North Shore, near Heinz Field and PNC Park.
Barden had promised to contribute some money for a new arena over 30 years under a plan proposed by city and county officials that would include public funds. But that plan also calls for the Penguins to help pay for the facility.
"I am committed to what we said we were going to do," Barden said Wednesday. "We're going to fund $7.5 million a year for 30 years towards financing a new multipurpose arena."
He said he will meeting soon with Allegheny County executive Dan Onorato and Pittsburgh mayor Luke Ravenstahl to get the process moving.
"It will be the largest of our operations and we're going to put a lot of attention on this project," Barden said. "We're going to get it going right away."
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
