The Penguins began playing in Pittsburgh in 1967 and won Stanley Cup titles in 1991 and 1992. It’s now 2007 and the Penguins are back in the playoffs after a six-year drought, still playing in Pittsburgh after agreeing to a 30-year deal with Majestic Star Casinos, assuring fans many more “hockey nights in Pittsburgh.”

The Pittsburgh Pirates, like the Penguins, threatened to move to another city if a new stadium wasn’t built. The Pirates, also like the Penguins, slashed their payroll by ridding themselves of high-salaried all-stars. And the Pirates, like the Penguins, saw their fan base grow frustrated by losing seasons and they watched as attendance dipped. The Penguins staff believes that replacing Mellon Arena, the NHL’s oldest arena, and the playoff potential for the young team for years to come will solve many problems.

The Penguins and government officials recently ended months of difficult negotiations, agreeing on a $290 million arena deal. Governor Ed Rendell, Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato, Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, Penguins owner Mario Lemieux, and NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman all spoke at a news conference at the Heinz History Center in the Strip District.

“Well, this is a great day for hockey,” Lemieux said. “I’m glad that I’m here today announcing a deal with the city, the county and the state to stay here for 30 years. That was my goal and I’m glad we finally achieved it.”

Mellon Arena in Pittsburgh is home to the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League and the Pittsburgh Xplosion of the American Basketball League. Prior to being known as Mellon Arena, it was known as the Civic Arena and was commonly referred to by Pittsburgh Penguins fans as “the Igloo.” Mellon Arena was completed in 1961 and cost $22 million and was originally intended to be used by the Civic Light Opera, but it has since been transformed into a sports and entertainment venue.

As a part of the new arena plan, no city or county taxpayer money will be used to pay for the arena, which will be built across from Mellon Arena. Rendell allowed the legalization of slot machine gambling, saying the expected revenues will allow the state to contribute to arena financing. Although no specific details were released, officials plan to develop designs and ideas of what the new arena will look like. In addition to a casino, officials hope to include shops, restaurants and entertainment to encourage fans to come early and stay late after the games. The deal calls for the Structural Engineers Association to demolish Mellon Arena as soon as the new building opens. The Penguins will have development rights to the 28-acre package, but they must negotiate with Don Barden, owner of Majestic Star Casino LLC, who has been awarded the slots license for Pittsburgh. Officials will pay $7.5 million a year, and the team will pay $3.8 million a year, plus $400,000 a year in capital improvements. The contract requires the Penguins to develop at least 2.8 acres a year for 10 years or lose the development rights.

“My whole goal of this meeting was, really, to figure out how we develop the 28 acres, and how we have that development spin up the hill to get more benefit outside the 28 acres and to have the input from the community all at the same time,” said Onorato at a meeting in the Hill. “and to do that at the front-end of the project, that’s my goal. To make sure development happens and we reconnect the Hill to downtown.”

Mayor Luke Ravensthal said, “We worked hard all along, and sometimes it’s hard for the general public and some folks to understand the dynamics and everything that’s involved,” “It’s just so exciting. It’s a hockey night in Pittsburgh for the next 30 years.”

With a highly anticipated arena on the way and a new line-up of “Cardiac Kids,” the Penguins have a strong chance to make their mark in the NHL this year and for many seasons to come.