PPG Paints Arena is a multi-purpose indoor arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania that serves as the home of the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League (NHL), and is home to the Pittsburgh Power of the Arena Football League (AFL) 2011 to 2014.
Construction was completed on August 1, 2010, and the arena opened in time for the 2010-11 NHL season. It replaces the former Penguin arena, the Civic Arena (formerly known as Mellon Arena), which was completed in 1961. The ceremonial strike was held on August 14, 2008. The Arena is the first Leadership in the Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified gold arena in NHL and AFL. As soon as the arena opened in 2010 it was named the "Best New Primary Concert Venue" in the Pollstar Concert Industry Awards and "Best NHL Arena" in a reader poll of the Business Sport Journal. The arena was originally called Consol Energy Center after Consol Energy purchased naming rights in December 2008. The current name is from Pittsburgh-based PPG Industries, which bought the naming rights in October 2016.
Video PPG Paints Arena
Planning and funding
Soon after purchasing Penguin in 1999, Mario Lemieux began exploring a replacement for the Pittsburgh Civic Arena, NHL's oldest arena (built in 1961). In an effort not to use public funding, Penguins applied for a slot license under the Pennsylvania Game Controls Board. Penguin is licensed, although the decision of which casino company to accept approval is the decision of the Gaming Control Board. Lemieux Group reached an agreement with the Isle of Capri Casinos, which offers to fully fund the arena of US $ 290 million, if Capri can also build a $ 500 million casino nearby. Other casinos, including Majestic Star Casino and Forest City Enterprises, also agreed to contribute partially to the funding of the arena. On December 20, 2006, the Gaming Control Board granted licenses to Majestic Star Casino, which agreed to pay $ 7.5 million for the first 30 years, in addition to Penguin paying $ 4 million per year. Casinos are experiencing financial difficulties, which can cause taxpayers to fund the entire project. However, on August 14, 2008 Game Control Board Pennsylvania chose Neil Bluhm to take ownership of the casino, which pulled the casino out of bankruptcy risk.
The funding plan of the arena was agreed by Lemieux, Pittsburgh mayor Luke Ravenstahl, and Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell on March 13, 2007, after much negotiation. During the negotiations, Penguin explores franchise moves to Kansas City or Las Vegas (the latter of which received the NHL expansion team in 2017); after the deal was made, Penguin agreed to stay in Pittsburgh for at least another thirty years. Lemieux later stated that relocating the franchise was never possible, but instead it was a negotiating tactic to help the team get funding for the arena from state and local officials. The arena was originally scheduled to open for the 2009-10 NHL season; However, this was pushed back into the 2010-11 NHL season. The arena is expected to cost about $ 290 million, but rose to $ 321 million due to rising costs of steel and insurance. Penguin agrees to pay $ 3.8 million annually for development, with an additional $ 400,000 per year for capital increase. After a $ 31 million cost increase, Penguin promised an additional $ 15.5 million, while the State and Sports Authorities and Exhibitions shared the difference. In September 2009, the State contributed an additional $ 5.08 million from "Pennsylvania Gaming Economic Development and Tourism Fund" to cover the rising "interest on variable rate bonds".
Maps PPG Paints Arena
Design and construction
The population, designers of PNC Park and Heinz Field, designed buildings that worked with local Astorino architects to develop construction documents, while the ICON Venue group and Oxford Development oversaw the development of the arena. More than a dozen buildings were destroyed to create space for the new arena. On April 8, 2008, the presentation of the numerous designs presented to the Pittsburgh City Planning Commission received negative feedback. Local architect Rob Pfaffmann went so far as to say, "If I put a Home Depot mark on it, it looks like Home Depot." Populous was returned on May 6 with a new plan, unanimously approved by the Town Planning Commission.
The Penguins has contacted the Pittsburgh Technology Board, which includes 1,400 businesses, to discover new technologies to apply into the arena design. Replacement requests from the touchscreen will be available in luxury suites, while "Yinz Cam" - a system developed by Carnegie Mellon University students - will allow fans to see instant reruns from different angles on their phones. The arena capacity will be 18,087 for hockey, in honor of the number of Sidney Crosby 87 , and 19,000 for basketball games. The venue will hold 14,536 to 19,758 for the concert, depending on its layout. The venue will also include 1,950 club seats and 66 suites, in honor of Mario Lemieux's number 66 . Ticket prices will range from $ 115,000 to $ 150,000 per season for luxury boxes up to individual game tickets for $ 22. Ken Sawyer, chief executive officer of Penguins, requested that the interior be modeled afterwards from the spot later known as the Jobing.com Arena in Glendale, Arizona. "I'm just stunned in their seats," Sawyer said, "Even when I'm at the top level, I have a good view." NHL commissioner Gary Bettman called the building "very well designed." Bettman loves the size of the concourses and the sights that Pittsburgh's skyline has to offer.
Mario Lemieux along with officials from the state and local government ceremonially broke ground in the new hockey arena on August 14, 2008. The shovel, with a shaft made of hockey sticks used team captain Sidney Crosby, was used for ground smelting ceremonies. Erection of structural steel takes place from January 2009 to August 2009. While the arena is under construction, Penguins won the Stanley Cup, and brought the Cup to the site construction arena on July 9, 2009, during the offseason.
The arena was originally named for Consol Energy, the largest bituminous coal producer in the United States, which signed a 21-year agreement with Penguins in December 2008. Secondary sponsors of the arena are PNC's Wealth Management, UPMC, Verizon, American Eagle Outfitters, and Dick's Sporting Goods, three The last is the existing sponsor who brought over the Civic Arena. On October 4, 2016, PPG Industries purchased the naming rights of Consol as a result of Consol who wanted to get out of the naming rights agreement because the company struggled financially as a result of low energy prices. Consol, who also plans to let his rights naming deal for Consol Energy Park expire, will remain a corporate sponsor with Penguins in a lower role.
PPG Paints Arena is the only major sports venue where the soft drink contract is not with Coca-Cola or Pepsi. (Coca-Cola previously held a contract with the Civic Arena.) In contrast, Dr. Pepper Snapple Group holds a contract, and serves its own products such as RC Cola, Rite of Diet, Cherikee Red, and Sunkist Orange Soda, in addition to more popular brands such as Dr. Pepper, 7 Up, and A & amp; W Root Beer which is usually sold with Coke or Pepsi products elsewhere. At the opening of the arena, Heinz Field sold Coke products and PNC Park sold Pepsi products, making Pittsburgh three major sports venues initially each selling different soft drinks. In 2012, Heinz Field joined PNC Park in pouring Pepsi products, violating a 50-year commitment with Coca-Cola, while PNC Park switched to Coca-Cola products for 2014. The last years of the Civic Arena without a liquefaction contract due to destruction which will come. Currently, Coke retains its pouring rights in the fountain (apparently due to the cost of large-scale turnover) and Dr Pepper/7 Up products are exclusively sold in bottles. This is one of the few times that this great venue has sold products from competing soft drink companies.
Like most other NHL arenas, Penguins take advantage of the goal horn every time the team scores at home. It was also played just before the start of the home game, and after the Penguin victory. The horns of their current destination, made by Nathan Manufacturing, Inc. and was introduced in 2005 to coincide with the arrival of Sidney Crosby to the team, brought from the Civic Arena to the PPG Paints Arena after Penguins closed the Civic Arena.
Hockey
Penguins
Team owner Mario Lemieux and captain Sidney Crosby officially opened the new ice on July 27, 2010, the same day as the official press conference to announce the NHL Winter Classic 2011 at Heinz Field. Both glide about five minutes before joining on ice by a group of young hockey fans who all wear the Lemieux # 66 or Crosby # 87 shirts.
The Penguins opened the arena with a pre-season game on 22 September 2010, with a 5-1 win over rivals Detroit Red Wings. Penguin forward Mike Comrie scored the first goal in the new arena, 81 seconds into the game. The team also added a third pre-season match at home on schedule. Team President David Morehouse said, "Our feeling is that more fans will want a chance to see and experience Consol Energy Center, so we think it's sensible to add a third-party home game."
Penguin officially opened the building on October 7, 2010 against their cross country rivals, Philadelphia Flyers, with Penguins falling 3-2. The first goal was scored by forward Flyers Daniel BriÃÆ'¨re at 2:51 in the 2nd period, a power play goal. The first Penguin goal scored by forward Tyler Kennedy 44 seconds into the third period. The game stars were awarded to Kennedy, Claude Giroux and Flyers rookie goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, who made 29 of 31 saves in his NHL debut. The Penguins earned their first win in the arena on October 15, 2010 against New York Islanders, which applies to the overtime power-play goal by defenseman Alex Goligoski. It was also the first overtime game in the new arena. Goaltender Brent Johnson won for the Penguins, making 22 rescues.
The first playoff game at PPG Paints Arena against Tampa Bay Lightning on 13 April 2011. The first playoff goal in the building was scored by Alexei Kovalev. Penguin will continue to win the first playoff game with a score of 3-0. Marc-AndrÃÆ' Â © Fleury has 32 shutout save. Penguins will lose in seven games.
During the 2011 season, 300 seats were added, increasing hockey seating capacity from 18,087 to 18,387.
PPG Paints Arena held its first Final Stanley Cup in 2016, which saw the Penguin beat San Jose Sharks in six games to clinch the fourth Cup. Although the Penguins clinched the Cup at the SAP Center, PPG Paints held a clock party for what turned out to be a series-clinching game, charging $ 10 for admission with all proceeds going to the Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation. Concessions and team stores are open, and the goal horns are played after every Penguin goal just like in regular home games. The arena hosted the same party party the following year for game six while Penguin played Nashville Predator at Bridgestone Arena, which liked the previous year turned out to be the decisive game series for Penguins 5th Cup.
Collegiate
On July 13, 2010, the arena was chosen to host the NCAA Frozen Four 2013, scheduled for April 11 and 13, 2013. Penguin together with Robert Morris University hosted the first NCAA I NCAA Ice Hockey I championship held in the state of Pennsylvania. ; the event also marked the first time that an NCAA championship game in a major team sport has been held in the city of Pittsburgh. "We are really pleased to have been chosen to host Frozen Four 2013 at (Consol Energy Center)," said hockey man ice hockey coach Derek Derek Schooley. "The Frozen Four will be a great exhibition for the city of Pittsburgh as well as our hockey program.This is one of the major NCAA events, and Robert Morris and the city of Pittsburgh will be excellent hosts."
In December 2012, the arena begins to host the Three Rivers Classic, 2nd Division ice hockey tournament two days. The inaugural tournament took place on 28-28 December 2012 and featured teams from Penn State, Robert Morris, Ohio State and Miami (Ohio). Robert Morris won the first Classics title in a 1-0 win over Miami. Classic 2013 features Robert Morris and Penn State as permanent fixtures, and also features Boston College and Bowling Green University, with Boston College winning 8-2 over Penn State in a championship game. Meanwhile, teams such as Michigan and Minnesota are seen as potential participants for the upcoming Classics.
The first college event at PPG Paints Arena is the fifth annual College Hockey Exhibition on October 17, 2010, hosted by Robert Morris. In the first match of the event, Lady Colonials was defeated 4-3 by Northeastern Huskies. The Colonial ACHA club team beat Pitt 6-4. In the first game of the NCAA men, the Colonial men's team defeated the Air Force, 3-2.
In conjunction with the NHL Winter Classic 2011 held on January 2 at the adjacent Heinz Field, an American Hockey League (AHL) college game and match was contested at the PPG Paints Arena on December 30, 2010. The first match matches the RIT Tigers men's hockey team ice against Colonial Robert Morris; RIT won 4-3. The second game matches the top level affiliations of two Winter Classic teams (Penguin and Capital of Washington), Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and Hershey Bears; Bear win 1-0.
Basket
University of Pittsburgh and Duquesne University have dedicated a locker room in the arena for use by school basketball teams. Both schools made their first appearance on December 1, 2010 at City Game, the first basketball game to be held at the venue. Neutral place, Pitt was set as the home side for the match, to which the Panthers won 80-66. The first point in the arena was made by new guard Duquesne T. J. McConnell, with a basket in 27 seconds into the game.
Arena hosted the SEC/Big East Invitational 2010, featuring Auburn playing Rutgers and Pittsburgh taking Tennessee in Pitt's second appearance at PPG Paints. The game was broadcast nationally on ESPN2 and ESPN.
Duquesne hosts three home games in the 2010-11 season: on 12 December against West Virginia, against Dayton on January 30, 2011, and against Xavier on February 13, 2011. During the 2012-2013 NHL lockout, Duquesne again hosts three home games - December 12 vs. West Virginia, January 19 vs. VCU, and February 9 vs. Xavier. For the 2013-14 basketball season, Duquesne entertains Penn State on December 11 and Dayton on February 22.
Duquesne hosts the second and third round matches of the NCAA Division I NCAA Men's 2012 Division Tournament in the arena and hosts the second and third rounds again in 2015. Duquesne has held three previous times at the Civic Arena: 1997, 2001 (women) and 2002.
During his tenure as NBA Commissioner, David Stern mentioned the arena as a possible home for the NBA franchise to move to Pittsburgh.
For their 2017-18 season, the arena will serve as home to the men's Robert Morris Colonials men's basketball team for several games while the new UPMC Events Center is built on campus.
Football arena
Shortly after PPG Paints was built, Arena Football League was thought to start an expansion team in the arena, but the league was folded in August 2009. However, after a two-year absence, the AFL returned and watched the expansion team in Pittsburgh. On August 19, 2010, news sources reported that PPG Paints Arena will be home to Pittsburgh Power, which began playing in the spring of 2011. The team's ownership group includes former Pittsburgh Steelers and Pro Football Hall of Fame member Lynn Swann. Pittsburgh is the fifth city to be added for the 2011 AFL season, joining San Jose SaberCats, Kansas City Command, New Orleans VooDoo, and Philadelphia Soul - all of whom were former members of the Arena Football League. In nine home games, Power has an average of 9197 fans per game, a figure that includes 13,904 spectators who appeared for the season opener against the Philadelphia Soul. Overall, Power ranks sixth among the 18 League Football League teams with an average attendance through 17 matches that season, and the average attendance is about 1,000 more than the AFL average.
Access Transport
PPG Paints Arena is served by an exit on Mile 1 of Interstate 579 and out of 70A and 72B Interstate 376; it is also 1 mile from Interstate 279. Three blocks west of the Center is the Steel Plaza transit station of the Pittsburgh subway system.
Events
Arena opened on August 18, 2010, with an appearance by Paul McCartney. The demand for the first show was so great that the tickets were sold out within five minutes of being sold. This prompted the addition of the second show, a day later on August 19th. Initially, Pittsburgh Christina Aguilera himself plans to open the arena on August 3, 2010. Due to conflict with the construction, Aguilera canceled his show.
Other appearances during the first month in the arena include Lady Gaga, Roger Waters, and Rush. George Strait, Reba McEntire, and Lee Ann Womack performed in the arena on October 14, 2010. Justin Bieber performed on both My World Tour on December 13, 2010, and on the Believe Tour on November 20, 2012, both sold-out crowds. Cher performed at the venue during the Dressed To Kill Tour on April 2, 2014. Katy Perry took The Prismatic World Tour to the arena on July 22, 2014. On February 17, 2016, Carrie Underwood brought her Tour Storyteller out of the crowd with a 360-degree stage that was acknowledged critically stretched across the floor of the arena.
Fictitious depictions
Justified , an FX television drama that debuted in March 2010, used the final construction phase of the Center as a filming location to describe the "Federal Court Building" on the show.
Grudge Match a 2013 movie that photographed its climate battle scene at PPG Paints Arena.
See also
References
External links
- Official Site
- The arena site diagram
- Direct feed construct
- Energy Console Center Seating List
- Details about Arena technology
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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