PITTSBURGH, March 13 (UPI) -- It looks like the Pittsburgh Penguins won't be migrating to Las Vegas or anywhere else for decades.
Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell Tuesday said the NHL hockey team reached an agreement with officials from Pittsburgh, Allegheny County and the state on construction of a new arena that will keep the Penguins in the city for the next 30 years, the Tribune-Review said.
Details of the $290 million package were to be announced before the Penguins' Tuesday night game against the Buffalo Sabres at Mellon Arena, the only home the team has known since it came into the league in 1967.
The city-county Sports & Exhibition Authority will own the new arena but it will be operated by the Penguins, who will retain all revenue and pay all operating costs. The state will pay $7.5 million a year from an economic development fund and slot machine revenues, while Don Barden of Majestic Star Casino will kick in $7.5 million a year and the team, owned by Mario Lemieux and Ron Burkle, will pay a total of $4.2 million annually.
The long-awaited deal was reached Thursday and details were hammered out during the weekend.
