October 5, 2006

Why the Penguins should move to Kitchener/Waterloo

October 5, 2006, 6:47 PM | 11 Comments

TSN broke this story yesterday, but now it’s official. Jim Balsillie, Chairman and Co-CEO of Waterloo-based Research In Motion (makers of the BlackBerry) has purchased the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The plan is to keep the Pens in Steel Town, but only as long as they get a new arena to replace the 45 year old Mellon Arena. If they don’t get that new home, I think they should move to Kitchener/Waterloo, and here’s why:

• Waterloo Region and surrounding area (Stratford, Guelph, and all the little towns and villages) has a combined population of approximately 600,000 people. That’s more than enough to support an NHL franchise.
• Toronto Maple Leafs tickets (for reasons that escape me… c’mon, no cup since 67!) are next to impossible to get… which means there are more people who want to see some NHL hockey!
• Kitchener/Waterloo is outside the 65-mile radius of both Buffalo and Toronto. This basically means that any franchise wanting to make KW their home would not have to pay any rights fees to the Leafs or Sabres.
• It’s not Hamilton.
• Hockey players (for the most part it would seem) love beer. Hockey fans love beer. KW has North America’s biggest Oktoberfest, an event that just happens to serve beer in vast quantities.
• The KDUB is one of the hottest technology sectors in the world… lots of executives means lots of season ticket and private box sales!
• Southern Ontario is one of the hockey hot beds of this country… we need more than just the Leafs!
• Sidney Crosby & Evgeni Malkin would instantly turn into local heroes that KW could take advantage of!
• Two Universities and one College: lots of students would go see the games.
• Kitchener is a huge hockey supporter. Even our Jr. A hockey team (the OHL’s Kitchener Rangers) constantly sells out their 7,100 seat arena.
• It would only help our economy.
• We have our own international airport, so visiting teams wouldn’t have to fly to Toronto or Hamilton and then commute to KW.
• RIM is based in Waterloo… I’m sure Balsillie likes to fly in his private jet and all… but wouldn’t it be nicer if he could just travel for a few minutes to see his team?
• Canada is full of igloos and dogsleds and stuff… Penguins would fit right in ;)
• The Penguins team colours are already pretty close to the City of Waterloo’s colours.
• Pittsburgh has the “Three Rivers”… Kitchener/Waterloo has the Grand River.

Those are just a few reasons why Kitchener/Waterloo would be a great fit for an NHL team. What are your thoughts?

UPDATE: If you’re from Pittsburgh, or you’re a Penguins fan in general, I’d love to hear from you. One thing I didn’t mention was that I’ve always been a Penguins fan and they remain one of my favourite NHL teams despite their lack of success (both on and off the ice) over the past few seasons. To be completely honest, part of me would be sad to see the team leave Pittsburgh. I’m not saying that the Penguins should just up and leave, but if the city of Pittsburgh doesn’t provide a new arena for them, than I’d love to see them move to the Kitchener/Waterloo area and I promise we’d take good care of them.

UPDATE: Alan Adams of Fox Sports thinks a move to Kitchener/Waterloo makes perfect sense for the Penguins.

Posted in: Sports