Blacks want share of Pittsburgh Penguins revenues

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Residents of the city’s predominantly black Hill District plan to meet with city and Pittsburgh Penguins officials Friday to demand a share of revenues from a new arena being built nearby.

The Penguins currently play in Mellon Arena, which was built in 1961 after blocks of predominantly black homes were razed to make room for it. The new arena will be built across the street, and black lawmakers and community leaders have said it’s only fair to compensate them when the new arena is built.

The group, led by state Rep. Jake Wheatley, D-Allegheny, local clergy and community leaders, wants the team and the city-county Sports & Exhibition Authority to provide $10 million for Hill District redevelopment, and an annual share of revenues from the $290 million arena, which is scheduled to open in 2009. They also want 30 percent of construction jobs to go to minorities.