The Penguins are exploring the potential for a hotel to serve as a line mate to the planned $290 million arena.

Team officials have requested proposals from hotel developers to gauge interest in such a project. It would be built on the east side of the former St. Francis Central Hospital, which is slated for demolition.

"We're exploring a number of options to develop a piece of land adjacent to the new arena. One of those options may potentially be a hotel," Penguins President David Morehouse confirmed yesterday.

In its planning, the team is considering a 125- to 150-room boutique-style hotel for the one-acre site. It would be a limited-service hotel, possibly with a restaurant or bar at street level.

The Penguins issued the request for proposals as a means of determining the level of interest in the project. It is not known when the proposals are due. Mr. Morehouse said the team has not made a final decision on the use of the property.

"We're just exploring options right now and gauging interest," he said.

Limited-service hotels don't offer the same level of amenities, like spas, banquet rooms and valet parking, as their full-service rivals.

But they are cheaper, and many offer flat panel TVs, wireless Internet access and other services for the tech savvy. They typically are geared to business travelers and people in their 20s and 30s, which also happens to be one of the Penguins' prime target audiences.

The Penguins also are considering a number of other potential uses for the site, including a community ice rink, parking and green space.

They already have plans to build a 500-space parking garage on part of the St. Francis property. The garage, which will be attached to the new arena, will be reserved for season ticket holders, suite owners and sponsors during games and available to commuters on nonevent days.

A new hotel would compete with several existing ones in the vicinity, including the 402-room Marriott Pittsburgh City Center, which bills itself as the "official hotel of the Pittsburgh Penguins."

The DoubleTree Hotel Pittsburgh City Center, with 188 rooms and 120 suites, and the 596-room Omni William Penn Hotel are within walking distance. A 156-room Hilton Garden Inn is being built on Ross Street at Fourth Avenue, also a short walk from the new arena.

The Penguins haven't said when they will decide on whether to build the hotel. They plan to start construction of the arena this summer, with completion by the start of the 2010-11 hockey season.