To Run Oct. 10, 1992: 
For Page 3a 
2 Deaths 
Remain 
Mystery 
The Chief Of Police In Hazleton Reserves Comment Until Investigators Have 
Accumulated All Their Facts

Anna Balent 
Oct. 10., 1992 
Anna Balent, Of East Sixth Street, Wyoming Died Saturday At Her Home.

By CLAIRE SCHECHTER; Times Leader Staff Writer
 Tuesday, October 13, 1992 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 3A QUICK WORDS: SPORTS ARENA
CONSULTANTS 





WILKES-BARRE -- Two nationally known consultants were named Monday to make
final studies and recommendations concerning a proposed 10,000-12,000 seat
indoor convention center/sports arena for Greater Wilkes-Barre. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Deloitte &amp; Touche, one of the nation's largest accounting and consulting
firms, will study the marketability of an arena and make projections of the
number and type of events it could support, its potential operating revenues
and its impact on the local economy. The firm will also study public and
private funding sources and propose two or three alternative financing plans. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ellerbe Becket, Inc., a nationwide planning and architectural firm, will
prepare a master plan for the facility and investigate construction costs,
according to officials of the Greater Wilkes-Barre Partnership who have been
studying the proposal for two years. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The consultants will be paid a total of $91,000, with Deloitte &amp; Touche
receiving $65,000 and Ellerbe Becket, $25,000. Earlier this year, the Luzerne
County Commissioners pledged $100,000 of county funds to pay for arena
consultants. Partnership officials say they are trying to raise another
$25,000 from private sources. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The consultants' reports are expected by year's end, Murray Ufberg,
chairman of the Partnership's Arena Study Committee said at a Monday afternoon
press conference. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 After that, the Partnership board of directors will announce the results
and decide, along with government officials and potential investors, whether
to undertake the project. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Previously, Partnership officials said the arena, planned for the Highland
Business Park in Wilkes-Barre Township, would cost between $35 and $45
million. Business conventions and trade shows as well as sporting and other
entertainment events could be held in the facility. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Stewart Rog, representing Deloitte &amp; Touche, said initial assessments point
to a conference center/sports arena "void" in Northeastern Pennsylvania. The
nearest similar arenas are in Binghamton, N.Y. and Hershey, he said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "This market appears not to be served by a facility of this size." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Rog said Deloitte &amp; Touche has worked as consultants to more than 60 arena
projects, including The Meadowlands Sports complex in New Jersey, Pilot Field
in Buffalo, N.Y. and basketball arenas in Portland, Ore. and Oakland, Cal. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Ellerbe Becket has designed numerous arenas including The Oregon Arena in
Portland, the Quad City Civic Center in Moline, Ill., Gateway Arena in
Cleveland. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 STORY CUT HERE and renovations to The Boston Garden and Madison Square
Garden in New York City. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Photo by Lewis Geyer &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ARENA DETAILS - Randy Edwards, of Ellerbe Becket Inc.; Murray Ufberg of the
Greater Wilkes-Barre Partnership Inc. and Steward Rog, of Deloitte and Touche,
answer questions about a proposed local arena Monday.

Consultants Will Study Arena Potential Firms Will Be Paid $91,000 Out Of The $100,000 Luzerne County Kicked In