Erie Insurance Arena renovations in home stretch [Erie Times-News, Pa.]

June 28--The unveiling is still a few months away, but June Pintea has a huge reason to be thrilled about Erie Insurance Arena's$47 million makeover.

The landscaped, parklike area outside the front of the arena -- which is still under construction -- will be known as "Tullio Plaza" after Pintea's late father, longtime Erie Mayor Louis J. Tullio.

The facility had long carried Tullio's name, and for good reason -- he lobbied hard for the venue, which opened in June 1983, to be built.

Erie Insurance Group and the Erie County Convention Center Authority in May 2012 announced a $3 million, 10-year deal to rename the former Tullio Arena after the locally based Fortune 500 company.

"My father would be really proud of what they are doing," said Pintea, who was recently shown renderings of the granite memorial to her father that will be placed in Tullio Plaza.

An engraving on the memorial states that Tullio's vision was key to "the development of Erie's downtown entertainment district."

Pintea agrees.

"His dream for (the arena) was always about downtown Erie, for the betterment of downtown Erie and for it to be a place to help more people enjoy downtown Erie," Pintea said. "This is going to be great for the community."

Casey Wells, the Erie County Convention Center Authority's executive director, said the arena work is about 70 percent finished.

The Convention Center Authority manages the state-owned arena.

"The idea is to have it completed by mid-September to do some community open houses," Wells said, "so the entire community can come in, walk through, and look at their new arena."

The project is within budget, Wells said, although he admits "we're squeezing every dime ... we're going to utilize all the funds that are in the project budget."

Work that still must be finished includes outdoor landscaping; the installation of 6,000 new seats and a new ice floor for hockey; and completing 13 luxury suites at the arena's upper levels.

Wells said 12 of those suites have already been leased to local companies or organizations for the next five years, at $35,000 a year.

"We're right about where we thought we would be," Wells said.

"And we think that when the community walks in here, they're going to get a sense that this is a big-time building. And it is."

The multiphased arena project started in December 2011 and ramped up when the facility closed in May 2012 for the installation of new restrooms and concessions areas; locker room renovations; the widening of concourses and expansion of the arena's lobby; and demolition of the arena's former 227-space, two-level parking deck at East Ninth and French streets.

Most of that work took place on the arena's north and south sides.

The arena then reopened in October, while still under construction, for Erie Otters and Erie BayHawks games. The arena closed again in April.

The reconfigured west end -- the area in front of what will be Tullio Plaza -- is now bowl-shaped, with a new entrance and exit and concrete stadium seating inside. Much of that work took place within the last six months.

George Kane is a project manager for Pittsburgh'sTurner Construction Co., which oversees the Erie Insurance Arena work.

On a given day, up to 120 construction workers are on-site, Kane said.

Kane said remaking an arena that remained open to the public for a portion of the construction schedule has been challenging.

"We could not afford to have our work impact the scheduled activities of (sports teams) or events hosted at the arena," Kane said. "At the same time, we have to be productive and efficient in our work ... I think the finished product will be something the Erie community will be very proud to have."

State government is providing $32 million for the project and $10 million is coming from Erie County government through gambling revenue from Presque Isle Downs & Casino.

Remaining project funds come from Erie Insurance's$3 million for naming rights and $2 million from suite rental revenue and the authority's own funds.

Wells has repeatedly said that an improved Erie Insurance Arena -- with modern amenities like suites, club-level seating, larger locker rooms, players lounges and training areas -- will help Erie compete for larger concerts and touring shows and benefit its sports teams.

June Pintea said she looks forward to getting an up-close tour of the various upgrades at a building her father helped to make a reality.

"I am so excited to see it. I really can't wait," Pintea said. "My father has a plaza named after him. His name will live on there."

KEVIN FLOWERS can be reached at 870-1693 or by e-mail. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/ETNflowers.

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