KANJORSKI AND LUZERNE COUNTY CONVENTION CENTER AUTHORITY UNVEIL PAVED PARKING AT ARENA
 
Kanjorski Secured $200,000 Which Made Paving Possible
 
WILKES-BARRE – Today, Congressman Paul E. Kanjorski (PA-11) and the Luzerne County Convention Center Authority unveiled a newly paved section of Mohegan Sun Arena’s parking lot which will help encourage more people to attend performances at the arena and promote economic growth in the region.  Local restaurants, hotels, and shops will all feel the benefits from an influx of attendees for performances at the arena.  The paving was made possible as a result of a $200,000 grant that Congressman Kanjorski helped secure in a highway bill that passed in 2005.  The Luzerne County Convention Center Authority is contributing a match for this project up to $75,000.
 
“When many people first drive into Wilkes-Barre, the Mohegan Sun Arena is one of the first things they see.  As a result, it is a gateway to Northeastern Pennsylvania,” said Congressman Kanjorski.  “This state-of-the-art facility is the heart of sports, entertainment, and culture in the area.  It has helped attract up to 700,000 attendees per year to Northeastern Pennsylvania to attend the various shows and events that are held at the performance space.  As a result, there has been an influx of business to local restaurants, stores, and hotels downtown.  The federal funding for paving part of the arena parking lot will help ensure that more people can safely park at the arena, and therefore, encourage more people to attend the performances, aiding with economic development at the arena and in the region.”
 
“The Luzerne County Convention Center Authority thanks Congressman Kanjorski for obtaining this funding which will help to make parking at the Arena a more enjoyable experience,” said Luzerne County Convention Center Authority Future Directions Chair, Donna Cupinski.
 
The paving of a section of the arena parking lot will help to bring more attendees to events at the arena as more stable parking will be available.  In the past, many attendees have had to park on dirt areas which frequently become muddy, causing problems for cars and for walking.  The paving will help to reduce this problem.  The increased traffic to the arena will also positively impact local businesses in Wilkes-Barre as it will encourage visitors from outside of the area as well as people from nearby towns to visit, increasing traffic to restaurants, hotels, and shops in the area.  It will also increase attendance to shows at the arena, which will help ensure the success of the facility.  Additionally, the paving will help to streamline traffic movement around the arena during events and performances, which will reduce congestion and enhance the safety of attendees. 
 
The section of the newly paved parking lot totals 22,590 square yards near the East Gate Entrance at Mohegan Sun Arena.  This area is about one fifth of the entire general parking area available at Mohegan Sun Arena and will be open for this weekend’s TNA Wrestling Event and Jason Aldean Concert.  The project was completed by Slusser Brothers, located in Pittston, who were awarded the contract through a competitive bid process overseen by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, District 4-0.
 
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