Catch the Pens before they’re forced to migrate

I could take this time to get political and bore you with facts and figures, but I won’t do… I could take this time to get political and bore you with facts and figures, but I won’t do that.

I could use this space to tell you that you can make a difference, that you have a voice, but I actually don’t believe that, so I won’t tell you that, either.

Instead, I will tell you there are 12 chances left, no less and quite possibly, no more. From the beginning of March to the middle of April, the people of Pittsburgh have only 12 chances to watch the Pittsburgh Penguins play hockey at Mellon Arena.

After that, chances are, the Penguins are heading north, or south, or west for hibernation.

The impending doom that is the city’s slots license holds the key to the Penguins’ future. If the Penguins and their partner, the Isle of Capri casino, are not awarded the slots license, there is almost no chance the Penguins will stay in Pittsburgh past the 2006-2007 season.

However, the scariest part is that with the Penguins officially up for sale, it is possible the new owner could move the team in the next six months, wiping out the millions of dollars the Penguins bring the city each year. Ask the local businesses that suffered through the NHL lockout a year ago how much fun it was with no hockey.

There are Web sites and links that allow the fan to voice his opinion to the state’s brass, but it seems now that the fan can’t do much to help. A few weeks ago, 18 local officials announced their plan to back the Penguins’ arena, but Pittsburgh Mayor Bob O’Connor, Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell or Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato were not among them. The three officials have said they want to hear all of the proposed options before throwing their support behind any of them.

So what are they waiting for?

There are three groups competing for the license. Most people believe it is a two-horse race between the Isle of Capri and Forest City Enterprises, a group that would build their casino at Station Square and, as of now, has no plan to commit funds toward a new arena for the Penguins and the city.

So you have one group proposing to build a $290 million arena for the city, which would allow Pittsburgh to keep its hockey team in town without costing the taxpayers one dime. Or, you have another group that will build a casino in one of the most congested parts of the city and will not provide Pittsburgh with any funds for a new arena.

Sounds like a tough call to me.

However, the black and white that seems clear on the paper isn’t as transparent in the political world. Take a dive into the financial books of Rendell, O’ Connor and Onorato and you will find donations of $150,000, $29,000 and $20,000, respectively, from the people who make up Forest City Enterprises. That “cha-ching” sound you hear is what’s keeping the three most powerful politicians in Western Pennsylvania from backing the Penguins’ plan.

And they say money can’t solve everything.

The big three aren’t just running for cover – they are trying to save face. Take Rendell for example, who has asked the Penguins to solve multiple problems before addressing the possibility of state tax money being used to build a new arena. Rendell wanted to see a new collective bargaining agreement, solid ground that would allow the Penguins to compete. After the lockout, the new CBA was achieved. Then Rendell told the Penguins there was no public money available and that they should find private funds. In comes the Isle of Capri – problem solved, right?

Not quite.

Rendell then went on record less than a month ago saying that the Penguins’ deal with the Isle of Capri forbid them from discussing plans with the state government about public money available for a new arena. The announcement was a publicity stunt directed at the people who will vote later this year in the gubernatorial election. Rendell doesn’t want the public to feel as though he made no effort at keeping the Penguins, and some people in Pittsburgh may unfortunately believe him.

On Monday Rendell announced that a “Plan B” is in the works, but that the Penguins aren’t working with state officials. The Penguins have been waiting since 1999 to get the job done; Rendell and his officials have been waiting for a couple of weeks.

I know I said I wouldn’t get political or drown you with numbers, so sue me. Now you know the facts, and you can see for yourself that the fix may very well be in. The Penguins may have no realistic shot at staying in Pittsburgh.

On March 1, the Pens take the ice for first time after the Olympic break. I suggest you go before it’s too late. Forget that they are out of the playoff race, and don’t mind that Mario Lemieux no longer skates. Go see them because they’re a part of Pittsburgh, and they are ours, but possibly not for much longer.

Unless, of course, you have $290 million lying around.