Music and Sports Venues

PPG Paints Arena is located in the Lower Hill District in Pittsburgh, PA. It replaced the old Civic Arena (Mellon Arena) that was built in 1961. The new arena was built just across the street from Mellon Arena and is home to the Pittsburgh Penguins just as the old arena was. PPG Paints Arena opened in 2010 under the name of Consol Energy Center. In 2016, six years into a twenty one year deal, Consol Energy gave up the naming rights they had purchased in 2008 for an estimated $105 million ($5 million annually) and PPG Industries (a Pittsburgh based company) purchased the rights for twenty years and changed the name to PPG Paints Arena. PPG Industries will have the naming rights until 2036.

Mario Lemieux who played his entire career with the Penguins purchased the team in 1999. At the time Mellon Arena was the oldest NHL arena in the league and Lemieux began planning for a new arena shortly after purchasing the team. He didn’t want to use public money to fund the project so the Penguins partnered with Capri of Biloxi (Casino) and filed an application for a slots license under the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board in 2005. Even though professional sports typically stays away from any relationships with gambling entities the NHL approved the move for the Penguins. The deal Capri proposed was to give the Penguins $290 million for an arena provided they could build a $500 million casino in the city. The Penguins were granted the license but the Gaming Control Board controlled the decision as to which casino would receive approval to fund the arena and receive the city’s only slots license.

There were 2 other casinos interested in funding the arena for the chance to build a casino in the city. Majestic Star and Harrah’s were both in the running. Majestic Star wanted to build a casino on the North Shore and offered to pay $7.5 million for 30 years and the Penguins would have to pay $4 million per year. Harrah’s wanted to put a casino at Station Square and their offer was also to pay $7.5 million per year. The Gaming Control Board awarded the license to Majestic Star Casino in 2006. In March of 2007 Pittsburgh’s mayor, Pennsylvania’s governor and Mario Lemieux agreed on the arena funding. The Penguins also agreed to stay in Pittsburgh through 2040. Construction costs had originally been estimated to be $291 million but had increased to $321 million because of the delays in obtaining funding for the arena. However, construction began in August of 2008 and the Penguins received additional funds from the State to cover some of the added costs.

"PPG Paints Arena Stanley Cup Championship" (CC BY 2.0) by nick.amoscato

 

PPG Paints Arena Events and Tickets

 

The arena was completed in August of 2010 and the first event to take place was a Paul McCartney concert. Tickets sold out in the first five minutes so another show was scheduled for a later date in August. That same year the arena was named the “Best New Major Concert Venue” by Pollstar Concert Industry Awards and “Best NHL Arena” in the Sports Business Journal reader poll. PPG Paints Arena has a capacity of over 18,000 for hockey, over 19,000 for basketball, 14,500 for concerts with the stage set up at one end and just shy of 20,000 for center stage events. The building has 1950 club seats located at center ice. Four entry points to the building make for easy access. The arena also has 12 escalators, 800 HD TV’s throughout the building, and one concession point for every 158 visitors. This makes waiting in line a thing of the past. There is a public bar and food court on the main concourse which has a view of floor so you won’t miss any of the action. The venue hosts over 150 events per year.

 

Although the arena is home to the Penguins, there are many other events that take place at PPG Paints Arena. It is Pittsburgh’s main concert venue and hosts many great performances year after year. Basketball is also a featured event at the arena. The University of Pittsburgh and Duquesne University both play their home games there and have dedicated locker rooms in the arena. NCAA men’s tournament regional games have also been played at the arena.

 

If you’re going to the arena you’ll find access is pretty easy. Interstates 579 and 376 are both within a few miles of the venue and traffic moves well both in and out. There is plenty of parking as well. The arena has several parking lots and there are plenty of parking garages within walking distance of the arena. If you don’t want to drive the subway is three blocks away at the Steel Plaza Transit Station. There are also plenty of hotels and restaurants in the area.

 

The facility is definitely worth seeing. Whether you attend a hockey game, a basketball game or a concert you won’t be disappointed.

 

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