WILKES-BARRE TWP. — November 13, 2024 marks the 25th Anniversary of our incredible Arena in Wilkes-Barre Township.
Looking back after 34 years — yes, that’s when it began — perseverance is the raison d’etre the Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza stands majestically atop Highland Park Boulevard.
By 1990 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton was the largest Metropolitan Statistical Area in the country without an arena facility.
The idea of an arena was once mentioned by developers during my days on Wilkes-Barre City Council (1976-1981) but nothing came of it. How could it? To develop, fund, construct and operate an arena would require dozens of professionals and tens of millions of dollars. It would be a massive undertaking.
That’s even before the innumerable and unanticipated hurdles and seemingly insurmountable obstacles assemble to hold you back.
But even an unreachable dream begins with the perilous first step. In 1991, as a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, I introduced and passed legislation authorizing $25 million for the construction of an arena in the Wilkes-Barre area.
Authorization is necessary. Convincing a governor to fund your authorized project is another matter.
Happily, Bob Casey, Sr. was governor. We had a close relationship. I had a shot. However, before he would approve my funding, Gov. Casey wanted me to land an AHL Hockey team as an anchor tenant. But the league wanted an arena approved before they would give me a team. What to do?
Oh, the hurdles. Mine were many and they came at us every day, non-stop. Perseverance was required.
I needed an AHL team. But what team? We needed to raise over $20 million in bonds without a municipal guarantee. Luzerne County had reneged on the bond guarantees and put it to a vote.
Down 20 polling points, I had to raise $250,000 to run an unanticipated referendum campaign — ArenaYES — to salvage the bond guarantees. We lost that campaign by 48 votes.
The hurdles piled up; site issues, sewer issues, financial issues, construction issues, build Exit 168 off Interstate 81, amusement taxes, development plans, court battles, grading permits, occupancy permits, just to name a few. Supporters called them “the hurdle of the day.” Each had to be dealt with, daily, hourly and overcome. Each is a fascinating story, and I enjoy telling them.
I had to convince then FirstUnion Bank to support our bonds. To do that, I had to pass hotel tax legislation through the Pennsylvania House and Senate, and have it signed by the governor as the 1993-1994 legislative term was about to expire.
We needed a builder, architects, financial advisors, a building operator, project manager, the best workers, a labor agreement, banks, bonds, concessionaire, lawyers, accountants, sub-contractors, and more. Each had to be carefully selected without the cancer of political interference.
But who was best qualified? We had to find out!
With $50 million in the middle of the table I constructed an imaginary wall around the Arena project to keep politics out. And God help anyone that tried to scale it. We would get only one shot at this. It had to be done right. That was my promise to Gov. Casey and to the people of Northeastern Pennsylvania.
Perseverance was required, everyday. The hurdles were big, but so was the Dream.
Our Arena proves you can dream big, tackle the impossible project, and do it correctly.
November 13, 2024 is our Arena’s 25th Anniversary — not September 21. We were still laying sewer lines in September 1999.
We opened the Arena with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins hosting the Kentucky Thoroughblades on Nov. 13, 1999. Our first concert was the great Neil Diamond — two nights that sold out in less than half an hour.
I will visit the Arena next during the week of Nov. 13, 2024, for the actual 25th Anniversary. As always, I will be two feet off the ground when I enter that building. I will contemplate the 25 years of joy our Arena has brought to the people of Northeastern Pennsylvania.
The Arena is YOURS — for the rest of your life, enjoy it.
ArenaYES !