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.
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2. Mick - October 5, 2006, 9:49 PM
Agree with the beer thing, as well as that there are enough people in this area. I don’t think the move would happen in the next 5 years, but maybe someday.
P.S. Penguins (at least the kind on the front of their jerseys) only live in the southern hemisphere - specifically antarctica
3. Jonathan Eckmier - October 5, 2006, 10:45 PM
David: I’m glad we agree.
Mick: Yes, I am well aware of the fact that penguins live in Antarctica, but thanks for providing the lesson because I’m sure there are some that didn’t get my joke. :)
4. Chris Iwanowski - October 6, 2006, 4:44 PM
“It’s not Hamilton.” ‘nuff said.
5. Michael Gregg - October 13, 2006, 12:51 PM
Pittsburgh needs the Penguins and the Penguins need Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh has had the Penguins since 1967. It might not seem that long but at that time there were only 12 teams. Today there are 31 teams. Of the 12 that existed in 1967, 2 (Minnesota and Oakland) are no longer in there founding cities. That means that Pittsburgh has had the Penguins as long as all but 6 teams (since the remaining 3 teams, Philadelphia, L.A. & St. Louis started the same year). Pittsburgh has supported the Penguins through their 40 years of existence. Being originally from Pittsburgh I can tell you that Pittsburgh is just about as crazy about hockey as anywhere. When they are in the playoffs just about everyone has Penguins signs in the windows and are going crazy. They do need a new arena, and the politicians are working on that. Hopefully it will be resolved soon as they have bought land in Pittsburgh for the arena, they just need to finalize the funding. Pittsburgh needs the Penguins, the Penguins need Pittsburgh, and the NHL needs more cities that are crazy about their HOMETOWN team!
6. Jonathan Eckmier - October 13, 2006, 1:15 PM
Michael: I completely agree that the NHL needs to have more cities that are behind their team 100%. One of the biggest problems that the NHL has had over the past several years is focusing too much on expansion and not enough on making sure their existing franchises are in good shape.
I had always thought that Pittsburgh was a good hockey city, and still do, but the ‘powers that be’ need to step in and just get this deal done.
It’s nice to hear that the Penguins draw a lot of support when they’re in the playoffs, but I don’t think that’s enough. I see people hanging Toronto Maple Leafs flags from their cars all year long, regardless of how the on-ice performance has been and the fact that the Leafs haven’t won a Stanley Cup since 1967. The Penguins need to have year-round support, and if they don’t get it from the city of Pittsburgh and the state of Pennsylvania, then they deserve to go to a place that will support them no matter the cost.
7. jaymckay - October 18, 2006, 1:06 PM
You make some good points. I’ve thought KW would be a great spot for an NHL team. I hope it’s not the penguins though—I think they are in the right place and just need an updated stadium.
A couple positive points I think you missed are, 1) KW has a decent highway system (although they would need a stadium just off of the highway since I hear the street system in the cities are dreadful) and 2) KW is closer to London than Hamilton is (who (Londoners) are die-hard hockey fans and many seem like they are crying for another teem to cheer for) and a KW team would still bring in those seemingly hated Hamiltonians (I personally like Hamilton better as a city—that said, I don’t live there anymore).
Planning wise, I would hope they don’t just plop it down like a big (dumb) box store and hopefully think about where, why and how it would help the region. I see the highways being over-strained and would think that a Go train system would be imperative to a teams long-term success.
Also, dangle the name ‘The Ontario *blanks*’ (penguins/coyotes) under provincial politicians and watch them salivate like… Coyotes? Then watch the funding flood in.
8. Jonathan Eckmier - October 25, 2006, 11:53 PM
Jay: Thanks for your comment. I think having a decent highway system is a great point. KW’s highway system isn’t incredible, but it’s pretty good and it’s getting better all the time.
9. roger g - December 2, 2006, 6:41 PM
IT WOULD BE A GOOD MOVE
HOCKEY MATTERS IN CANADA
10. J.Stanley - May 30, 2007, 4:38 PM
Just commenting on the Hiway thing. The Hiway system is only good on the 401 the maor route through ON, that passes through Cambridge and againsta Kitchener. As for teh Hiway system heading into kitchener? You muct be kidding me? Kitchener’s hyw 8,86,7 system is 5 yeaers behind as is and is grid locked 5 hours out of any given weekday. I could only imagine if a Game day was on a weekday how no one would be able to head north in to town (home or for the game).
DOn’t get me wrong I thing KW’s posioton and demographics are PERFECT! with out a doubt. Its just the Area was so poorly built major-roadwise. Its hard to see nothing but chaos having a team without them fixing a few things first.
My second point is I totaly they should name the team Ontario ________ and leave the Kitchener name out of the team name. Seems more classy
11. Jonathan Eckmier - June 2, 2007, 7:43 PM
@J.Stanley: Well, you’re right about the grid-lock as the system currently sits and I would agree that were at least 5 years behind where we should be. Having said that, highway 8 is currently undergoing some heavy renovations that should alleviate some of the traffic problems. Besides, if a new arena were to be built, by the time it’s finished those infrastructure changes will be complete.
Don’t get me wrong I thing KW’s posioton and demographics are PERFECT! with out a doubt. Its just the Area was so poorly built major-roadwise. Its hard to see nothing but chaos having a team without them fixing a few things first.
I respectfully disagree. If you look at the way KW’s major roads and highways are setup, it really doesn’t take any more than 10-15 minutes to get to/from the expressway to anywhere else in the city… even on a day with bad weather. Unless there are accidents, I really feel like our infrastructure is better suited to handle the amount of traffic we have than some other major Ontario cities like London, Hamltion and of course, Toronto.