Mario Lemieux, in a move "heralded" by supporters of
his efforts to keep the Penguins in Pittsburgh, hired "well-
regarded" N.Y.-based Zolfo Cooper analyst Leonard LoBiondo
yesterday to work on his refinancing plan for the team,
according to Ann Belser of the PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE.
Lemieux received some more "optimism" when SMG President Wes
Westley, whose company operates Civic Arena, said that the
firm "would sacrifice some profits to help revive the
franchise." Westley: "I think reasonable men can prevail
here." LoBiondo will be in charge of examining the
Penguins' finances to "determine if the [team] can be viable
in Pittsburgh" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 5/14). ESPN.com's
Al Morganti wrote that "the most likely final result" for
the Penguins is that they will "remain" in Pittsburgh and be
owned by a group headed by Lemieux and Broadcast.com co-
Founder Mark Cuban. Cuban: "I truly believe that if SMG
would get realistic with a lease arrangement, this deal
could get done very quickly." Morganti added that the team
will end up with a "revised" lease at the Civic Center "and
the promise of a new arena" (ESPN.com, 5/13). But
Pittsburgh Mayor Tom Murphy and Allegheny County
Commissioners Mike Dawida and Bob Cranmer said yesterday
that they "would not consider a new arena for the Penguins
until the team gets its finances in order." That means
groups submitting reorganization plans for the team "will
not be able to count on a new arena in their financial
projections" (Pittsburgh POST-GAZETTE, 5/14).
PROOF FOR MARIO: A study by KPMG Peat Marwick found
that the team's lease at Civic Arena is "one of the worst"
in the NHL. The team's rent costs it $.29 on every dollar
it earns, which is more than what six teams in comparable
market sizes pay. The Penguins' lease was compared to those
of the Stars, Avalanche, Coyotes, Islanders, Devils and
Mighty Ducks (Pittsburgh TRIBUNE-REVIEW, 5/14).
IN PORTLAND: Trail Blazers Dir of Corporate & Community
Affairs Melinda Gable called rumors of the Penguins being
purchased by Paul Allen "a pretty dead issue." But the
OREGONIAN's Paul Buker noted that one reason for
"speculation" is that Allen could use the Penguins as
programming for a new RSN (Portland OREGONIAN, 5/13).
SIGNS, SIGNS, EVERYWHERE, SIGNS: A few handmade signs
held up by fans at Civic Arena last night for the Maple
Leafs-Penguins Game Four included: "Support Mario's Group,"
with the S, M, G capitalized, and "Mayor, Mayor, Why Don't
You Care?" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 5/14).
