PITTSBURGH (AP) The Rivers Casino will pay $7.5 million a year toward construction of the new Penguins arena.

The city-county Sports & Exhibition Authority, which is building the $325 million Consol Energy Center, said Nov. 9 that the casino will make two payments a year for the next 30 years.

A licensing condition requires the casino to help fund the arena. Holdings Acquisition Co., which owns the casino, made a $2.3 million payment last month after the state Gaming Control Board threatened sanctions.

The casino’s owners, who rescued the stalled project from possible bankruptcy last year, had said they believed the first payment wasn’t due until at least next year.

The arena is scheduled to open for the 2010-2011 season.

Today's top stories

Webber Ahead of Plans On I-10 Widening in Texas

Progress Continues On $250M Columbus LOT Project

Volvo Holiday Lights, Fan Voting Begin

Work Continues On Largest Project in NYSDOT History

Case Introduces Limited Signature Edition Backhoe Loader for Iconic Presence On Job Site

VIDEO: Norwalk, Conn.'s Fire-Damaged I-95 Overpass Reopens Early, $3.2M Under Budget

Six Small Bridges in Plymouth, Vt., to Be Replaced Over Two Years Starting Next Summer

FAE's Expands Range With Its New SFL Multitask Head