SMG has "raised the parking rate" at Civic Arena lots
to $11 per game -- an increase of $3 per game from '98 --
one week after Penguins Owner Mario Lemieux "slashed ticket
prices on 3,500" seats, according to Joe Starkey of the
Pittsburgh TRIBUNE-REVIEW. SMG Regional Manager Hank Abate
said the increase is "part of keeping the team" in
Pittsburgh: "This is one part of the equation of what it
took to keep the team." But Penguins VP/Communications Tom
McMillan said the parking increase is "completely
inconsistent with what we're trying to do" to renew fan
interest (TRIBUNE-REVIEW, 9/11). SMG said that it "needs
the additional money to offset the financial concessions it
made to help Lemieux restructure the team." However, Abate
"could not provide an estimate of how much SMG would get"
from the parking increase (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 9/11).
BUYERS NOT PENS-IVE: Penguins VP/Ticket Sales Mark
Anderson noted that since Lemieux was confirmed as the new
team owner, the team has sold "the equivalent of 400 full
season ticket packages," bringing its total to 8,310 full
season-ticket packages (Pittsburgh TRIBUNE-REVIEW, 9/11).
