PPG Paints Arena The PPG Paints Arena ( formerly the Consol Energy Center from 2010 to 2016 ) is an arena in Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania . The arena will be the second home of the Pittsburgh Penguins , the city ' s National Hockey League ( NHL ) franchise . It is expected to complete construction on August 1 , 2010 and open for the 2010 – 11 NHL season . The arena will replace the Penguins current arena , Mellon Arena , which was built in 1961 . A ceremonial ground - breaking ceremony was held on August 14 , 2008 . The arena will attempt to be the first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design ( LEED ) gold - certified NHL arena . The arena is named for CONSOL Energy , which purchased the naming rights in December 2008 . The naming rights to the arena was taken over by PPG Industries who renamed the facility PPG Paints Arena Planning and funding . The Lemieux Group explored options to build a replacement for Mellon Arena , the oldest and lowest capacity arena in the NHL , since its purchase of the Penguins in 1999 . In an attempt not to use public funding , the Penguins filed for a slots license under the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board . The Penguins were granted the license , though the decision of which casino company would receive approval was the Gaming Control Board ' s decision . The Lemieux Group reached an agreement with Isle of Capri Casinos , which offered to fully fund a $ 290 million arena , if Capri could also construct a $ 500 million casino nearby . Other casinos , including Majestic Star Casino and Forest City Enterprises , also agreed to partially contribute to the arena ' s funding . On December 20 , 2006 , the Gaming Control Board awarded the license to Majestic Star Casino , who agreed to pay $ 7 . 5 million for the first 30 years , in addition to the Penguins paying $ 4 million per year . The casino experienced financial difficulty , which could have led to taxpayers financing the entire project . However , on August 14 , 2008 the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board selected Neil Bluhm to take ownership of the casinos , which pulled the casinos out of risk of bankruptcy . The arena ' s funding plan was agreed upon by Penguins owner Mario Lemieux , Pittsburgh mayor Luke Ravenstahl , and Pennsylvania governor Ed Rendell on March 13 , 2007 , after much negotiation . During negotiations , the Penguins explored moving the franchise to Kansas City or Las Vegas ; after the deal was made the Penguins agreed to stay in Pittsburgh for at least thirty more years . Lemieux later stated that relocating the franchise was never a possibility , but instead it was a negotiation tactic to help the team get funding for the arena from both state and local officials . The arena was originally scheduled to open for the 2009 – 10 NHL season ; however , this was pushed back to the 2010 – 11 NHL season . The arena was expected to cost approximately $ 290 million , but rose to $ 321 million due to increased cost of steel and insurance . The Penguins agreed to pay $ 3 . 8 million per year toward construction , with an additional $ 400 , 000 per year toward capital improvements . After $ 31 million cost rise , the Penguins pledged an additional $ 15 . 5 million , while the State and Sports and Exhibition Authority split the difference . In September 2009 , the State contributed an additional $ 5 . 08 million from the " Pennsylvania Gaming Economic Development and Tourism Fund " to cover a rising " interest on variable rate bonds " . The arena is expected to help the surrounding area grow financially ; plans are in place to construct a bar and a grocery store nearby . In October 2008 , the Penguins reached an agreement with the Horizon Properties Group to build a 135 - room hotel adjacent to the arena . A " nationally - franchised hotel " is expected to open in August 2010 . Horizon has developed Hampton and Homewood Suites in the region , and is planning a similar project at the Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex in Indiana , Pennsylvania . A 15 - foot montage of pictures inspired by the works of August Wilson will be created for Fifth and Centre Avenues . The Arena Football League considered starting an expansion team in the arena , however , the league folded in August 2009 . However , a new league founded in 2009 has also considered an expansion team in Pittsburgh . Design and construction . Populous , formerly HOK Sport , designers of PNC Park and Heinz Field , designed the building , while the ICON Venue group oversaw the building of the arena . More than a dozen buildings were razed in order to create room for the new arena . On April 8 , 2008 , Populous presented design renderings to the Pittsburgh City Planning Commission , receiving negative feedback . Local architect Rob Pfaffmann went so far as to say , " If I put a Home Depot sign on that , it looks like a Home Depot . " Populous returned on May 6 with new plans , which were unanimously approved by the City Planning Commission . The Penguins have contacted the Pittsburgh Technology Council , which includes 1 , 400 businesses , in order to find new technologies to implement into the arena ' s design . On demand replays from touch - screens will be available in luxury suites , while " Yinz Cam " — a system developed by Carnegie Mellon University students — will allow any fans to view instant replays from multiple angles on their cell phones . The arena ' s capacity will be 18 , 087 for hockey , in honor of Sidney Crosby ' s number " 87 " , and 19 , 000 for basketball games . The venue will hold 14 , 536 to 19 , 758 for concerts , depending on the layout . The venue will also include 2 , 000 box seats and 66 suites , in honor of Mario Lemieux ' s number " 66 " . Ticket prices will range from $ 115 , 000 to $ 150 , 000 per season for luxury boxes to individual game tickets at $ 22 . Ken Sawyer , Penguins ' chief executive officer , has asked that the interior be modeled after Jobing . com Arena in Phoenix . " I was just taken aback by their seats , " said Sawyer , " Even when I was up in a high level , I had a great view . " NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman called the building " very well designed . " Bettman liked the size of the concourses and the view offered of Pittsburgh ' s skyline . Mario Lemieux along with officials from the state and local governments ceremonially broke ground on a new hockey arena on August 14 , 2008 . Shovels , with shafts made from team captain Sidney Crosby ' s used hockey stick s , were used for the ground - breaking ceremony . Erection of structural steel took place from January 2009 to August 2009 . The arena is named for CONSOL Energy , the largest producer of bituminous coal in the United States , which signed a 21 - year agreement with the Penguins in December 2008 .