Mayor 'reached out' to Penguins since getting letter
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Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl said today that he and other elected leaders have "reached out" to the Penguins since receipt of yesterday's letter from the team declaring talks on a new arena to be at an impasse. And Gov. Ed Rendell reiterated that the offer to the Penguins on the table is better than other sports teams in the state have received.
Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl comments on discussions with Penguins about a new arena:
Surprised by the letterMayor can't solve this by himself'No appetite for using local tax dollars'"A cooperative spirit" is needed
Penguins' arena negotiations on thin ice "I still believe that we are very close to getting this deal," Mr. Ravenstahl said. He and the team, Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato and Mr. Rendell need to "sit down, talk about the specifics, find out where we're not in agreement, and go from there."
Mr. Rendell, in his first public comments on the impasse, said today that state and local leaders have "put an exceptionally attractive offer on the table" for the team.
Mr. Rendell said in a statement provided by spokesman Chuck Ardo that he will "continue to work with all the parties in refining the offer in an effort to try to reach an agreement." Mr. Ardo said, although no talks are scheduled, the governor is willing to atttend a meeting if one "is warranted."
"The governor has said on numerous occasions that he believes this is the best arena or stadium deal any sports team in Pennsylvania has been offered," Mr. Ardo said.
In declaring an impasse yesterday, Penguins co-owners Mario Lemieux and Ron Burkle said their share of the deal includes $3.6 million a year in rent and another $400,000 a year in funding for capital expenses. The team also has agreed to pay $500,000 a year for a parking garage as part of the arena complex.
The Plan B arena financing formula also includes $7.5 million a year for 30 years from Pittsburgh casino winner Don Barden. The state has added $500,000 to its share from a gambling-backed economic development fund, bringing the total contribution to $7.5 million.
Mr. Ravenstahl said the Penguins "have become frustrated. I can tell you that, in many ways, we have become frustrated," he said of the elected officials.
Minutes before the mayor's news conference, mayoral challenger Councilman William Peduto charged that the failure of negotiations to produce a deal in more than two months was "what happens when you don't have someone who has experience" in the mayor's post.
Mr. Ravenstahl was a council member for nearly three years before ascending to the mayor's post.
Mr. Peduto said Mayor Tom Murphy led on development of PNC Park and Heinz Field, and Mr. Ravenstahl should have done the same.
"I'll continue to lend myself to those discussions as I have over the past months," countered the mayor. He said that no one elected leader can get an arena deal done, since the city and county control the land and the governor controls the money.
"Without the governor at the table, there's absolutely no way we could be in discussions to keep the team here," he said.
Mr. Peduto offered his services as a mediator but predicted that the mayor would not take him up on the offer.
More details in tomorrow's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
First Published March 6, 2007 12:00 am
