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WILKES-BARRE TWP. — Gary Zingaretti, chairman of the Luzerne County Convention Center Authority, Wednesday said it all.
“Today is a great day for hockey and this arena,” Zingaretti said. “And it’s a great day for Luzerne County.”
It was a great day for big news at the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza:
• A 10-year contract extension between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Arena Authority was formally announced.
• A 10-year contract extension with SMG and SAVOR, the arena’s management team, was also announced.
• And the cherry on top of this big news day — longtime F.M. Kirby Center Executive Director Will Beekman has been hired by SMG as the new general manager for Arena.
“The Luzerne County Convention Center Authority was fortunate in the past to have made the decision to associate with two stellar organizations — our management company and food and beverage provider, SMG, and the Pittsburgh Penguins organization with its American Hockey League team, the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins,” Zingaretti said. “The partnership between the Authority and these fine organizations has served the citizens of Luzerne County and all of Northeastern Pennsylvania for almost 20 years. We are proud of our joint efforts to produce mutually acceptable, long-term extensions of these relationships.”
Beekman’s new role with SMG, the private management company that oversees the day-to-day operations of the arena, starts Monday.
The news emerged at Wednesday’s meeting of the Luzerne County Convention Center Authority, which formally approved a 10-year extension with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins hockey team, which was announced Monday.
Beekman’s appointment to the role follows last month’s announcement that arena GM Brian Sipe had departed to become director of booking at the Rupp Arena in Lexington, Ky.
“Obviously this is exciting for me and my family and I am looking forward to this new position and its challenges,” Beekman said.
He also acknowledged that the transition is bittersweet.
“This decision was equal parts easy and difficult for me,” Beekman added. “From a career standpoint, it’s an easy decision because it’s an opportunity to grow my career while staying in the market, which was very important to me and my family.
“From a personal standpoint, it’s difficult for me. I spent the last nine years at the Kirby Center. I believe in its mission what that facility means to the community. I also know they have a great staff that will continue that mission.”
From success to success
Beekman makes the transition at a time when both venues have been basking in glory.
Sipe had been general manager at the arena since October 2014, a tenure which had seen some monumental performances including sold-out performances from Elton John, Blake Shelton, Eric Church, Florida Georgia Line, Kevin Hart, Jeff Dunham, WWE Raw and Thomas Rhett.
“And we recently had our fastest sell-out ever — Kenny Chesney — who sold out within 10 minutes after it as announced,” Sipe said last month. “And we have been ranked third in the state in ticket sales.”
Sipe also was instrumental in working with the PIAA District II committee to bring the high school District 2 Basketball Championships to the venue. The venue also hosted three rallies featuring President Donald Trump during Sipe’s tenure which brought global recognition to the Greater Wilkes-Barre area.
“We are delighted to have Will be joining the SMG team and confident that through his proven leadership skills and involvement in our community that our venue will continue its great success and remain the premiere destination for entertainment in the region,” Zingaretti said.
Beekman’s tenure at the Kirby Center, meanwhile, likewise has brought success and international recognition.
Late last year the Kirby emerged as one of the top 100 theaters in the world for ticket sales, according to one key industry ranking.
Penguins staying
The Authority announced on Wednesday it has come to terms on contract extensions with the National Hockey League’s Pittsburgh Penguins and SMG Management, keeping both organizations at Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza in Wilkes-Barre Township for the foreseeable future.
The Luzerne County Convention Center Authority unanimously voted Wednesday on a resolution on a 10-year contract lease extension with the National Hockey League’s Pittsburgh Penguins to keep the American Hockey League’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in Northeast Pennsylvania.
“The Pittsburgh Penguins are excited to extend our long-term partnership with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and the many fans and community partners who have made it such a success,” said David Morehouse, President and CEO of the Pittsburgh Penguins. “As we like to say in Pittsburgh, this is a ‘Great Day For Hockey.’”
As part of the negotiations, the Luzerne County Convention Center Authority has committed to invest nearly $2 million dollars over the next six years in venue enhancements, including the installation of a state-of-the-art LED ribbon board and LED lighting system.
“The Authority is committed to ensuring our venue remains a first-class facility providing our tenant, events and guests with the latest technological and energy efficient accommodations,” Zingaretti said. “With the addition of the ribbon board and lighting system, along with the venue WiFi project, we are making substantial improvements to the fan experience.”
Jeff Barrett, President and CEO, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, said the Penguins will spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to create new state-of-the-art lockerrooms at the Arena and other major renovations to the “back of the house” at the Arena.
“These improvements will have nothing to do with the price of hockey tickets,” Barrett said.
Zingaretti added that a new Penguins team store is planned and a new lounge.
Sen. John Yudichak, D-Nanticoke, said the iconic and historic Pittsburgh Penguins hockey franchise will continue its long partnership with Luzerne County in delivering high quality AHL hockey to the fans of Northeastern Pennsylvania.
“I am grateful for the relationships we have been able to forge with the Penguins executive team in Pittsburgh, and here locally, that clearly made these complex, but fair negotiations beneficial to both the Penguins and the taxpayers of Luzerne County,” Yudichak said.
