Mario Lemieux will not officially be part of Penguins organization, no longer has ownership stake, sources say
PITTSBURGH —
For the first time since 1983, Mario Lemieux will not officially be a part of the Pittsburgh Penguins organization, sources tell Pittsburgh’s Action News 4.
Lemieux and Ron Burkle reportedly sold their minority stake in the Penguins when the Hoffmann Family of Companies purchased the team from Fenway Sports Group.
HF Companies bought the Penguins for around $1.75 billion in a transaction that was finalized in June.
At a news conference to introduce the Hoffmann ownership group on June 25, Pittsburgh’s Action Sports director Andrew Stockey asked, “Have you spoken with Mario Lemieux at all during this process? Will he be part of this ownership group, or at least have a role in the new administration of the Penguins?”
Geoff Hoffmann answered the question, saying, “Mario and I have spent some time together. He has been as good as advertised, I think. Just a great, great guy. I’m really hopeful that he will be a part of this in whatever way, shape or form makes sense for him, but we would love for him to be a part of it. We know what he means to hockey, to the Penguins, to the city and to the NHL, and I think everybody would embrace him with open arms, especially the three of us up here.”
Lemieux had been part of the Penguins’ ownership since 1999, when he bought the team out of bankruptcy. The Penguins were sold to FSG in 2021, with Lemieux remaining a minority owner and having a very limited presence with the franchise.