New Pens Arena One Step Closer to Opening

The Pittsburgh Penguins are one step closer to having a new home. Today marked the last structural steel beam to be set in place, when less than one year ago was the groundbreaking. Penguins Chief Executive Officer Ken Sawyer says the new area is the last piece of the big plan that was put in place several years ago.

"That was to fix the economics in the league, which we did. Rebuild the team, which we've done, win the Stanley Cup, which we did ahead of schedule," Sawyer says. "And now, the next big thing is to open this, and now we know we have a home for the Penguins."

Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato and Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl also made remarks to the tremendous effort made, particularly the workers, which have placed approximately 8,000 beams since December.

Pittsburgh Penguins Owner Mario Lemieux says it is a tremendous day for the team, knowing it took nearly a decade to get to this point.

"This is special for all of us. For the organization, the workers here," he says. "It's very exciting to be here today and to see the progress that has been made."