At the arena
2005
June: Mario Lemieux says
Penguins owners are talking
to gambling companies about
a bid for a slots license.
December: Gov. Ed Rendell
says a new arena could be
built with tax breaks, a
parking tax or surcharges on
tickets and concessions, even
if the team does not win a
casino license. Later, the Pens
announce they are partnering
with Isle of Capri to seek a
gambling license.
2006
January: Rendell says the
Pens should have a back-up
plan for a new arena in case
the license falls through.
February: The Penguins say
they will not negotiate a “Plan
B” to build an arena without
slots money.
March: Rendell says the two
other Pittsburgh casino
applicants should pledge a
portion of their profits to a
new arena if they win the
license.
April: Penguins President Ken
Sawyer says the team cannot
commit to staying in
Pittsburgh because Plan B has
too many holes.
October: Jim Balsillie,
announced as the new team
owner, says he wants an
arena-funding deal in place
before the season ends or the
team could move.
Dec. 15: Lemieux says the
deal to sell the team to
Balsillie is off, two days after
the Canadian businessman
testified in support of the Isle
of Capri license application.
Dec. 20: The state Gaming
Control Board awards the
city’s slots license to Detroit
businessman Don Barden’s
Majestic Star Casino.
Dec. 21: Lemieux says the
team is off the market and will
look to move to another city.
2007
Jan. 4: At a meeting between
team owners and elected
officials, Gov. Ed Rendell
offers a new plan — the team
would pay $2.86 million a year
over 30 years; Majestic Star
would pay $7.5 million a year;
the state would pay $7 million
a year; and Pittsburgh would
pay $1.2 million a year from
increased amusement taxes
generated by the new arena.
Jan. 18: A meeting between
team ownership — not
including Lemieux — and
elected officials and Barden
ends with no deal.
Jan. 22: Pittsburgh Mayor
Luke Ravenstahl and
Allegheny County Chief
Executive Dan Onorato ask
the team for more money
toward a new arena, during a
meeting in New York.
Feb. 4: A team-imposed 30-
day deadline for a deal passes.
March 5: The Penguins
announce an impasse, saying
they agreed to increase the
team's annual rent to $3.6
million and to pay $400,000
a year for capital expenses.
The team also agreed to pay
$500,000 a year, for 30
years, toward construction of
a parking garage.
March 7: Team co-owner Ron
Burkle travels to Las Vegas.
March 8: The Penguins, NHL
Commissioner Gary Bettman
and public officials meet in
New Jersey, apparently
securing a deal.
March 9: Burkle watches
Penguins game from box
seats when he was supposed
to be in Kansas City.
Today: Sources say team will
announce arena deal before
tonight’s game against the
Sabres.
SOURCE: TRIBUNE-REVIEW RESEARCH
TRIBUNE-REVIEW