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WILKES-BARRE TWP. — After two years of losses during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza expects to turn a profit in 2022.
The Luzerne County Convention Center Authority that owns and operates the facility approved an annual budget Wednesday with net income of $404,182. Adding in $2.5 million in non-operating income from the county hotel tax, the arena budgeted to end the year at approximately $2.7 million.
A portion of the 11% tax goes to the Authority to use toward construction debt and capital improvements at the arena that opened in 1999.
Unlike most of 2020 and a good portion of 2021 when the facility was shut down, it’s been open this year, hosting games for anchor tenant, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins AHL hockey team and booking events.
The venue will have to make a quick switch this weekend to cover the ice after the Penguin’s game Friday night against the Belleville Senators with wood flooring for a basketball game Saturday featuring the Harlem Globetrotters basketball game with Pittston Area graduate Mia Hopkins.
“Pretty excited about this one. Tickets are selling pretty well,” said Will Beekman, general manager of the arena for the ASM Global, the company that manages the facility.
Next month the arena will host the PIAA District II high school basketball tournament. Other shows include, comedian John Mulaney on March 11, rock’n’roller Alice Cooper on March 23 and Monster Jam monster trucks from April 29 to May 1.
In addition to the budget, the Authority board approved two projects proposed by Building & Grounds Committee. Board Chairwoman Donna Cupinski said she received a recommendation for Smith Miller Associates of Pittston to do an assessment of the HVAC equipment needs. Rather than set a price that could back the Board into a corner, Cupinski asked that the committee be allowed to hire the consulting engineers for the work.
The Board agreed to have Provident Energy Consulting LLC of Media look at the arena’s electrical and natural expenses to determine if there are any opportunities for cost savings.
Neal DeAngelo notified the Board he is not seeking reappointment. In a letter read by Cupinski, DeAngelo said he enjoyed his time on the Board, but added “unfortunately my career is taking me in many directions and I do not feel I can any longer commit the time required to serve on the Authority for the county.”
County Council has yet to fill five vacancies. Board members John Ruckno and John Pickering are up for reappointment to five year terms. DeAngelo, Michelle Reilly and Gary Zingaretti have notified Council they are not seeking reappointments.
The Board’s next public meeting is at noon on March 9 at the arena.
Reach Jerry Lynott at 570-991-6120 or on Twitter @TLJerryLynott.