Penguins Arena Opening Pushed Back From Start Of '09 Season

Penguins Arena Opening Later Than Originally Expected

Penguins officials said that the team will not move into its new $290M arena as scheduled for the start of the ’09-10 season, and “maybe not until a year after that,” according to Andrew Conte of the Pittsburgh TRIBUNE-REVIEW. Penguins VP/Communications Tom McMillan said, “There’s an obligation to the community here to do this the right way. This is a necessary part of the process.” Conte noted the Pittsburgh-Allegheny County Sports & Exhibition Authority (SEA) had planned to break ground on the arena in September and open two years later. However, SEA Exec Dir Mary Conturo said that construction will not start until later this year or early next year “because the design process has just begun.” Conturo: “We’re just now sitting down with the architects and trying to work out a realistic plan for the design of the building.” Conte noted the Penguins, the SEA and the Department of City Planning will meet tonight “to explain a strategy for seeking public input on a design.” HOK has been hired to design the arena (Pittsburgh TRIBUNE-REVIEW, 6/2).

IMMORTALIZING MARIO: In Pittsburgh, Bob Smizik wrote the arena “won’t be complete ... without a statue of [Penguins co-Owner and former C] Mario Lemieux in front of the building.” Heinz Field has a statue of Steelers Founder and Pro Football HOFer Art Rooney in front of it, while PNC Park has statues of Pirates greats and Baseball HOFers Honus Wagner, Roberto Clemente and Willie Stargell (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 6/3).