Mr. James "Bill" Lee:
Civic Arena

Thumbnail: Civic Arena and Lower Hill (detail). Civic Arena & Lower Hill

For Further Reading: 1957-1998

* "Arena Bids Asked for Lower Hill:

Trolley Peace Opens Way for Civic Project."
The Pittsburgh Press, 10 December 1957, 1-2.

* "Biggest 'Umbrella' of All."

Municipal Construction (March 1959): 22-23.

* "Local 3 Has Hand in 'New Look' for Pittsburgh."

The Ironworker (September 1960): 6-7.

* "A Public Auditorium for Pittsburgh and Allegheny County:

Dedication Souvenir September 17, 1961."
Pittsburgh: Chamber of Commerce of Greater Pittsburgh, 1961.

* "Arena Makes First Million:

Audit Pleases Executive Director."
The Pittsburgh Press, 28 January 1962.

* "'X-Raying' the Auditorium:

Multiple Exposure Photo Causes Giant Dome to Resemble
Plastic Bubble You Can See Through."
The Pittsburgh Press, 29 July 1962, 8-9 (Magazine).

* "Critics Razz Civic Arena's Roof While Audiences, Stars Applaud:

The CLO [Civic Light Opera] Review:
It's Fulfilling a Dream, Second Season Look Shows."
Carl Apone.
The Pittsburgh Press, 4 September 1963.

* "Bernstein Raps Arena Sound:

7500 Attend Symphony Concert."
Carl Apone.
The Pittsburgh Press, 16 September 1963.

* "Arena Will Buy Symphony Shell:

Director Concedes Serious Error:
Criticisms over Philharmonic Show Stir Authority to Action."
Alvin Rosensweet.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 21 September 1963.

* "Light Opera Is Near Death in Civic Arena:

City, County, Private Aid Needed for Culture Here."
Carl Apone.
The Pittsburgh Press, 27 August 1964.

* "Beatles Blow Up Box Office Storm:

Record Set for Arena:
Baskin Cites $73,767 Night."
The Pittsburgh Press, 22 September 1964.

* "Arena's Shell Debut Not a Sound Success:

Lacking 'As Concert Hall.'"
Robert J. Croan.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 22 October 1964, 10.

* "Civic Arena Chalks Up First Operating Profit:

Attendance Gains, Efficiency Cited."
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 26 October 1965, 1, 12.

* "Future Looks Black to Arena--And That's Good."

Michael Drapkin.
The Pittsburgh Press, 18 September 1966.

* "'Unique' Roof at Arena Springs Leak:

Cost to Replace Dome Mechanism May Exceed $38,800."
The Pittsburgh Press, 29 August 1967.

* "Civic Arena Roof 'Plugs' Approved:

Board Okays Bids Totaling $18,000 in Initial Repairs."
The Pittsburgh Press, 30 April 1968.

* "Arena Losing CLO Seeks New Shows:

Light Opera Loss Won't Mean Deficit Officials Contend."
Sam Spatter.
The Pittsburgh Press, 29 October 1968.

* "Parking Keeps Arena in Black:

Fees Block Loss."
Sam Spatter.
The Pittsburgh Press, 10 November 1968.

* "Arena Attendance, Earnings Both High:

Taxpayers' Help Still Needed."
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 28 November 1972, 1, 6.

* "Black Firm Gets Contract to Run Arena Parking Lot."

Jonathan Williams.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 24 January 1974.

* "Arena Size One of Top 20."

Allegheny Bulletin, 16 July 1975.

* "Civic Arena Backstage Scene Is Another Show in Itself."

David Guo.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 15 December 1975.

* "Arena to Incur $86,000 Loss, First Since '64."

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 1 February 1977, 9.

* "Arena Has 1st 'Red' Year in 13."

The Pittsburgh Press, 10 February 1977, A14.

* "Civic Arena Records over 21 Million Visitors."

Market Square, 5 October 1977, 1.

* "Civic Arena: Behind the Scenes."

Robert Czimny.
The Pittsburgh New Sun, 30 November 1978, 2, 14.

* "Penguins Owner Studying Chance to Control Arena."

William H. Wylie.
The Pittsburgh Press, 31 December 1978, A1, A4.

* "The Civic Arena...Wonder or Blunder?

Today It Stands Abandoned by All Those Organizations
Supposed to Thrive Under Its Dome."
Rich Gigler.
The Pittsburgh Press, 5 August 1979, 4-5, 8 (Magazine).

* "Civic Arena in the 'Black,' Sets Attendance Record."

Mike Moyle.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 11 October 1979, 5.

* "Civic Arena May Cut Beer Sales, Hire Police."

John Golightly.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 29 January 1980, 1, 3.

* "A Rink Is a Floor Is a Field."

Rich Gigler.
The Pittsburgh Press, 13 April 1980, 32-34 (Roto).

* "Arena Area Land Rental Approved."

Eleanor Chute.
The Pittsburgh Press, 27 February 1981, B7.

* "Council OKs Transfer of Arena to DeBartolo."

Al Donalson.
The Pittsburgh Press, 12 May 1981, A12.

* "Civic Arena Cleaners to Take a Lot Off Top."

Roy McHugh.
The Pittsburgh Press, 5 July 1981, A2.

* "DeBartolo Executive Heads Civic Arena Group."

William H. Wylie.
The Pittsburgh Press, 20 December 1981, C7.

* "Civic Arena Looks to Pay Sports Channel for Profits."

Henry Lenard.
Pittsburgh Business Times, 31 May 1982, 11.

* "Arena Building Boxing Base."

Bill Naab.
The Pittsburgh Press, 29 August 1982, D11.

* "How Arena Ushers Keep Tabs on Roar of Crowd."

Pete Bishop.
The Pittsburgh Press, 25 November 1983, C1-C2.

* "Real Pittsburgh:

The Civic Arena: There's No Place Like the Dome..."
Patrick J. Kiger.
Pittsburgh (December 1983): 17-18.

* "Civic Arena Taps Into Rock Concert Beer Sales."

Ann Carnahan.
The Pittsburgh Press, 7 April 1984, A1.

* "On the Surface:

Civic Arena's 'Crash Crew' Makes Short Work of the Transition Game."
Mikey DeCourcy.
The Pittsburgh Press, 14 January 1985, D6.

* "She's Seen the Bizarre in Arena's 25 Years."

Jerry Vondas.
The Pittsburgh Press, 18 April 1986.

* "Keeping the Arena Young at 25."

Bob Hoover.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 12 September 1986, 12-13 (Magazine).

* "Civic Arena to Add New Stage Setting to Handle Smaller Shows."

Walter Ray Watson, Jr.
Pittsburgh Courier, 13 September 1986, C1.

* "Staying Covered:

Domed Civic Arena Marks 25 Years of Adapting to Expectations."
Rich Gigler.
The Pittsburgh Press, 15 September 1986, B1, B3.

* "Arena Provides Parents with a Waiting Room."

Leslie Joan Sloan.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 10 January 1987.

* "$11 Million Civic Arena Face Lift in Works."

Donald Miller.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 29 January 1987.

* "Historic Designation Urged for Arena."

Sally Kalson.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 26 March 1987, 16.

* "Skywalk Deadline Scares Off Builders."

J. Kenneth Evans.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 21 April 1987, 4.

* "Arena May Be Renamed for Caliguiri."

John Schmitz.
The Pittsburgh Press, 10 April 1988, A1, A9.

* "Arena to Be Renamed for Mayor [Caliguiri]."

Virginia Linn.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 22 April 1988, 1, 4.

* "[Michael] Jackson Gigs Set a Record."

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 30 September 1988, 17.

* "Arena Cites History of Losses."

Andrew Sheehan.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 11 February 1989, 1, 5.

* "Pens Staying Regardless of Arena Repairs Outcome."

Andrew Sheehan.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 24 February 1989, 1, 5.

* "Masloff Refuses to Let DeBartolo Off Hook over Arena Renovations."

John Schmitz.
The Pittsburgh Press, 5 March 1989, B4.

* "500 Clash with Police Outside 'Dead' Concert."

Jim McKinnon.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 4 April 1989, 1, 10.

* "Outdoor Theaters a Threat to Arena."

John Wilhelm.
The Pittsburgh Press, 31 October 1989, B1.

* "Singing the Blues at the Arena." [Editorial.]

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 7 November 1989, 8.

* "The Puck Stops Here:

Arena's Locker Room Attendant Grins, Bears Jokes."
Jerry Vondas.
The Pittsburgh Press, 23 December 1989, C5-C6.

* "Mayor Warms to Renovation of Civic Arena

Had Rejected Request for Funding."
Andrew Sheehan.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 11 January 1990, 4.

* "Behind the Scenes at the Arena:

Ex-PR Chief Tells Favorite Stories."
Pete Bishop.
The Pittsburgh Press, 22 May 1990.

* "Write a 30 on the Civic Arena Story,

But It Isn't Time to Close the Book."
Merlisa Lawrence.
The Pittsburgh Press, 17 September 1991, C1, C6.

* "Arena Name Change to 'Igloo' Pushed As Icing for Penguins."

Allegheny Bulletin, 8 June 1992, A6.

* "Pens Will Add 1,300 Seats:

Expansion Will Boost Civic Arena Capacity to 17,500 for Hockey."
Tom Barnes.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 25 May 1993, B1, B4.

* "Big Plans for Arena:

$16 Million May Be Spent to Again Update 33-Year-Old Facility."
Tom Barnes.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 25 May 1994, B1, B4.

* "Arena Tax Cut Believed to Be Luring More Concerts:

Promoters and Agents Voicing Fewer Gripes, General Manager Says."
Tom Barnes.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 23 April 1996, B4.

* "Fixing Arena Tied to Taxes:

City-County Plan to Relieve Baldwin's Loan Repayment on New Seats As Well."
John M. R. Bull and Mark Belko.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 11 May 1996, A1, A8.

* "A Modern Wonder, the Arena Turns 35."

Donald Miller.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 10 October 1996, D3.

* "Arena Fix-Up Proposal Near

Penguins Want New Improvements, Reimbursement for Past Work."
Mark Belko.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 5 November 1996, B4.

* "Civic Arena Package Is On Again:

Dunn and Murphy Agree on RAD-Funded Projects."
Mark Belko.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 27 November 1996, B1+.

* "Penguins' Goal Is Shops, Theme Restaurant at Arena."

Tom Barnes.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 22 February 1997, A1, A7.

* "Penguins to Buy Back Civic Arena Lease."

Steve Halvonik.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 8 March 1997, C1.

* "Keep Arena Dome 'As Is,' Panel Says."

Patricia Lowry.
The Pittsburgh Press, 9 March 1997, B1, B4.

* "Manson Concert Gets OK:

Auditorium Panel Cites Free Speech."
John M. R. Bull.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 24 April 1997, D1, D4.

* "Fans Are Paying Top Dollar for Pricey Penguins Seats:

The Civic Arena's New Luxury Seating Will Give Season Ticket Holders
The Feeling of Sitting in First Class on an Airplane."
Mark Belko.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 8 July 1997, D1, D6.

* "Allegheny Energy Buys Rights to Name Arena."

Ken Zapinski.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 20 November 1997, A1, A10.

* "Naming of Arena Disputed:

Auditorium Panel Balks at Pens' $5 Million Deal with Allegheny Energy."
Ken Zapinski.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 21 November 1997, A1, A18.

* "Name Game:

Some Sloppy Puck Handling on Marquee Rights at the Arena." [Editorial.]
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 24 November 1997.

* "Arena Change on Thin Ice:

Cohen Criticizes Penguins' Attempt to Cross-check Panel."
Tom Barnes.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 25 November 1997, B1, B7.

* "Authority Widens Arena Naming Rights Search:

Allegheny Energy Has Offered $5 Million
Over Six Years to Put Its Name on the Civic Arena."
Tom Barnes.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 27 January 1998, B1, B2.

* "Arena Name Deal Looks Close:

Authority Likely to Decide on Corporate Label in About 2 Weeks."
Tom Barnes.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 24 February 1998, B5.

* "Tight Fit for Plush Seats May Cost Pens."

Tom Barnes.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 31 March 1998, A1+.

* "Entertainment Complex May Surround Arena."

Tom Barnes.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 15 April 1998, B1-B2.

Website:

* Mellon Arena Seating Chart.

(Formerly the Civic Arena.)




Last updated: 22 May 2003.

Return to Interview.