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Motion Expressing the Sense of Council of Allegheny County urging the Pennsylvania Gaming Rights Commission (PGRC) to give strong consideration to gaming proposals that incorporate funding for a new multi-use arena in Pittsburgh in the course of their upcoming licensing determination.
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WHEREAS, the lower Hill District has long been recognized by both the City of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County as an area that would benefit tremendously from economic development commensurate with its historical significance to the area and its proximity to the downtown area of Pittsburgh, which is currently a primary focus of redevelopment efforts underway by the City and County; and
WHEREAS, although only one of the three casino plans currently under consideration by the PGRC would locate the facility in the lower Hill District, any of them could devote a small portion of their anticipated revenue to funding for revitalization of this area, at no cost to the taxpayers of Allegheny County, the City of Pittsburgh, or the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; and
WHEREAS, the most recognizable structure in the area is the forty-four year old Mellon Arena, which is used by concerts, ice skating shows, the circus, and other shows such as the Harlem Globetrotters and wrestling events, is the home venue for both the Pittsburgh Xplosion of the American Basketball Association and the National Hockey League's Pittsburgh Penguins, is the site of the annual PIHL high school hockey tournament, is used on occasion by the basketball teams of both the University of Pittsburgh and Duquesne University, and has hosted regional games in the NCAA basketball tournament; and
WHEREAS, the current condition of Mellon Arena appears to dictate that it will require replacement in the very near future if the downtown Pittsburgh area wishes to continue hosting the myriad of events that currently take place there; and
WHEREAS, the Pittsburgh Penguins have repeatedly expressed that economic conditions will force them to leave the City of Pittsburgh when their current lease at Mellon Arena expires in 2007 if a new facility has not been funded at that time, an action that would deprive any future new facility of its primary tenant;
NOW THEREFORE, IT IS MOVED, AND IT IS THE SENSE OF THE COUNCIL OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY, that the allocation of a portion of the revenues generated by any gaming licensee to the construction of a new multi-use arena in the lower Hill District is in the best interest of the community. Council therefore urges the Pennsylvania Gaming Rights Commission (PGRC) to give strong consideration to gaming proposals that incorporate funding frameworks that incur no cost to our taxpayers and include a new multi-use arena in Pittsburgh in the course of their upcoming licensing determination.