Annie O'Neill and John Heller, Post-Gazette Gov. Ed Rendell, Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato, and Pittsburgh casino license winner Don Barden arrive at last night's meeting.

A late-night meeting aimed at working out a deal that would keep the Penguins in Pittsburgh began with a stir but ended without an agreement and with very little comment from the participants.

The meeting, convened by Gov. Ed Rendell, was held at the State Office Building, Downtown. It got under way about 9:20 p.m., 20 minutes later than scheduled, due to the governor's late arrival.

The stir was caused by the arrival of Don Barden, the Detroit businessman who last month was awarded the sole slots casino license for Pittsburgh.

Mr. Barden joined a group of state and local officials, including Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato and Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, who are trying to put together a financial package for a new arena that would keep the Penguins in Pittsburgh.

The meeting lasted about 90 minutes before Penguins representatives, including co-owner Ron Burkle and team President Ken Sawyer, left shortly before 11 p.m. without commenting to a large group of reporters waiting outside.

The contingent of state and local officials remained inside the building for more than an hour before Chuck Ardo, a spokesman for Gov. Rendell, emerged to say that more negotiations are planned.

Mr. Ardo said the two sides plan to hold more meetings, but said no specific date has been set.

"We hope to be able to work out a deal at some point in the near future," Mr. Ardo said.

Asked when the talks would resume, he said it would happen "as soon as possible."

A short time later, Mr. Ravenstahl and Mr. Onorato left the building without comment.

The significance of Mr. Barden's participation, which was not anticipated, was not immediately clear.

Before going inside, Mr. Barden said he came to the meeting to "observe and see if I can be helpful. I want to do everything I can to see that the Penguins stay in Pittsburgh."

The state Gaming Control Board on Dec. 20 awarded the sole slot machine casino license for Pittsburgh to Mr. Barden. He plans to build a Majestic Star casino in the Chateau neighborhood near the Carnegie Science Center.

Mr. Barden previously indicated he would not increase his commitment of $7.5 million per year to help finance an arena.

Upon his arrival, Mr. Onorato told reporters there was a "real possibility" that a deal could emerge from the meeting.

"We're coming down here to try to finalize this deal," he said.

"The important thing here is to get something done, if it's today, tomorrow or next week, as long as it gets done. Our goal is to keep the Penguins here and to get a deal that makes sense for everybody involved," he said.

Mr. Rendell declined to speak to reporters going into the talks.

Mr. Ravenstahl said he was "eagerly anticipating the talks" but refused to speculate on them.

Before entering talks with state and local officials this month, team leaders visited Kansas City, which is trying to get a hockey club to play in the new $276 million Sprint Center to open this fall.

The Penguins' lease at Mellon Arena, the oldest venue in the National Hockey League, expires at the end of June, leaving the franchise free to move. Kansas City is offering a rent-free Sprint Center and a share of revenues.

Mr. Lemieux said the Penguins would consider all options, including a possible relocation, after Isle of Capri Casinos Inc. lost its bid for the Pittsburgh casino license. The gambling operator had teamed with the club to put together a proposal that included $290 million in upfront funding for an arena.

Officials hope to craft a deal under Plan B, the formula concocted by Mr. Rendell to fund an arena. It calls for winning casino bidder PITG Gaming LLC to contribute $7.5 million a year for 30 years toward construction. Another $7 million a year would come from a slots-financed economic development fund.

Initially, the Penguins were asked to kick in about $4 million a year, including $1.16 million in naming rights, plus an upfront payment of $8.5 million.

The state, county and city presented a somewhat sweetened version at a Jan. 4 meeting, and it is believed that the Penguins' share will end up closer to $2.9 million a year.

The $8.5 million also may be accounted for in the sale of the former St. Francis Central Hospital on Centre Avenue to the city-county Sports & Exhibition Authority, which needs it for the site of the new arena. The Penguins purchased the property for $8 million in 2000.