New Pittsburgh Arena
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This article or section is about a stadium that is currently under construction. It may contain information of a speculative nature and the content may change dramatically as the completion of the stadium approaches. |
| New Pittsburgh Arena | |
|---|---|
| Location | Between Center Ave & 5th Ave Hill District |
| Opened | |
| Owner | City of Pittsburgh, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh Sports and Exhibition Authority |
| Construction cost | $290 million |
| Tenants | Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL) |
| Capacity | 18,500 (hockey) |
The New Pittsburgh Arena is an arena being built in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, most specifically as the second home arena of the Pittsburgh Penguins, the city's NHL hockey team. It is expected to open in time for the 2010-11 NHL hockey season.[1] It will replace the Penguins current arena, Mellon Arena, which was built in 1961. The Arena Football League has considered putting an expansion team in the new arena.[2]
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[edit] Official announcement
The arena was agreed upon by Penguins owner Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh mayor Luke Ravenstahl, and Pennsylvania governor Ed Rendell on March 13, 2007, after much negotiations.[3] During negotiations, the Penguins explored moving the franchise to Kansas City or Las Vegas; after the deal was made the Penguins agreed to stay in Pittsburgh for at least 30 more years.[3] The arena was originally scheduled to open for the 2009–10 NHL season, however, it has since been pushed back to the 2010–11 NHL season.[4]
[edit] Design
The new arena is expected to have a capacity of about 18,500 people,[citation needed] approximately 2,000 more seats than Mellon Arena. It will cost approximately $290 million.[5] The Penguins have agreed to pay $3.8 million per year toward construction, with an additional $400,000 per year toward capital improvements.[3] HOK Sport, designers of both PNC Park and Heinz Field, will design the new building, while the ICON Venue group will oversee the building of the arena.[citation needed] Over one dozen buildings have been razed, so far, in order to create room for the new arena.[5]
On April 8, 2008, HOK Sport presented design renderings to the Pittsburgh City Planning Commission, receiving negative feedback.[1] Local architect, Rob Pfaffmann, went so far as to say, "If I put a Home Depot sign on that, it looks like a Home Depot."[1] HOK Sport returned on May 6 with new plans, which were unanimously approved by the City Planning Commission.[6][7] The Penguins have contacted the Pittsburgh Technology Council, which includes 1,400 business, in order to find new technologies to impliment into the arena's design.[8] Technologies "including the potential use of on-demand televised replays and touch-screen food menus in luxury suites" have been explored.[8]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c Belko, Mark. "New arena design takes its lumps", Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 2008-04-09, pp. B1, 3. Retrieved on 2008-04-11. (English)
- ^ Batiste, Tyler. "AFL eyes Pittsburgh for possible expansion", Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 2007-06-19. Retrieved on 2008-04-11. (English)
- ^ a b c Belko, Mark. "Arena deal keeps Penguins in Pittsburgh", KDKA, 2007-03-13. Retrieved on 2008-04-11. (English)
- ^ Associated Press. "Penguins to open new arena in 2010-11 season", NHL.com, 2007-08-02. Retrieved on 2008-05-24.
- ^ a b Smydo, Joe. "Out with the old, in with the arena", Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 2008-03-23. Retrieved on 2008-04-11. (English)
- ^ Belko, Mark. "Planners approve final design for Penguins' arena", Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 2008-05-08. Retrieved on 2008-05-08.
- ^ "New Arena Plan Approved by City Planning Commission", PittsburghPenguins.com, 2008-06-07. Retrieved on 2008-05-07.
- ^ a b Belko, Mark. "The future is now for technology at Penguins' new arena", Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 2008-05-13. Retrieved on 2008-05-13.
[edit] External links
| Preceded by Mellon Arena |
Home of the Pittsburgh Penguins ca. 2010 – future |
Succeeded by future |
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