“Do you have a buyer?”

Al Savill

That’s a quote from the Penguins’ principal owner, Al Savill, in December 1977. Down at least $5 million since buying the team, he and his two partners were not happy with the paltry attendance figures so far in the 1977-78 campaign and were openly admitting that if the right offer came along to buy the floundering franchise, they’d be all ears.

This analysis piece by Pens beat reporter Bob Whitley looks at just how thin the ice was beneath the Penguins feet at this point in their history. Stated Savill bluntly: “It’s no secret we need more people in the seats.”