Penguins, arena announce lease extension agreement

The Luzerne County Convention Center Authority and the National Hockey League’s Pittsburgh Penguins jointly announced this morning that both parties have reached an agreement in principle on a 10-year contract lease extension to keep the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League in Northeast Pennsylvania.

The understanding calls for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins to remain and play its seasons in the Authority’s arena for an additional 10 years, commencing in July of 2019, subject to terms of the lease.

The Authority will seek formal approval of the various lease provisions at its regularly scheduled meeting this Wednesday.

“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.

The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins have been the primary tenant of the SMG-managed Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza in Wilkes-Barre Township since 1999.