PITTSBURGH -- Penguins owner-captain Mario Lemieux said he
is doubtful that the team will remain in Pittsburgh after its
Mellon Arena lease expires in 2007, citing a lack of progress on a
new arena.
The Penguins are projecting a $7 million loss this season, a
figure that assumes the team will draw near-capacity crowds and
advance to the second round of the playoffs.
"I think we're really running out of time," Lemieux said
Saturday. "We probably ran out of time already. It's been
unfortunate that the city and the county haven't been willing to
work with us over the last two or three years."
Lemieux has said for several years that the Penguins would not
be able to survive in Pittsburgh without a new arena. Mellon Arena
is the oldest and smallest arena in the National Hockey League.
The lease allows the team to solicit offers for the franchise
beginning in June 2006. Kansas City is among the cities that have
expressed interest in the team.
"We'll sit down with everybody and understand what's at stake
for our investment and what's best for the franchise" when the
board of directors is scheduled to meet this week, Lemieux said.