The Penguins "apologized Monday for shutting public
officials out of negotiations" to sell the Civic Arena
naming rights to MD-based Allegheny Energy, but team
officials "said that doesn't mean the deal is off,"
according to Michael Coleman of the Pittsburgh TRIBUNE-
REVIEW. Penguins President Donn Patton said "he hopes to
convince public officials" that the team's six-year, $5M
deal to rename the Civic Arena the Allegheny Energy Dome "is
good for the public." Coleman: "Patton faces a tough sell.
The city-county Public Auditorium Authority, which owns the
arena, unanimously approved a resolution yesterday
authorizing its attorney to 'take all action necessary' to
halt the agreement. The resolution also said the public
must be included in any future discussions about renaming
the arena." Councilmember Dan Cohen "questioned the
relatively short term and low price of the deal," and said
that the naming rights "could have been sold to the highest
bidder." An Allegheny Energy spokesperson said that the
company "is still interested in a naming rights deal" at the
Civic Arena, "regardless of how the current controversy
plays out" (Pittsburgh TRIBUNE-REVIEW, 11/25).
