News and Notes
*The media has been given a free tour of the Consol Energy Center this week. The new arena is about 75% finished and is on schedule to open in August 2010. Most importantly, the arena is on budget.
The seating area consists of a lower bowl (considered lower level), 66 luxury suites and an Upper Bowl (considered upper level). The luxury suites are just above the lower bowl and below the upper level. All 66 luxary suites have been sold out with a per season cost close to $150,000.
There will also be a total of 2,000 Club seats, which are now considered Igloo seats in Mellon Arena. Clubs seats will be available in the lower bowl and the upper bowl with seats stationed near center ice.
A deposit for current season ticket holders is due by March 1st to retain their spot in the new arena. Relocations for season ticket holders will go out sometime in March.
However, season ticket holders will not be picking their seats as relocations will be based on current sight lines. The Penguins are hopeful that there will be a smooth transition on relocations as the Steelers had issues with relocations during their move from Three Rivers Stadium to Heinz Field.
*Count Dan Bylsma among the members of the organization who feel that the team is not where they should be through 62 games.

Bylsma hinted at that on Sunday following the Penguins lost to Nashville and the Olympic break will be a time for the coaching staff to also get together and hold meetings/evaluations.
All members of the coaching staff will be back to work on Monday I’m told as the Penguins return to the ice on Wednesday, Feb. 24th.
A number of players have headed south including Penguins center Jordan Staal who departed for the Caribbean on Wednesday.
There could be worries that some players will spend too much time at Margaritaville but the Penguins will have plenty of time to get back into game shape, with the coaching staff expected to hold a small mini-camp as the Olympians will remain in Vancouver.