Bettman credits Lemieux, Burkle for Consol Energy Center

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman played a pivotal role in keeping the Penguins in Pittsburgh during the team's negotiations for arena funding three years ago. He attended their first regular-season game Thursday night. Highlights from a general media scrum and an exclusive interview with the Tribune-Review:

On the NHL's stance on Penguins ownership potentially purchasing the Pirates:

"It's a nonissue. Actually, we have terrific owners, and we're happy to share them with the other leagues."

On HBO's "24/7" series involving the Penguins and Capitals:

"What people see on the ice is the most important thing, but I think (the show) will give people great insight into how you get there. It's not like the guys just show up and drop the puck. There are preparations, routines — and the players and organizations have feelings about one another. These are two teams that don't seem to like each other a lot, and there's a great competitive rivalry between our league's two stars."

On Consol Energy Center:

"I actually think you need to give (co-owners) Mario Lemieux and Ron Burkle the credit for sticking by this team and having the foresight to know what could be there, having once endured everything they had to go through. It's a testament to them that we're here tonight — as well as the mayor and governor and everybody that participated (in arena funding negotiations)."

On what the arena says about the NHL's health:

"It says ... this is exhibit A as to why we're doing what we're doing in Phoenix. Now Phoenix and Pittsburgh aren't the same cities and they don't have the same (hockey) history and tradition, but we've had a pretty good history of addressing problems when a franchise has them and not running out on a city."

On seeing Civic Arena:

"As we drove by to get (into Consol Energy Center), I looked at the Igloo, but not longingly. That building served this team and the community well, but it was time to move on."