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Penguins Not Happy With Slot Machine License Issuance

The Pittsburgh Penguins were planning on the Isle of Capri to win the Pittsburgh slot machine license. Now that the slot machine license has been handed to Don Barden of PITG Gaming instead, the Penguins have to decide what to do. They had agreed that if Isle of Capri had won the slot machine license then they would stay in Pittsburgh and let them build them a new arena. However, now that Isle of Capri has not won the slot machine license, their future is somewhat uncertain.

Mario Lemieux, Hall of Fame Player, heads the Penguins ownership group, and is discouraged by the outcome of the slot machine license. He says that the franchise is going to begin considering all options, including one that would sell the Penguins to another state and move the two time Stanley Cup champs. Jim Balsillie had offered to purchase the Penguins for $175 million, but the NHL wanted him to keep them in Pittsburgh – so he pulled out of the deal. "At this point, our franchise enters a period of uncertainty, with our lease at Mellon Arena set to expire this summer," chief executive officer Ken Sawyer said. "We will re-evaluate all of our options before deciding on a course of action and making further comment."

The city and county were busy announcing that now that the slot machine license has been issued, they can get down to finalizing an alternate deal for the Penguins. Meanwhile, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman was warning them that now that Isle was not given the slot machine license, the future of the Penguins is up in the air. "The decision by the Gaming Commission was terrible news for the Penguins, their fans and the NHL," Bettman said in a statement. "The future of this franchise in Pittsburgh is uncertain and the Penguins now will have to explore all other options, including possible relocation. The NHL will support the Penguins in their endeavors."

The Penguins official announcement from Ken Sawyer was:

We congratulate Don Barden and PITG Gaming on their successful bid. Obviously, we are very disappointed that the Isle of Capri was not awarded the slots license. We want to thank them for their effort over the past year, including an unprecedented offer to fully fund construction of a new arena had they received the [slot machine] license. We also want to thank the dozens of local leaders and thousands of fans and concerned citizens who voiced their support for what they believed was the best plan [for a slot machine casino] for our region. Had Isle of Capri been selected [for the slot machine license], 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. 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.

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