All right. Now we can take a deep breath. There will be a new arena for the Penguins to play in. They signed a new lease for thirty years and will remain in Pittsburgh. What’s the big deal?
Unless you live in Hartford, Winnipeg, or Quebec City, there probably is no big deal. But if you lived in one of those cities, or are a sports fan in general, it is a rough ride when you hear your favorite team is leaving. Ask any Penguin fan. They now know.
After all, these are just “sports teams”. Right? Yeah, right. Ask a father or mother in Winnipeg to explain the excitement they had in their youth to go to a professional hockey game with their parents, and you realize it’s not just a sport. It’s more than entertainment. It’s a “get together” thing. It’s friends having fun, it’s parents teaching their children, and it’s grown adults acting like kids. It’s friendly arguments and heated discussions that make for lively conversation. (Even on blog sites!)
It has been said that the main reason the Pens are still in Pittsburgh, is because of their fan support. There was a better offer waiting in Kansas City. But, one of the largest television markets, sellout crowds, and 1,500 E-mails a day to political leaders proved that the people cared. Businesses cared. Players cared.
Support your team. Take advantage of what you have. In this “it’s all about the money” world we live in, it’s too easy to lose something like “just a sports team”.
And whoever heard of a Kansas City Penguin anyhow?
