Pittsburg ? After talking with a co-owner of the Penguins, Gov. Ed Rendell is optimistic that a new arena agreement can be reached to keep the team in Pittsburgh.

In a phone conversation Tuesday night, Rendell and co-owner Ron Burkle discussed some of the arena issues that needed to be clarified and agreed to work on them. The governor said he expects to speak with Burkle again early next week, but that no new negotiating sessions are scheduled.

This followed several days of exchanges between the governor and Mario Lemieux, the Penguins chairman and former star player.

“We want to reach an agreement. We think we’re getting closer,” Rendell said Wednesday. “We’re hopeful.”

Burkle is also talking with Pittsburgh mayor Luke Ravenstahl and Allegheny County chief executive Dan Onorato.

At the NHL All-Star game in Dallas this week, Lemieux said the time was drawing near for the Penguins to decide whether to stay or to relocate – possibly to Kansas City, Mo. Team executives also are considering a visit to Houston, the largest U.S. city without an NHL team.

Lemieux said last week’s negotiating session with Rendell, county and city leaders took a step backward because of a request the team share revenues from a redevelopment of the Mellon Arena site with casino operator Don Barden.

Barden was chosen last month by the state gaming board for the only slots machine parlor license granted in Pittsburgh. Barden has agreed to contribute $7.5 million per year toward a new arena, but also wants to redevelop the area around Mellon Arena, where the Penguins have played since 1967.

Rendell said the state can “tweak this a little bit,” in reference to the arena deal – meaning further concessions could be offered.

On Tuesday, Rendell said the proposal already was the best given any of Pennsylvania’s seven major pro sports teams, and he threatened to take it to the NHL’s board of governors if the Penguins attempted to move.