PRESTO, Pa. -- Penguins owner Mario Lemieux is expressing pessimism about the team's future in the city if it can't secure financial backing for a new $270 million arena.

Discussion

Does Pittsburgh Need A New Arena?

Lemieux, at his annual charity golf tournament at Nevillewood, said Thursday that he feels "betrayed" by the lack of support from Pittsburgh and Allegheny County leaders in the effort to build an arena to replace 42-year-old Mellon Arena -- the oldest and second-smallest venue in the National Hockey League.

Raising the specter of the team leaving Pittsburgh, he said the targeted 2006 opening for a new arena is "pretty much gone unless something happens in the next 30 to 60 days."

If there is no movement on the issue in those two months, Lemieux said he will have to begin considering "all his options."

"This franchise is a free agent in 2007. I hope they understand that," Lemieux said. The Penguins' lease at the Igloo will have expired by that time.

In response to Lemieux's comments, Mayor Tom Murphy's office issued a statement saying the mayor has worked hard to keep the team in the city, but there is no tax money available for financing a new arena.

Murphy's spokesman, Craig Kwiecinski, said there may be other money available, however, and that "any financing proposal must include significant state and private funding."

County Chief Executive Jim Roddey said while he will work toward keeping the Penguins in Pittsburgh, the county is unable to finance a new arena now.

Lemieux said that promises that the city and county governments would help develop financing for a new arena played a significant role in his decision to purchase the franchise out of bankruptcy in 1999. Lemieux returned to the ice as a player in December 2000 after a 44-month retirement.

He said he won't decide for another two to three weeks whether to return as a player next season but said he is feeling healthier than he did at the end of this season, when the Penguins missed the playoffs for the second year in a row.

Lemieux said he is committed to remaining with the franchise "in some capacity" for the immediate future and was frustrated by rumors that he would sell his stake in the Penguins for a chance to play elsewhere.

He put those rumors to rest with a statement Monday, saying if he plays next season, it will be with the Penguins.

Lemieux on Thursday said he wants to play only at a high level but realizes another championship run is a long shot.

"I am not the future of the franchise. If the franchise can't survive without me on the ice then I don't like the chances of the franchise staying here," he said.