OT: Local billionaire to buy Penguins

[Galatians221jb1]

https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/bus ... 687e9.html

Article probably has a firewall. Phillip Hoffman is buying the Pittsburgh Penguins for $1.7 billion. Frustrated me that he didn’t spend a bit more for the Cardinals. Our owner is 84 and overly frugal. Probably the Taylor family of Enterprise Leasing would be the best option. They could write off any financial losses with the Cardinals and not have to make a ton off of the ballclub.

[bretto12]

you do realize that if someone spends almost 2 Billion on a team, he will want to recoup his money before he goes crazy with payrolls of 200 million. He will not come into town on a white horse throwing money around. You have to realize that he Cards will never be able to spend like the big market teams. We don't have the population base to support a local tv deal like the big team. The Dodgers make more in local tv money then the Cards do from all sources.
It is going to take a rebuild to make the team competitive again and it is possible that unless the owners find some way to equalize the payrolls, even just a little bit, the small teams are out.

Why can't the players understand that a salary cap and floor will not stop the massive contracts. It just means they may play in KC or Cincy instead of NY or LA.

[hockey jedi]

I hope he relocated them to Washington, Missouri. What a rivalry.

[Goldfan]

This fella is from around Stl? I’m seeing Chicago

[Ronnie Dobbs]

Why not? He's done such a great deal in Augusta.

[Galatians221jb1]

This fella is from around Stl? I’m seeing Chicago

He owns huge vineyards west of St. Louis. He bought into the ownership of the Post Dispatch or is trying to.

[RunSup]

I poked around to see if Phillip Hoffman was one of the minority owners of the Cardinals. Finally asked Google AI and got this response (with Gen AI hallucination caveats), ...

The St. Louis Cardinals are primarily owned by William DeWitt Jr. and his family, who acquired controlling interest in 1996. The ownership group includes other minority partners, such as:

• William DeWitt III: Current President of the St. Louis Cardinals and son of the principal owner.
• Andrew DeWitt.
• Katherine D. Kern.
• Margaret D. Good.
• Donna DeWitt Lambert: William DeWitt Jr.'s sister.
• Michael McDonnell: Leads Rock Island Corp. and holds an ownership stake.
• David Pratt: Founder of United Industries Inc..
• Lee Enterprises, Inc.: The media company acquired a small minority stake through its purchase of Pulitzer Inc..
• Adam Wainwright: The former Cardinals pitcher reportedly became a co-owner in late 2025.

Other former minority owners in the DeWitt group included Drew Baur, [Frederick] Hanser, Bob Castellini (now owner of the Cincinnati Reds), and brothers Thomas and W. Joseph Williams Jr., all of whom have since sold their shares.

No on Hoffman. But Adam Wainwright is part of the ownership group?

[RunSup]

PS. Google says David Hoffman of Hoffman Family Group of Companies is buying the Pittsburgh Penguins. No Phillip.

Phillip Seymour Hoffman was an accomplished actor. Played Art Howe in Moneyball. Also Plutarch Heavensbee, Head Games Maker of the 75th Hunger Games.

[ScotchMIrish]

https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/bus ... 687e9.html

Article probably has a firewall. Phillip Hoffman is buying the Pittsburgh Penguins for $1.7 billion. Frustrated me that he didn’t spend a bit more for the Cardinals. Our owner is 84 and overly frugal. Probably the Taylor family of Enterprise Leasing would be the best option. They could write off any financial losses with the Cardinals and not have to make a ton off of the ballclub.

My perception of rich people watching them from afar is they tend not to invest in things that lose money. It's possible they are avid baseball fans and want to buy the Cardinals but the team needing revenue sharing this year isn't a sign of a healthy business.

[Bushiro]

you do realize that if someone spends almost 2 Billion on a team, he will want to recoup his money before he goes crazy with payrolls of 200 million. He will not come into town on a white horse throwing money around. You have to realize that he Cards will never be able to spend like the big market teams. We don't have the population base to support a local tv deal like the big team. The Dodgers make more in local tv money then the Cards do from all sources.
It is going to take a rebuild to make the team competitive again and it is possible that unless the owners find some way to equalize the payrolls, even just a little bit, the small teams are out.

Why can't the players understand that a salary cap and floor will not stop the massive contracts. It just means they may play in KC or Cincy instead of NY or LA.

I agree....but when this team has 3 to 3.5 million fans showing up....and the cards are winning ballgames....there is no reason he can't have a payroll around 180 to 200 million and still turn a decent profit....you don't get a reputation for being a cheapskate for nothing ....mo and ownership are why the team is where it's at now....

[rockondlouie]

Where's my guy scouty the penguin?

[scoutyjones2]

Where's my guy scouty the penguin?

Right here...

Where are the Blues?

[rockondlouie]

Where's my guy scouty the penguin?

Right here...

Where are the Blues?

Right here.....

Be nice or we'll have your new owner move the team to Canada.

[scoutyjones2]

Where's my guy scouty the penguin?

Right here...

Where are the Blues?

Right here.....

Be nice or we'll have your new owner move the team to Canada.

Lol. This isn't St Louis football or basketball and it's a Chicago based organization buying them.

[sikeston bulldog2]

Where's my guy scouty the penguin?

Right here...

Where are the Blues?

Right here.....

Be nice or we'll have your new owner move the team to Canada.

Lol. This isn't St Louis football or basketball

Oooh my. That was a dagger. Don’t call ur surgeon; even he says it’s late.

[rockondlouie]

Where's my guy scouty the penguin?

Right here...

Where are the Blues?

Right here.....

Be nice or we'll have your new owner move the team to Canada.

Lol. This isn't St Louis football or basketball and it's a Chicago based organization buying them.

Owner is from Washington, Mo about 40 miles from the Lou'