Jul. 2--Construction on a $290 million hockey arena will begin in two to three weeks, officials with the city-county Sports & Exhibition Authority said today.

The SEA authorized payments of about $53.29 million spread among five contracts to begin clearing debris and excavating land along Centre Avenue in the Hill District.

These are the first construction contacts authorized to build the arena, which is set to open in time for the Pittsburgh Penguins' 2010-11 hockey season.

Separately, the SEA sold an empty lot on the Nore Shore for $500,000 to hotel developer Kratsa Properties, which plans to build a 10-story, 135-room Holiday Inn Express near the intersection of Federal and Lacock streets.

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