DALLAS - Gov. Ed Rendell liked the arena plan that was discussed Thursday night in a meeting with Penguins officials.
Mario Lemieux didn't.
Rendell, Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato and Mayor Luke Ravenstahl met with a Penguins contingent that included co-owner Ronald Burkle but did not include Lemieux, who had previously committed to attend an out-of-town charity event. The Penguins were surprised when Majestic Star Casino owner Don Barden unexpectedly attended the meeting. He took an active role in the talks.
Unlike a previous meeting, when both sides emerged optimistic, this one did not end well.
"I heard it wasn't very good," Lemieux said Monday at American Airlines Center, site of Wednesday's NHL All-Star Game. "Our people were offended and very disappointed. Now, as always, we have to go out and explore our options. Once we find a deal we like, we'll sign it up."
Earlier in the day, NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said he figured the Penguins would choose among competing arena plans within 2-3 weeks. Kansas City is the other city known to have presented the Penguins with an offer.
Lemieux did not dispute Daly's projection.
"The sooner the better," Lemieux said. "A few weeks ago, I said 30 days, and we're getting very close to that. Sooner or later, we're just going to make a decision and go with it. Whatever happens, happens."
Daly said the NHL will not prevent the Penguins from leaving Pittsburgh if a "viable arena plan" is not agreed upon.
"Don't think the league won't allow this team to move," Daly said. "If they don't have a viable arena plan, it would be wrong for us to make the franchise stay there."
Daly did not elaborate on what league would consider "viable" when it comes to a plan for a new arena.
"We'll have our say in the way we'll report (the plan) to the board (of governors)," Daly said, adding that the board would be the ones to vote to approve or reject a possible move.
Daly said that league by-law 36 would legally allow the NHL to prevent the Penguins from relocating, if it chose.
"I'm not concerned legally with our ability to control a franchise's location," Daly said.
The Penguins' lease at Mellon Arena expires in June.
Earlier this month, Lemieux and Burkle met with officials from Kansas City's new Sprint Center about possibly relocating there, starting next season. Officials from AEG, which will operate the Sprint Center, have offered the Penguins free rent in addition to partial revenues at the facility.
Back in Pittsburgh, Barden, who will own the city's sole stand-alone casino on the North Shore, has agreed to pay $7.5 million a year for 30 years toward the arena. The state would kick in another $7 million a year from an economic development fund backed with gambling money.
Under Rendell's original arena proposal, called Plan B, the team would have paid $8.5 million up front and $2.9 million a year, while forgoing $1.16 million in naming rights. The Penguins' contributions likely have been reduced in the latest offer, but the team might have to share arena revenues, including parking. Team officials have been concerned about how much money they might lose by staying at Mellon Arena the next two seasons rather than moving to Kansas City, said state Sen. Wayne Fontana, a member of the city-county Sports & Exhibition Authority.
Lemieux was asked about his impressions of Kansas City as a hockey market.
"I've only been there once," Lemieux said. "The one visit we had was very, very positive with local leaders being there and the corporate support they showed from the start and having the (luxury) boxes all sold out. That's a pretty good start."
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