The second group, and the one I feel has the best chance to win the license, is the Pittsburgh First/ Isle of Capri group which according to their press release, wants to build a casino and other revitalization projects on the Lower Hill and also provide $290 million dollars towards the construction of a new arena for the Pittsburgh Penguins hockey team, who, according to owner and former Penguin superstar Mario Lemieux, must have a new arena or else they will leave Pittsburgh. These guys have been hitting the pavement pretty hard with a recent rally to support the I of C plan. Isle of Capri wants to redevelop the area around the current arena, which has been a sore spot for the local black community ever since much of the Lower Hill was razed 50 years ago to build Mellon Arena, forcing thousands of Hill District residents out of their homes and to other parts of the city. Isle of Capri could have the support of the black community if they do this right. Also, they have trotted out former Steeler wide receiver and gubernatorial candidate Lynn Swann as their pitchman. This looks like a win-win situation for Pittsburgh. The city gets an arena more or less for free, Isle of Capri gets to build a casino in an untapped market, and maybe the Hill will get some closure. I don't really care about the Penguins. If they were playing in my back yard, I'd probably close the door and watch wrestling. They priced me out of their market years ago. I'm not going to spend $50 for nosebleed seats to watch a bad hockey team, even though they have the next great NHL star in Sidney Crosby. And I'm one of the few black folks who likes hockey let alone understands it. If I had to be in favor of a plan, this would be the one I'd choose. I don't necessarily think the arena will be as gratis as everyone thinks. Those who will be feeding the one armed bandits will be the ones paying for it, although that's not a bad thing as long as I don't have to. I haven't been to an event in the Civic/Mellon Arena in years, so a new arena does not really faze me one way or another. As long as the city doesn't have to dig into it's pockets to build the damn thing, I'm happy.