PENGUINS Lemieux pleads for arena

The owner might sell the team if a new arena is not built.
PRESTO, Pa. (AP) -- Mario Lemieux might soon put the Pittsburgh Penguins up for sale unless the team works out a deal for a new arena.
Lemieux, speaking to reporters Thursday for the first time in seven months, said slot machines in Pennsylvania could be the club's last hope to replace 43-year-old Mellon Arena.
"If there's no arena in sight, then we have to explore all of our options," Lemieux said. "The franchise right now is not for sale; although, I've had many inquiries, but it might be in the future."
Lemieux revealed he recently received three unsolicited and "encouraging" inquiries from out-of-town parties interested in the Penguins; though, he didn't disclose their names or locations.
"I've been working on this (arena) for the last three years and really haven't made any progress, especially in the past year. It is frustrating a little bit," he said. "As an ownership group, we've taken this as far as we could. ... I think it's up to the community now to decide if they want to keep this team here."
Same old story
Lemieux's remarks, made on the opening day of his charity golf tournament, were much like those he made at the same event last year. Then, he said he felt "betrayed" by the lack of arena support from city and county leaders.
When Lemieux's ownership group bought the Penguins in federal bankruptcy court in 1999, an informal agreement with the city and Allegheny County called for an arena financing deal to be in place by 2002.
Since then, the proposed arena has become a potential political liability for elected officials dealing with an economic downturn that has left the city barely staving off bankruptcy and the county laying off employees.
That's why Lemieux is hopeful a slots bill is approved by state lawmakers and that it would help fund a replacement for Mellon, the NHL's oldest arena. Lemieux emphasized an arena is used for many events other than hockey and that many concerts and touring shows bypass Pittsburgh because of its inadequate arena.
Depending on slots bill
The Pennsylvania House and Senate each approved gambling bills last year, but the bills died when members could not reconcile differences between the two. Supporters are hopeful a compromise can be worked out this month before lawmakers break for the summer.
"We're watching the slots very closely. That's probably the last chance we have to make an arena deal," Lemieux said. "There has to be a component for funding the new arena through the legislation, and if that doesn't happen, I don't see an arena being built here."
After spending $14 million on the proposed arena, including $10 million for a proposed site, the Penguins aren't exploring any funding options except the slots.
As for his own career, Lemieux -- who turns 39 in October -- still expects to play for Canada in the World Cup this summer. He also has no plans to retire even if there is a long labor impasse, which he said the Penguins are financially prepared to weather.