Pens staying put in Pitt

From ESPN.com:

The NHL, the governor, players, fans … pretty much nobody wanted the Penguins to leave Pittsburgh, but economics almost made it a reality. Now it looks like the danger has passed.

Multiple media outlets reported on Monday night that the team, state and local leaders have reached an agreement on a new arena that will keep the Penguins in Pittsburgh. KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh first reported the agreement on its Web site.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, citing unidentified sources, reported that the sides have reached agreement on terms for a new arena that will be ready for operation for the 2009-10 season.

The paper reports that the agreement includes a 30-year lease.

Penguins officials didn't immediately return calls from The Associated Press for comment, nor did a spokesman for Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato.

A spokesman for Mayor Luke Ravenstahl said he knew nothing of a deal.

"I never heard that. I heard nothing like that," Dick Skrinjar told AP.

A spokesman for Gov. Ed Rendell refused to confirm the deal.

"I can't confirm a report of any settlement," Chuck Ardo said to AP. "The sides have communicated since last Thursday. This is an ongoing process."

Sources told KDKA that the price tag for the project will exceed the $290 million originally discussed. The station reports that a meeting between all sides will be held on Wednesday to formalize the agreement.

Both media outlets reported that a formal announcement of the agreement is anticipated before the Penguins host the Sabres on Tuesday night.

Penguins owners Ron Burkle and Mario Lemieux, Gov. Ed Rendell, Pittsburgh mayor Luke Ravenstahl, Allegheny County executive Dan Onorato and NHL commissioner Gary Bettman met in Philadelphia last week for negotiations for a new arena.

The talks ended shortly after 11 p.m., and the sides agreed to meet again on Wednesday. After months of sometimes bitter talks during which the Penguins flirted with Kansas City, Las Vegas and Houston, last week's talks appeared to melt the ice -- obviously more than originally anticipated since Wednesday's meeting appears to have a more formal purpose.

"We had a very constructive meeting where significant progress was made," the team and elected officials said in a joint statement last week.

The Penguins had been threatening to leave Pittsburgh if they couldn't secure a new rink. Their lease at 46-year-old Mellon Arena, the oldest facility in the league, expires June 30 and the team is free to leave after that.
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The way some are reporting this story, it sounds like PA State taxpayers will be getting stuck w/the bill for this arena.