Pittsburgh Sports Authority Approves PPG Paints Arena Lease Transfer

The lease will move from Fenway Sports Group to the Hoffman Family of Companies.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 5:21am

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The Sports and Exhibition Authority of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County has approved the transfer of the lease for PPG Paints Arena from the Fenway Sports Group to the Hoffman Family of Companies. The deal is now awaiting approval from the National Hockey League.

Why it matters

This move marks a significant shift in the ownership of the Pittsburgh Penguins, with the Hoffman Family poised to take over the franchise. The previous owner, Fenway Sports Group, has been criticized for failing to deliver on promises made to the community.

The details

Alongside the lease transfer approval, the Sports and Exhibition Authority board members said the Fenway Sports Group failed to fulfill commitments it made when purchasing the team and called on the organization to donate profits back to the lower Hill District redevelopment projects. Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato welcomed the Hoffman Family as the new ownership group, expressing hope that they will approach the franchise with a spirit of community investment and partnership.

  • The Sports and Exhibition Authority approved the lease transfer on March 13, 2026.
  • Fenway Sports Group purchased the Pittsburgh Penguins for $950 million in 2021.

The players

Sports and Exhibition Authority of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County

The government agency that oversees the operations and management of PPG Paints Arena, the home of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Fenway Sports Group

The previous owner of the Pittsburgh Penguins, which has been criticized for failing to deliver on promises made to the community.

Hoffman Family of Companies

The new ownership group that has agreed to purchase the Pittsburgh Penguins, with the expectation of a $1.7 billion sale price.

Sara Innamorato

The Allegheny County Executive, who welcomed the Hoffman Family as the new ownership group and expressed hope for their approach to the franchise.

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What they’re saying

“FSG leaves Pittsburgh on a path of broken promises. They alienated allies and fans and wrung every dollar out of a public asset and public land to make a $800 million profit with little investment back into the community and Penguins' fans. FSG is able to get away with that because when leases are negotiated, the public is often forced to choose between keeping their team in Pittsburgh or protecting precious tax dollars. We will make every effort to negotiate better leases going forward.”

— Sara Innamorato, Allegheny County Executive (cbsnews.com)

“We've had positive initial meetings, and as a new owner I hope they'll approach the franchise with a spirit of community investment and partnership.”

— Sara Innamorato, Allegheny County Executive (cbsnews.com)

What’s next

The deal is now awaiting approval from the National Hockey League.

The takeaway

This ownership change represents an opportunity for the Pittsburgh Penguins to rebuild trust with the local community, with the hope that the new Hoffman Family ownership group will prioritize community investment and partnership over maximizing profits.