Rendell to unveil arena funding plan next week 'Obviously if they get the casino license they're committed to stay. But we think this Plan B is going to be good enough that it will cause them to stay here in any event,' he said.Rendell offeres up another big assumption. I do NOT think that there is anything to say that if the Isle of Capri gets its license the Pens will stay in Pittsburgh.
However, if the PENS owned the new arena that was to come about, perhaps, with the windfall of the gambling license acquisition -- then -- the PENGUINS would have real roots in Pittsburgh. Insure the Pens do stay by putting ownership of a building -- that can't move -- onto their backs.
But, the Pens had an interest in a hockey arena on the South Side -- and it is closed.
The Pens had an interest in the ice rink where they moved too after departing the South Side -- and that was broken too.
So, the Pens track record of keeping things and running them well is marginal, at best. Well, it really just sucks eggs. But, who else is going to notice?
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Rendell to unveil arena funding plan next week
Friday, March 24, 2006
By Mark Belko, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Gov. Ed Rendell will unveil his plan to fund a new arena to help keep the Penguins in Pittsburgh next week.
During an impromptu press conference this morning, Mr. Rendell said he would release the details of the plan Thursday. He also expects to meet with National Hockey League officials earlier in the week to provide them with the proposal.
Mr. Rendell said he believes the plan would be good enough to keep the Penguins in Pittsburgh even if Isle of Capri Casinos Inc. doesn't win the state license for the Pittsburgh slot machine casino. Isle of Capri, in partnership with the team, has pledged $290 million toward construction of an arena.
"Obviously if they get the casino license they're committed to stay. But we think this Plan B is going to be good enough that it will cause them to stay here in any event," he said.
Asked if the Penguins would have to put up a substantial amount of money to build an arena under his Plan B, Mr. Rendell replied, "no, not a substantial amount."
He refused to say how much, if any, public funding would be involved or whether any slots revenues would be part of Plan B. For each question, he had essentially the same response, "See me Thursday."
Mr. Rendell said the plan is being crafted in consultation with Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato and Pittsburgh Mayor Bob O'Connor. Mr. Onorato has said in the past he does not see how any plan to fund a new arena could advance without at least some slots revenues. He reiterated that today but added he had yet to see the details of the governor's plan.
The chief executive also said he believe that the public money involved in the plan be would be "minimal, if any." In the past, $90 million in state capital funds have been earmarked for an arena. It was not known how much, if any of that, would be part of Plan B.
More details in tomorrow's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
so 1 question ed, why do we need a plan b, is there sum reason that you can't make them get the slots license. It really makes it look like someone else is allready in your pocket for that slots license
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