Neighborhood residents vying for Pens arena jobs

PITTSBURGH (AP) — About 200 people from Pittsburgh’s historically and predominantly black Hill District are vying for jobs at the Consol Energy Center, the new arena being built for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Community groups have lobbied for inclusion because the new arena, set to open in August, is replacing 49-year-old Mellon Arena. Thousands of Hill District residents were displaced when it was built.

The residents showed up at a job fair by Aramark, the arena’s concession company, which is looking for concession workers, cooks, cashiers, servers and bartenders. The hourly pay for the jobs is from $10.85 to $12.50 and some workers could earn tips.

Residents eventually will get to apply for other arena jobs, including ushers, ticket takers, custodians and parking-lot workers.