It’s official: the Pittsburgh Penguins dealership will soon be owned by the Fenway Sports Group. The agreement must be finalized by the end of the year.
The team made the announcement on Monday morning. The deal, however, has yet to be approved by the National League’s Board of Governors. According to TSN reporter Pierre LeBrun, it would amount to $ 900 million.
The organization specifies via press release that Mario Lemieux and Ron Burkle will always be part of the owner group and will maintain “a close link” with the FSG. Lemieux will continue his role, which is to guide hockey operations. In addition, CEO David Morehouse, COO Kevin Acklin, President of Hockey Operations Brian Burke, General Manager Ron Hextall and Head Coach Mike Sullivan will retain their respective positions.
“The Pittsburgh Penguins are a premier franchise with a very strong organization, a great history and a vibrant and passionate fan base,” said FSG President Tom Werner. We will work diligently to continue building on the remarkable tradition of the Penguins Championships. ”
He also said he was excited to welcome Lemieux and Burkle to the group. “We have the utmost respect for everything they did to make the Penguins the successful franchise we know today. ”
Recall that the duo saved the franchise from bankruptcy in 1999. Since then, the Penguins have won the Stanley Cup three times.
“In this new chapter of the Penguins, I will continue to be as active and involved with the team as I have always been and I look forward to continuing to build on our success with our new partners,” said for his part. The best. They have an organizational philosophy that echoes one that has worked so well for Ron and I over the past 22 years. ”
The Fenway Sports Group, led by businessman John Henry among others, has owned the Boston Red Sox since 2002 and Liverpool FC since 2010.
“They understand what the Penguins stand for in Pittsburgh and they bring with them the latest advancements in cutting-edge sports research, data analytics, player training and performance, real estate development and organizational excellence,” supports David Morehouse. This combination is truly exciting and positions our club at the forefront of the future of professional sport and allows us to build on what Ron and Mario have created. ”