Commentary
New hockey arena plan means watch your wallet and get ready for lies There is finally a funding plan for a new hockey arena, which means two things:
Hang on to your wallet and get ready for the lies.
Steve Leeper, the executive director of the Sports & Exhibition Authority, presented the plan at a news conference for which Allegheny County Executive Jim Roddey and Mayor Tom Murphy were conspicuously absent.
No wonder. The plan has the same chance that a snowball does on your sidewalk this afternoon. The state is being counted on to kick in $90 million, which is $30 million more than has been discussed (but not promised) for the project. The Regional Asset District is expected to give $53 million, which is also unrealistic. They want money from everyone except the Pittsburgh Penguins, who would pay nothing upfront and $3 million annually for rent over a 31-year lease. The spin is it’s not just a new arena just for the Penguins.
Leeper said a new arena was needed so Pittsburgh can continue to attract events like the NCAA basketball tournament.
Duquesne University has hosted both men’s and women’s tournament games at the existing arena. It apparently won’t take a new arena to get the NCAA to return. The NCAA looks for venues that have plenty of locker rooms and media facilities. Luxury boxes, club seating and other amenities are not a priority in choosing sites.
NCAA official Jim Marchiony was quoted in the March 17, 2002 edition of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: “The staff at Duquesne, the staff here at the arena and the facility itself have combined to make it a very good site. There is nothing about the arena right now that would preclude it from being a host in the future.”
Leeper’s misstatement is typical of what happens when officials try to ramrod an unpopular project. The sell is extremely tough this time. It won’t happen soon. The issue is being avoided in Harrisburg, where too many legislators have to face voters who are still burning about the stadium projects. If any money goes to western Pennsylvania, Philadelphia always wants a corresponding share.
Leeper’s plan would have the Penguins in their new home in time for the 2006-07 season. There’s no chance. The Penguins could have a new arena by 2006. If they do, it won’t be in Pittsburgh.
– n –
The worst argument for a new arena is the oft-repeated belief that there’s an obligation to help the Penguins because the Pirates and Steelers got sweetheart deals. That “fair share” theory works fine for handing out desserts to preschoolers but it’s a lousy way to handle public money.
– n –
Just in case you’re wondering why the Pirates aren’t very good, try this:
They selected 44 players in the June, 1995 draft. Exactly none of them are on the current major league roster since Chad Hermansen was traded to the Chicago Cubs last Wednesday.
Hermansen, who left with a .199 career average, was the first-round pick. Among the players available when the Pirates chose Hermansen were Sean Casey, Matt Morris, Russ Ortiz, Carlos Beltran, Jarrod Washburn and Ryan Dempster.
Other members of the Pirates’ 1995 draft class are pitchers Bronson Arroyo and Brian O’Connor and first baseman Alex Hernandez, all of whom have been in the majors briefly and without distinction.
It’s no coincidence that the ’95 draft came when the public-private coalition was trying to sell the franchise.
They invested as little as possible in the team’s future and the price is being paid now. It didn’t get much better the next year, the first year of ownership by the Kevin McClatchy group. The Pirates drafted 56 players and got two major leaguers – Kris Benson (first round) and Rob Mackowiak (53rd round).
– n –
Running back Jerome Bettis and linebacker Joey Porter got into a shouting match at during practice at Steelers camp last week. Coach Bill Cowher said he liked the conflict between teammates. “That was good,” Cowher said. “I want them jawing. There’s nothing unhealthy about that. We need more of it.”
Would someone please give Brian Boehringer directions to Latrobe?
John Mehno can be reached at: johnmehno@lycos.com.