Prospective Penguins Owner Mario Lemieux "reached" an
agreement in principle with Allegheny County Commissioner
Bob Cranmer "on paying off" Civic Arena debts, according to
Ann Belser of the PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, who writes that
this was "one of the last remaining hurdles" in Lemieux's
bid. Cranmer objected to a plan that "shifted the debt" for
arena improvements to the city and county and his
"opposition could have prevented" Lemieux from "completing
his purchase." But Cranmer, Commissioner Mike Dawida and
other local officials are "expected to announce" today that
Lemieux has "agreed to make an initial repayment" of
$200,000 on the arena bonds and additional payments if the
team "becomes profitable." Belser also reports that Lemieux
"will drop a provision" that called for the city and county
to "put together a financing plan" for a new arena by 2002
(POST-GAZETTE, 8/19). In Pittsburgh, David Brown writes
that Cranmer's approval is "crucial" because the purchase
plan "needs support from at least" two of the three county
commissioners (Pittsburgh TRIBUNE-REVIEW, 8/19).
