I’m sure some of you know that I am a huge hockey fan. This all season there had been talks about the Penguins leaving Pittsburgh. There were talks that they might go to Kansas City where a brand new area lay waiting. Mellon Area is the oldest hockey area in the league. A few months ago there was a hearing on who would get the slots license for the Pittsburgh area. The Isle of Capri organization if awarded the license would have given 290 million in private money for a new multi-purpose arena for the penguins. They of course were not awarded the slots license. A lot of people thing this had a lot to do with politics, I mean what local government would turn down 290 million dollars in private money to build a public facility?

So after that announcement many people though the penguins were gone. Penguin’s owners were meeting with officials in Kansas City and a few other cities. No one really heard anything about a deal forming so we still had hope they would stay in Pittsburgh. Then there was a meeting set with Penguins owners and government officials. After the meeting a new arena deal was reached so the penguins would stay in Pittsburgh! The new arena will be built across the street from the current Mello Arena. This new area will keep the Penguins playing in Pittsburgh for the next 30 years!

It’s great to know that the penguins are staying in Pittsburgh because they are playing amazing hockey. After being the worst team in the league last year the pens are 2nd in their division, 4th in the eastern conference, and 8th in the league (out of 30 teams). This young Penguins team reminds me of the 91-92 penguins. I’m not saying they are going to win the Stanley Cup, because they are such a young team, but it is going to be nice to see the Penguins in the playoffs. Something Pittsburgh has not seen in a long time. Check out the video below of some of the highlights from the Penguins season!