Lemieux Sports Complex gets $500,000 state grant
CRANBERRY TWP — A comprehensive expansion project for the UPMC Lemieux Sports Center will benefit from $500,000 in grant funding from the state’s Redevelopment Assistance Capitol Program.
“This is the very early phase,” said Kevin Acklin, president of business operations for the Pittsburgh Penguins. “What we’re envisioning is building an additional sheet of ice, a future hotel as well as a transportation hub with parking that can serve not only people who come to the facility but also commuters who are coming down to Pittsburgh.”
The center, which opened in 2015, serves as the main practice and training facility for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Its partnership with UPMC Sports Medicine also allows it to act as a complete outpatient facility for the hospital.
“It’s not only a world-class medical facility with our partner at UPMC, but also our home,” Acklin said. “It is, I would say, the best practice facility in the NHL.”
Acklin and his team are working to make it better. The location increasingly plays host to a variety of teams and events. These range from junior and professional tournaments to the Penguins Skating and Skill Program — registration-based courses featuring professional training.
“What all that activity does is bring millions of dollars in economic impact to the community,” Acklin said.
The expansion project continues to take shape with that community in mind.
“We’re also looking at a human performance laboratory that would serve not only our players and youth hockey players, but could serve the general public as well,” Acklin said.
In partnership with UPMC, the human performance laboratory would use medical technology to assist in rehabilitation, concussion testing and personal training.
“We’re trying to use the power of the platform of the Penguins — and our partnership with Butler County and the growth we’ve seen there — to push the envelope and do greater things at UPMC Lemieux,” Acklin said.
He emphasizes that the project is in its initial stages and the support it has received from the community is making it more feasible.
“We’re very thankful for the Butler County leadership,” Acklin said. “It’s a very collaborative environment where the Penguins and UPMC are investing in that facility, and it’s generating economic growth and improvement of the quality of life for the people of Butler County.”
The expansion project is ongoing and, as of now, has no set end date.
“We have a lot of discussions that we need to have with the community and the leadership,” Acklin said, “but we’re cautiously optimistic that we get additional investments and have even more of a positive impact on the community.”
