Public money sought to maintain stadiums

Taxpayers could end up footing the bill for some improvements to PNC Park, Heinz Field, PPG Paints Arena and the David L. Lawrence Convention Center under a proposal before the Allegheny Regional Asset District.

The Pittsburgh-Allegheny County Sports & Exhibition Authority is asking the RAD board to earmark $1.16 million in sales tax revenue next year to help with capital repairs and improvements to the four venues, all owned by the SEA.

Mary Conturo, SEA executive director, said she is hoping the Regional Asset District board will see fit to award the money on an ongoing basis to fund what the authority is calling a “multi-facility reserve fund.”

Any money budgeted by RAD for that purpose would be in addition to the $13.4 million annually that the Regional Asset District already allocates to pay off the debt related to construction of Heinz Field and PNC Park.

The public funding of the two stadiums — usually referred to as Plan B — proved to be very controversial, with some Pittsburghers still rankled by the decision.

Heinz Field cost about $261 million to build, while PNC Park cost $271 million and PPG Paints cost about $331 million. The convention center price tag hit $373 million.

Ms. Conturo said the multi-facility reserve fund is needed as the venues age. PNC Park and Heinz Field opened in 2001, the convention centerin 2003, and the arena in 2010.

“The facilities are getting older and we think it’s prudent to create this supplemental reserve fund to help maintain them in good faith,” she said.

Thenew fund would supplement individual capital reserve funds put in place for each of the venues.

The Heinz Field and PNC Park