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Mellon Arena: Pittsburg Penguins, Hockey, Igloo, Seating And New Arena
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Published: December 4, 2007
Mellon Arena has been a Pittsburgh institution since its construction. Known by locals as the "Igloo" for its unusual appearance, it was home to the Pittsburgh Penguins when they won back-to-back championships in the early 90s. It was also the centerpiece of a recent dispute between the Penguins and the city of Pittsburgh.
Currently, Mellon Arena is the oldest facility still in use by an NHL team, and while admired for its history, it has never enjoyed the prestige of other old hockey palaces like Maple Leaf Gardens or the Montreal Forum.
Mellon Arena was initially built in 1961, though it wasn't intended for sports use at the time. The Civic Arena, as it was known then, was built to house the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera, which had previously played outdoors at Pitt Stadium. The Opera moved into Heinz Hall a decade later for better acoustics, however, and Mellon Arena has never been known as a good concert venue. Ironically, its retractable roof, so revolutionary at the time of construction, ruined the acoustics if it was open during a show. Mellon Arena didn't suffer the loss of the Opera, though, as its main tenant over the years has been the Pittsburgh Penguins. Part of the NHL's first wave of expansion in 1967, the professional hockey team has played its home games in Mellon Arena since its inception, though the partnership hasn't been harmonious in recent years.
Though Mellon Arena was revolutionary when it was built, it has not aged well in the subsequent decades. A large scoreboard added in 1995 impeded the movement of the roof, negating one of the building's most unique features. Maintenance has also grown costly over the years, further limiting Mellon Arena's usefulness. For a good example of the condition it's in, the public announcer has to move from his usual seat whenever it rains, due to leaks in the roof. Certain seating areas have problems with sightlines as well. Seating capacity was added in 1975 and again in 1993, which left some parts of the lower bowl unable to see the ice. The Pittsburgh Penguins made no secret of their unhappiness with Mellon Arena, openly threatening to move out of the city if a new arena was not provided. Eventually, the NHL stepped in and helped forge a compromise between the team and the city.
The new arena will be located across the street from the old Igloo, and is slated to open prior to the 2010-2011 hockey season. The facility is expected to seat 2,000 more than Mellon Arena, and will offer quite an upgrade in aesthetics. Its design includes an 80-foot glass atrium looking into downtown Pittsburgh. Seating won't be nearly as cramped, and the structure will blend into the surrounding neighborhood, something the Igloo never did.
With a new arena taken care of, the future of the Pittsburgh Penguins is secure. Unlike some other struggling NHL franchises, attendance in Pittsburgh has not been as issue. Locals support the team as vigorously as ever, and rising superstar Sidney Crosby has made the Penguins a top draw in other cities as well. In a few years, the fans of Pittsburgh will have a new facility to match their fervor, though many will likely hold fond memories of old Mellon Arena.
Sources:
Conte, Andrew. "New Uptown Arena To Match Neighborhood." Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. 14 Nov. 2007. Richard Mellon Scaife. 29 Nov. 2007. http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/spo rts/penguins/s_537817.html.
"History." Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera. 2000. 29 Nov. 2007. http://www.pittsburghclo.org/about/history.cfm.
"Mellon Arena." Ballparks.com. 2007. 29 Nov. 2007. http://hockey.ballparks.com/NHL/PittsburghPenguins /index.htm .
Molinari, Dave. "Penguins Need To Step It Up At Home." Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 25 Dec. 2006. John Robinson Block. 29 Nov. 2007. http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06359/748880-61.stm .
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Mellon Arena was initially built in 1961, though it wasn't intended for sports use at the time. The Civic Arena, as it was known then, was built to house the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera, which had previously played outdoors at Pitt Stadium. The Opera moved into Heinz Hall a decade later for better acoustics, however, and Mellon Arena has never been known as a good concert venue. Ironically, its retractable roof, so revolutionary at the time of construction, ruined the acoustics if it was open during a show. Mellon Arena didn't suffer the loss of the Opera, though, as its main tenant over the years has been the Pittsburgh Penguins. Part of the NHL's first wave of expansion in 1967, the professional hockey team has played its home games in Mellon Arena since its inception, though the partnership hasn't been harmonious in recent years.
Though Mellon Arena was revolutionary when it was built, it has not aged well in the subsequent decades. A large scoreboard added in 1995 impeded the movement of the roof, negating one of the building's most unique features. Maintenance has also grown costly over the years, further limiting Mellon Arena's usefulness. For a good example of the condition it's in, the public announcer has to move from his usual seat whenever it rains, due to leaks in the roof. Certain seating areas have problems with sightlines as well. Seating capacity was added in 1975 and again in 1993, which left some parts of the lower bowl unable to see the ice. The Pittsburgh Penguins made no secret of their unhappiness with Mellon Arena, openly threatening to move out of the city if a new arena was not provided. Eventually, the NHL stepped in and helped forge a compromise between the team and the city.
The new arena will be located across the street from the old Igloo, and is slated to open prior to the 2010-2011 hockey season. The facility is expected to seat 2,000 more than Mellon Arena, and will offer quite an upgrade in aesthetics. Its design includes an 80-foot glass atrium looking into downtown Pittsburgh. Seating won't be nearly as cramped, and the structure will blend into the surrounding neighborhood, something the Igloo never did.
With a new arena taken care of, the future of the Pittsburgh Penguins is secure. Unlike some other struggling NHL franchises, attendance in Pittsburgh has not been as issue. Locals support the team as vigorously as ever, and rising superstar Sidney Crosby has made the Penguins a top draw in other cities as well. In a few years, the fans of Pittsburgh will have a new facility to match their fervor, though many will likely hold fond memories of old Mellon Arena.
Sources:
Conte, Andrew. "New Uptown Arena To Match Neighborhood." Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. 14 Nov. 2007. Richard Mellon Scaife. 29 Nov. 2007. http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/spo rts/penguins/s_537817.html.
"History." Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera. 2000. 29 Nov. 2007. http://www.pittsburghclo.org/about/history.cfm.
"Mellon Arena." Ballparks.com. 2007. 29 Nov. 2007. http://hockey.ballparks.com/NHL/PittsburghPenguins /index.htm .
Molinari, Dave. "Penguins Need To Step It Up At Home." Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 25 Dec. 2006. John Robinson Block. 29 Nov. 2007. http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06359/748880-61.stm .
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