Penguins-plank

* The region is in financial peril, and we can't keep as many 'luxury items' such as the Pens on life support. We have more vital needs to fill first.
* Rather than gambling money kick-backs to build a new arena, invest directly into the team. Others in the region should follow that lead and provide the team with other substantial funds.
* Tight times demand more efficient and appropriate solutions. We need to be more creative in solving the problems at hand. The taxpayers simply don't have money to throw around on questionable and unnecessary ventures.
* The D candidates for Mayor in 2007 have made the Penguins and issue. 
William Peduto said 
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* If the Penguins enter into a ten-year, one dollar per year lease with the Sports and Exhibition Authority, the team would be able to control the arena and extract much more revenue by capturing more hockey and non-hockey event revenues. That is part of the agreement they are seeking and expect at the new facility.
* Taken to the next step, let's not lease the Civic Arena. Let's sell the Civic Arena to the team at a fair market value. The Penguins could buy the building and property. It would then be a commercial site that would pay taxes. 
* Furthermore, the Pirates could buy PNC Park and the Steelers could buy Heinz Field. Then they can pay taxes on the land.
* The lease deals for the Penguins and other users with the facility needs to be put online for all to see.
==Links==
* Penguins
* Civic arena Civic arena-plank-Rauterkus
* Gambling Gambling-plank-Rauterkus
category: Platform_Planks_from_Mark_Rauterkus