Sports & Exhibition Authority of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County
Encyclopedia
The Sports & Exhibition Authority of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County (also known as the Sports & Exhibition Authority or SEA) is a municipal authority
that owns and operates public sports and entertainment venues in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
and the City of Pittsburgh.
It was founded as the Public Auditorium Authority of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County. In November 1999, it was renamed to its current name. It owns Mellon Arena
, PNC Park
, Heinz Field
, David L. Lawrence Convention Center
, North Shore Riverfront Park
, Consol Energy Center, and the North Shore Parking Garage.
In July 1998, the SEA developed the "Destination Financing Plan" to encourage Pittsburgh's image as a travel destination. The plan financed the complete redesign and expansion of the David L. Lawrence Convention Center
as well as the construction of PNC Park
and Heinz Field
. The $1 billion in funds for these projects was raised from hotel tax and sales tax revenues, ticket surcharges for Pittsburgh Steelers
tickets, parking revenues, State appropriations, federal funds, corporate funds, foundation money, and team contributions.
Municipal Authority (Pennsylvania)
A Municipal Authority is a form of special-purpose governmental unit in Pennsylvania. The municipal authority is an alternate vehicle for accomplishing public purposes without the direct action of counties, municipalities and school districts...
that owns and operates public sports and entertainment venues in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
Allegheny County is a county in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,223,348; making it the second most populous county in Pennsylvania, following Philadelphia County. The county seat is Pittsburgh...
and the City of Pittsburgh.
It was founded as the Public Auditorium Authority of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County. In November 1999, it was renamed to its current name. It owns Mellon Arena
Mellon Arena
Civic Arena is an indoor arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania that is currently undergoing demolition. It was the first retractable roof major sports venue in the world, covering 170,000 sq. feet and constructed with just shy of 3,000 tons of Pittsburgh steel...
, PNC Park
PNC Park
PNC Park is a baseball park located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It is the fifth home of the Pittsburgh Pirates, the city's Major League Baseball franchise. It opened during the 2001 Major League Baseball season, after the controlled implosion of the Pirates' previous home, Three Rivers Stadium...
, Heinz Field
Heinz Field
Heinz Field is a stadium located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It primarily serves as the home to the Pittsburgh Steelers and University of Pittsburgh Panthers American football teams, members of the National Football League and National Collegiate Athletic Association respectively...
, David L. Lawrence Convention Center
David L. Lawrence Convention Center
The David L. Lawrence Convention Center is a convention, conference and exhibition building in downtown Pittsburgh in the U.S. commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The initial David L...
, North Shore Riverfront Park
North Shore Riverfront Park
North Shore Riverfront Park is a small municipal park along the north banks of the Allegheny and Ohio Rivers across from Downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. It is a parcel of Three Rivers Park, the city's urban waterfront park along its rivers that provides a continuous green trail...
, Consol Energy Center, and the North Shore Parking Garage.
In July 1998, the SEA developed the "Destination Financing Plan" to encourage Pittsburgh's image as a travel destination. The plan financed the complete redesign and expansion of the David L. Lawrence Convention Center
David L. Lawrence Convention Center
The David L. Lawrence Convention Center is a convention, conference and exhibition building in downtown Pittsburgh in the U.S. commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The initial David L...
as well as the construction of PNC Park
PNC Park
PNC Park is a baseball park located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It is the fifth home of the Pittsburgh Pirates, the city's Major League Baseball franchise. It opened during the 2001 Major League Baseball season, after the controlled implosion of the Pirates' previous home, Three Rivers Stadium...
and Heinz Field
Heinz Field
Heinz Field is a stadium located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It primarily serves as the home to the Pittsburgh Steelers and University of Pittsburgh Panthers American football teams, members of the National Football League and National Collegiate Athletic Association respectively...
. The $1 billion in funds for these projects was raised from hotel tax and sales tax revenues, ticket surcharges for Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
tickets, parking revenues, State appropriations, federal funds, corporate funds, foundation money, and team contributions.