Monday, May 01, 2006
Penguins’ Chilly Attitude
It is not an understatement that the debate on the corollary “benefits” of gaming has been hijacked in Pittsburgh. It has been hijacked by the Penguins’ desire to use the prospect of a casino as a way to fund its arena. That’s why the organization has joined forces with the Isle of Capri, one of the three applicants for Pittsburgh’s sole stand alone casino.
Consider it a miracle that elected officials have even convinced the other two applicants for the license to decide to contribute to the arena even though they never intended to in the first place. Majestic—which proposes to put a casino on the North Shore—would spend $7.5 million a year for thirty years to make sure an arena is built. Forest City (Station Square), has been more lukewarm, but they appear to be willing to contribute.
With all three applicants—two of whom had no intent of including an arena in their gambling plans—helping to make the idea of an arena a real possibility, the Penguins’ front office could only react with venom at the “sense of complacency” they see coming from the County Chief Executive. And this because the Executive had the gall to say that with all three applicants helping make an arena feasible that the issue was solved. Or could it be that the Isle of Capri plan is the only one out there that does not require the Penguins’ to put up some of the money to build the structure?
All we have heard from the Penguins’ organization is that Pittsburgh is not being urgent enough with the issue of the team’s lease. Let’s be clear: the City, County, the Sports and Exhibition Authority, and now the state’s Gaming Control Board have all considered the Pens’ situation. Not a lot of issues make similar rounds in a time-span of less than ten years.
The Penguins’ made the decision to join with Isle of Capri. They had their say in front of the Board. Now they need to let the deliberative process work out.
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06119/686062-61.stm
Consider it a miracle that elected officials have even convinced the other two applicants for the license to decide to contribute to the arena even though they never intended to in the first place. Majestic—which proposes to put a casino on the North Shore—would spend $7.5 million a year for thirty years to make sure an arena is built. Forest City (Station Square), has been more lukewarm, but they appear to be willing to contribute.
With all three applicants—two of whom had no intent of including an arena in their gambling plans—helping to make the idea of an arena a real possibility, the Penguins’ front office could only react with venom at the “sense of complacency” they see coming from the County Chief Executive. And this because the Executive had the gall to say that with all three applicants helping make an arena feasible that the issue was solved. Or could it be that the Isle of Capri plan is the only one out there that does not require the Penguins’ to put up some of the money to build the structure?
All we have heard from the Penguins’ organization is that Pittsburgh is not being urgent enough with the issue of the team’s lease. Let’s be clear: the City, County, the Sports and Exhibition Authority, and now the state’s Gaming Control Board have all considered the Pens’ situation. Not a lot of issues make similar rounds in a time-span of less than ten years.
The Penguins’ made the decision to join with Isle of Capri. They had their say in front of the Board. Now they need to let the deliberative process work out.
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06119/686062-61.stm
