NASCAR14FAN
02-02-2007, 12:50 PM
By Rob Rossi
TRIBUNE-REVIEW (Pittsburgh, PA)
Friday, February 2, 2007
Gov. Ed Rendell said Thursday a deal for a new Uptown arena isn't quite finished, but he has given the Penguins a revised plan to keep the team in Pittsburgh.
"In no way have they indicated it's over," Rendell said.
State Sen. Wayne Fontana, a Brookline Democrat on the board of the city-county Sports & Exhibition Authority, told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review that negotiations between the Penguins and public officials were down to "just little things," and that he didn't know of any "major hurdles" remaining. The authority would own the arena.
Mayor Luke Ravenstahl said yesterday he remains optimistic officials will reach an agreement with the team. He described negotiations as "close" and anticipates resuming discussions with the Penguins "by the end of the week."
"This is something that, when we get the opportunity to speak once again, could happen at any time," Ravenstahl said. "Hopefully, the next time we talk, we get a deal done."
The Penguins had no comment.
The Penguins on Jan. 4 imposed a 30-day deadline to complete an arena deal. They were expected to tell Kansas City officials by Feb. 4 whether they would relocate to play in the new Sprint Center starting next season.
Rendell and Penguins co-owner Ronald Burkle have spoken a few times by phone since a contentious meeting between the sides on Jan. 18 -- the second negotiating session.
The relationship between Rendell and Burkle dates to their time spent on the Democratic National Committee. Burkle, a noted Democratic fund-raiser, contributed $10,000 to Rendell's first gubernatorial campaign.
During the last face-to-face meeting between the Penguins and public officials, the team balked at sharing money from parking and the development rights for the Mellon Arena site with Majestic Star Casino owner Don Barden, who won the state license to build a Pittsburgh slots casino and will contribute money toward an arena.
Under Rendell's alternate financing plan, Majestic Star would pay $7.5 million a year for 30 years toward an arena, the state would pay $7 million a year. The Penguins' contribution was being negotiated. They were first asked to pay $8.5 million up front and $2.9 million a year, and to give up $1.16 million a year in naming rights -- a request Rendell has said was "significantly reduced."
TRIBUNE-REVIEW (Pittsburgh, PA)
Friday, February 2, 2007
Gov. Ed Rendell said Thursday a deal for a new Uptown arena isn't quite finished, but he has given the Penguins a revised plan to keep the team in Pittsburgh.
"In no way have they indicated it's over," Rendell said.
State Sen. Wayne Fontana, a Brookline Democrat on the board of the city-county Sports & Exhibition Authority, told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review that negotiations between the Penguins and public officials were down to "just little things," and that he didn't know of any "major hurdles" remaining. The authority would own the arena.
Mayor Luke Ravenstahl said yesterday he remains optimistic officials will reach an agreement with the team. He described negotiations as "close" and anticipates resuming discussions with the Penguins "by the end of the week."
"This is something that, when we get the opportunity to speak once again, could happen at any time," Ravenstahl said. "Hopefully, the next time we talk, we get a deal done."
The Penguins had no comment.
The Penguins on Jan. 4 imposed a 30-day deadline to complete an arena deal. They were expected to tell Kansas City officials by Feb. 4 whether they would relocate to play in the new Sprint Center starting next season.
Rendell and Penguins co-owner Ronald Burkle have spoken a few times by phone since a contentious meeting between the sides on Jan. 18 -- the second negotiating session.
The relationship between Rendell and Burkle dates to their time spent on the Democratic National Committee. Burkle, a noted Democratic fund-raiser, contributed $10,000 to Rendell's first gubernatorial campaign.
During the last face-to-face meeting between the Penguins and public officials, the team balked at sharing money from parking and the development rights for the Mellon Arena site with Majestic Star Casino owner Don Barden, who won the state license to build a Pittsburgh slots casino and will contribute money toward an arena.
Under Rendell's alternate financing plan, Majestic Star would pay $7.5 million a year for 30 years toward an arena, the state would pay $7 million a year. The Penguins' contribution was being negotiated. They were first asked to pay $8.5 million up front and $2.9 million a year, and to give up $1.16 million a year in naming rights -- a request Rendell has said was "significantly reduced."