Lake Fong, Post-Gazette Loretta Harris, of the Hill District, rallies in support of the Isle of Capri casino application at Mellon Square late yesterday afternoon. Click photo for larger image. Related article Talk of arena funding dominates casino hearings

The college student wanted anything that will keep the Pittsburgh Penguins from leaving.

The middle-aged pair of female Downtown residents wanted something that will bring more vitality around them.

And the lawyer stopping by the Mellon Square rally organized by the Penguins and Pittsburgh First group wanted what he said was clearly best for the city -- a slots license for the Isle of Capri to fund a new multi-purpose arena in the Uptown-lower Hill District area.

"I can think of a lot of good reasons why they should get it, and not one reason the other two [license applicants] should," said Jim Cunningham, 39, of Shaler, who had just been to a legal seminar Downtown. He joined more than 400 other boisterous Pens-backers from 5 to 6 p.m. for free music, food, T-shirts and caps.

The enthusiastic crowd -- a mix of ages, races, genders and clothing styles -- contrasted with the subdued attendees at a Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board hearing earlier in the day, across the street inside the Omni William Penn Hotel. While the gaming board members sat impassively during presentations by casino developers, the Mellon Square throng could whoop as much as they wanted on behalf of the plan that Penguins officials maintain is the only guarantee they will remain in Pittsburgh.

"I'm leaving [Pittsburgh] if they leave," Duquesne University student and Crawford Square resident Chris Wehrle, 21, said of the Pens.

	Lake Fong, Post-Gazette Paul Kowalick, of Mt. Washington and Hedy Krenn, of Green Tree participate in the rally. Click photo for larger image.

Judi Seibel, 55, of Pine, has the same concerns about losing her two adult sons, both passionate hockey fans, if the Penguins carry through on threats to relocate.

"There's lots of reasons Pittsburgh needs a new arena. We need to keep three professional sports teams, if Pittsburgh wants to be a first-class city," Ms. Seibel said.

Rally attendees, many wearing either black Sidney Crosby jerseys or white "I Support Pittsburgh First" T-shirt giveaways, said they were heartened by government officials "Plan B" effort to built a new arena to keep the Penguins even if Isle of Capri is rejected.

Team Chief Executive Officer Ken Sawyer told them in brief remarks, however, that nothing is guaranteed about Plan B, and many in the crowd suggested Isle of Capri offers the best plan regardless of the arena issue.

A number saw Downtown, Uptown and the lower Hill as linked in potentially benefiting from a casino-arena-housing development that may occur adjacent to where Mellon Arena is now.

"They need to give people something to do around here instead of shoot at and kill one another," said Anita Baker, 51, of Downtown, with her friend, Jackie Pryor, laughing and nodding in agreement.