Over $15M would go toward enhancements to virus-proof PPG Paints Arena and the other three venuesGETTY IMAGES
The Pittsburgh and Allegheny County Sports & Exhibition Authority is "seeking more than $20 million in government aid," with the "bulk of it dedicated to making COVID-19-related improvements to Heinz Field, PNC Park, PPG Paints Arena and the David L. Lawrence Convention Center," according to Mark Belko of the PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE. Members of the authority "unanimously approved the applications Thursday, hoping to cash in on available aid to enhance the venues even as they sit empty because of the virus." Of the requested funding, $15.2M "would go for enhancements to try to virus-proof the four venues -- all of which are owned by the SEA -- as much as possible." Improvements would include "renovations to high-touch public areas, the reconstruction of food service and retail areas, upgrades to air filtration systems to block the spread of the virus and other safety measures." To cover the costs, the SEA is "applying for a $6.2 million U.S. Economic Development Administration grant, part of the CARES act federal-funding package related to the pandemic," and "up to $8 million in a state redevelopment assistance capital grant." If approved in full, the grants "should cover nearly all the costs." SEA Exec Dir Mary Conturo said that if the SEA receives only one of the grants or gets only a portion of the money it is requesting from those sources, the teams "would have to come up with the rest out of their own pockets" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 8/14).
