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| Heinz Field Among SEA's Properties |
The Sports & Exhibition Authority (SEA) of Pittsburgh, which owns Heinz Field, PNC Park, Mellon Arena and the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, will end '04 with a $1.6M shortfall "unless officials can convince state lawmakers to approve new tax revenue" for the agency, according to Mike Wereschagin of the Pittsburgh TRIBUNE-REVIEW, who notes this is the second consecutive year the SEA has passed a deficit budget. The SEA has "sought legislative action that would give it money generated by slot machine gambling." The $11.7M budget "does not include money for additional construction projects. Budgets for those are developed individually as public money becomes available." The SEA's 12 employees for the second straight year "will not get cost-of-living raises" (Pittsburgh TRIBUNE-REVIEW, 12/31).
CRUNCH TIME: Also in Pittsburgh, Mark Madden cites a source as saying that if funding for a new Penguins arena is not "set in stone by the time" the NHL and the NHLPA reach a new CBA, Owner Mario Lemieux "will sell the team to the highest bidder. Said highest bidder will relocate the team to another city" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 12/31).
