Offical Arena Thread: 2/1/07

[SDPensFan]

Rob Rossi is going to be on Madden's show in the 4pm hour to discuss the latest on the arena deal.

BLAH BLAH BLAH

Rossi is going on Maddens show to bring him 15 dozen of hot wings and a pizza

THATS ALL!

[Doogs]

td, didn't Madden say earlier that it was Rossi's column that he got his info from when he called the deal is done?

If that is his source anyone with an internet connection and a log on to LGP.com could do Maddens job.

[Mad City Mike]

Rossi highlights:

Real story: expects deal by tomorrow

Stands by the Fontana story, but Fontana not directly involved in talks

Madden says Pens think Fontana knows nothing

Rossi not buying what Pens are saying (MM) about conspiracy theories

Notes Ravenstahl also said this week is likely

$10 mil IoC payment sticking point, Pens want it from state

Pens/Barden issues are resolved (middle ground)

Argument over "smaller" things now

Doesn't see a deal breaker

Close on major issues

Hill District won't be deal breaker

MM thinks HD should give Pens a share of crack sales

Not convinced KC deal is concrete. Pittsburgh is more ironed out right now

KC not a serious threat right now, Pens are only dealing with Pittsburgh right now

Longer it goes, more likely they stay

Pens say need decision in 5-7 days based on 30-day window told to KC, but league has a bit longer timetable. More time to work deal in Pgh.

Rendell counting on Burkle ties to get it done.

Says Rendell is negotiating through media, but today he only reacted to Fontana today.

They shut up after Rendell, Burkle talked. Not have that mayor talked.

MM says worried about dishonesty by Rendell. RR says Rendell worried about legacy and setting up Onorato to run for guv. Can't do if there is anger over Pens leaving.

Not shocked if it's done tomorrow or over the weekend.

MM closed with shot at LGP yet again, criticizing those who hang on every message board post.

[mattyj5571]

Rossi says he doesn't view KC as a real threat because the Pens aren't even talking to them.

[Corban87]

All he tries to do is pull Rossi into his corner. And Rossi just goes against him in just about everything he brings up.

[emptynet_66]

$10 mil IoC payment sticking point, Pens want it from state


Close on major issues

this could be a problem

This is retarded. They're going to owe 10 million to SMG if they leave!

[jwest21]

$10 mil IoC payment sticking point, Pens want it from state


Close on major issues

this could be a problem

Yeah, but I bet they could get this spread out over a few years and minimize the payouts

[jwest21]

Oh, and thanks Mike for the info!

[Maestro]

How about I'll set up a paypal account expressly for collecting the $10mil through independent donors - once we reach the $10mil goal I'll transfer the funds from my account directly to the Lemieux Group...




.... I promise.... Scout's honor

[emptynet_66]

Rossi: They're a lot closer than they want us to believe.

Oh, and Madden called us "pathetic."

[newarenanow]

Thanks MCM. So Rossi really thinks a deal will be done tomorrow?

[Doogs]

Nice, Madden threw a dig at us, for actually being interested in this story, and coming together to talk about it.

Rossi said we should be exhausted.

[jwest21]

$10 mil IoC payment sticking point, Pens want it from state


Close on major issues

this could be a problem

Yeah, but I bet they could get this spread out over a few years and minimize the payouts

wouldn't that cost them more then..

probably. Perhaps the sticking point is them negotiating the spreading out of the payment and minimizing the interest.

[bill from turtle creek]

Ha! It's a privilege to be called "pathetic" by him. As he said it, probably the meaty drool of that pizza was spreading down his shirt.

[Stoosh]

Rossi on with Madden…

- Madden asks about the difference between the Fontana comments and Rendell comments…Rossi says he still expects deal to be announced in a short period of time, possibly as early as tomorrow.

- Points out that Fontana isn’t directly involved in the talks, but he’s certainly speaking with some degree of authority on this issue.

- Really going after Madden’s theory that the politicians are only doing this to set themselves up to look good if the Pens leave because the politicians have absolutely nothing to gain by doing that. In fact, it would be more detrimental to the politicians than anything else.

- Apparently, he’s talked to the Pens to a substantial degree and he’s not necessarily buying what they’re selling.

- Says he’s heard from more than one source that the Pens and elected officials are going to make sure this is “all wrapped up nicely and neatlyâ€￾ when they make the announcement.

- Says the IOC payment may still be an issue, but this should in no way be a deal-breaking issue.

- Madden asks if at some point, the deal in KC becomes better because it’s more concrete? Rossi says he doesn’t think so at all. He doesn’t even know how concrete the deal is there. Until the Pens go back to KC, engage in any real serious talks with KC and actually apply to the league for relocation, he doesn’t think KC is a threat.

- The longer this goes on, the more likely they stay in Pittsburgh because the less time they’ll have to go to KC.

- Madden asks how quickly the clock is ticking. Rossi said they probably have longer than the self-imposed 30-day deadline the Pens gave. The league believes this deadline could extend into mid-Feb or so.

- Madden asks if Rendell is counting on Lemieux’s legacy in Pittsburgh. Rossi said he doesn’t think so…from what he’s been told, this is more about doing the deal with Burkle than anything else. The best way for Mario to collect completely on his investment in the Pens is to work up a favorable deal here.

- Is Rendell negotiating too much through the media? Not really. Rendell’s comments today were reactions to what Fontana said. Apparently, the conversations Rendell and Burkle have had have gone very, very well and those are fueling the reports that the deal is close.

- Madden says his biggest worry is that Rendell is a dishonest man who doesn’t care about Pittsburgh. Asks Rossi if he has reasons to be concerned. Rossi said from talking to politicians close to this deal and close to Rendell, Rendell and Onorato (especially Onorato) are very concerned about this area, if only because they are out to protect their own interests and they know what they stand to lose if this goes bad.

- Asked for a target date. Rossi says possibly tomorrow…possibly early next week.

Haha! Madden closes by asking if the people who follow this situation on the message boards like carp grasping for every nugget should be considered pathetic. Rossi said those people should be considered exhausted.

You know, for someone who considers us message board posters as forms of life lower than the organisms that habitate pools of stagnant water, Madden sure does concern himself with us quite a bit. Kind of ironic, too, considering he used to post on the old board.

[Doogs]

new, he said it wouldn't shock him tomorrow, or Sunday or early next week. Get out the No-Doze.

[td_ice]

Also Madden asked Rossi if the Govenor was counting on Lemieux to keep team here because of his legacy.

Rossi: We all due respect to Mario, that whole 'keep the team here due to legacy' is pretty much out the window and not a factor at all. I mean Mario has already, before the deal fell apart, sold to a guy, in Balsille, who would have moved the team. Mario is going to take the best deal for him, no matter what city it is.

So no Rendell is not counting on that at all. What he is counting on is Burkle and the fact they have a good relationship.

[dboss]

$10 mil IoC payment sticking point, Pens want it from state


Close on major issues

this could be a problem

This is retarded. They're going to owe 10 million to SMG if they leave!

it is...i mean 10million!!!???!!! burkle is worth 2billion....2billion!! 10mil is nothing to him

Right, but that is Burkle. Burkle and the LGP are totally separate for legal purposes. Burkle has not earned a $$$ from this 'investment' yet so I see no need for him to just pay the fee. If Burkle were just to write a check he would want something in return, such as a higher % of ownership in the club.

[td_ice]

Madden: I have been told from my Penguins insiders that Fontana actually knows little about the situation.

Rossi: I have sources from the Pen's also, and believe I don't always buy what they put out there.