PITTSBURGH — Workers haven't even started moving dirt for the Pittsburgh Penguins new hockey arena, but Mayor Luke Ravenstahl already has an idea for one event he would like to see there: the NHL All-Star Game.

Ravenstahl said Monday that he has already talked to NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman about possibly hosting the game in 2011 or 2012.

"I talked with the commissioner and he said it's a reasonable expectation to look at Pittsburgh as a site in the near future for an All-Star Game after the new arena opens," Ravenstahl said Monday.

The Penguins hope to begin playing in the new building sometime during the 2009-2010 season.

NHL officials did not immediately return a call for comment.

Pittsburgh last hosted the All-Star Game in 1990.