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AEG will run Consol Energy Center
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SMG, which has been synonymous with sports facilities management in Pittsburgh for years, will be replaced at Consol Energy Center when AEG Facilities takes over Sept. 1, the Penguins announced Wednesday.
SMG ran the Civic Arena beginning in the early 1990s and moved to Consol Energy Center when it opened in 2010.
AEG Facilities operates sports and entertainment venues worldwide, including NHL arenas in Los Angeles, Minnesota and New Jersey. The agreement for Consol Energy Center is for five years.
The transition is expected to be seamless for Penguins fans.
"The guest experience will be exactly the same as it's always been," said Travis Williams, chief operating officer of the Penguins. "To the outside observer, probably nothing noticeable."
While SMG is more streamlined to facilities operations, AEG Facilities also is heavily involved with the entertainment field, so there could be some changes or upgrades in non-NHL events, Williams said.
For example, AEG is a co-promoter of the Tour of Gymnastics Champions after the Olympics, and the tour will stop at Consol Energy Center Nov. 16.
Workers at Consol Energy Center -- including ushers, ticket-takers and maintenance crews -- will keep their jobs. Those in SMG's senior management, however, will have their jobs evaluated, including arena general manager Jay Roberts.
Aramark remains as the food and beverage provider at the arena.
The Penguins signed free-agent forward Jayson Megna to a two-year, two-way, entry-level contract that averages $925,000 in the NHL. Megna attended Penguins development camp last month.
Megna, 22, played two years in the United States Hockey League and was a freshman last season at Nebraska-Omaha, where he had 13 goals, 31 points in 38 games.
His father, Jay, played the NFL for Miami and New Orleans.
Correction/Clarification: (Published August 3, 2012) The Pirates franchise is the facilities manager for PNC Park, and the Steelers manage Heinz Field. An article in Thursday's editions about a change in managers at Consol Energy Center incorrectly stated that a different company managed the stadiums.
First Published August 2, 2012 12:18 am
