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There are a lot of rumors swirling around that the Consol Energy Center won't retain that name for much longer. The company bought 21 years of naming rights back in 2008 for the building, but due to their industry apparently don't want the expense of the rights any longer. We'll see.
The rumor, headed by Rob Rossi (yeah, yeah, I know) is that the name of the arena will be changed to something like the PPG Center. Pens at the "Paint can"? Eh, might take some time to get used to but we'll see if any of this comes to fruition, it's just buzz on the street for now, but seems to make reasonable sense with Consol slashing costs of late.
Update: The Post-Gazette has a report that makes it seem like a done deal:
Get ready for the PPG Paints Arena.
PPG has reached a deal to puts its name on the Uptown arena, replacing Consol Energy Inc.
The Penguins are expected to announce the new deal at a press conference this morning. Team officials declined comment.
The change will take effect immediately.
Consol is giving up the naming rights six years into a deal that was to run 21 years. Its name has been on the arena since it opened in 2010.
However, the company will remain as a team sponsor.
The PPG deal will be long term, although the number of years and the amount of money it is paying is not known. Such deals typically are worth millions of dollars.
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It's old, but if you haven't read Jim Rutherford's piece for The Players' Tribune, check it out, definitely worth a read.
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Spot the flyers d-man in this picture. pic.twitter.com/AcXUq6pCSu
— bryzgoalie30 (@bryzgoalie30) October 3, 2016
Bryz for NHL analyst on NBC. He'd be more entertaining then the current jabronis they have.
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Micah Blake McCurdy dropped his season preview yesterday and it's very interesting read as well. He's got the Penguins at the top of the heap in the Metro division but it should be a tight battle with the Capitals for the top spot all season long, starting right off the bat on opening night (where you just know the Caps will be ready to steal the shine off banner raising night).
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