Pittsburgh Penguins: Things to Love About Consol Energy Center

The Consol Energy Center, the new home of the Pittsburgh Penguins, held its first major event this past week as music legend Paul McCartney performed two concerts to christen the state of the art arena.

Open houses have been and will be held for season ticket holders, the construction crews who worked on the building, and the general public.

I wish I can say I have seen the new building, but unfortunately, I am five hours away and probably won’t get out there for a few more months.

But in the meantime, I wanted to read every article and look at every photo that had something to do with the Consol Energy Center.

If you’re like me and are just dying to get to the new building, or have even gotten to go already, here are some things I think everyone in the Pittsburgh Penguins community is going to love about it.

Technology

Goodbye, Mellon Arena that was built before the social media and text messaging age.

Hello, Consol Energy Center that implemented almost every kind of 21st century technology available into the Penguins’ new home.

The Consol Energy Center features interactive activities for kids in the Highmark Kids’ Zone. Young fans can play games on a Nintendo Wii and shoot at a replica of the famous dryer Sidney Crosby used to take practice shots on. They can also pick their “game face” at an interactive exhibit where they can pretend to be their favorite Pittsburgh Penguins player.

One of the biggest deals in the new building is the Penguins All-Time Team Exhibit. This exhibit features 15 of the greatest players in Penguins’ history and also has a builders section to honor coaches and executives who were instrumental in the Penguins’ success.

In the All-Time Team area, fans can use touch screens to view statistics and facts about the featured players and watch video highlights of great Penguins moments. There is also an interactive Stanley Cup display where visitors can zoom in on names etched on to the Cup.

Let’s also not forget about the high definition scoreboard and the 800 high definition TV’s placed throughout the arena. This allows fans to watch highlights and game action away from their seat without missing a beat and enjoying the highest picture quality.

Seating

 Consol Energy Center has an 18,087 seating capacity for hockey, whereas the Mellon Arena only held 16,940. The increased seating capacity will allow more fans to buy tickets and bring more revenue to the Penguins, something that will make everyone happy.

The seating bowl is also visually pleasing to look at. The cushioned seats are mainly black but are scattered with rows of gold throughout, which is a tribute to Pittsburgh’s illustrious sports history.

Were you tired of sitting in an old, ugly orange seat at Mellon Arena that made you feel like you were sitting on top of the next person? Forget about that idea when you first take your seat at the Consol Energy Center. The new seats are up to 24 inches wide, and there will be an increase in legroom to go with it.

Getting Around

 One of the best features of the new arena is open concourses that are wider than the dark, narrow concourses at Mellon Arena. Fans will not experience nearly as much congestion when trying to find their seat or the nearest restroom. The open concourse will also allow fans to see the game action while getting food or heading to PensGear, the new and improved team store.

Getting in and out of the arena will also be easier than ever. The arena has four main entrance gates, 12 escalators (Mellon Arena only had two!), and eight elevators.

Amenities

 If you wanted a snack or needed to use the restroom while at Mellon Arena, you had another obstacle ahead of you. Instead of being able to walk a short distance from your seat, you had to walk all the way down to the first level of the arena to meet your needs.

Consol Energy Center pays mind to the fans in both levels of the building. Each level will have several concessions options, restrooms, and ATM’s. This is part of the reason why getting around the building will be much easier than it was in the past.

Non-Hockey Events

 Some Penguins fans believe the arena was built strictly for the team, but they are incorrect.

Consol Energy Center is a multi-purpose building, and it already has extensive plans to live up to that purpose.

Besides McCartney’s opening concerts, the CEC will also play host to The Eagles, Lady Gaga, and Nickelback, just to name a few. Some of these acts may have skipped the Mellon Arena due to outdated technologies and not being able to get as much revenue.

This morning, it was announced that arena football will be coming to Pittsburgh. The Pittsburgh Power will begin play in April 2011.

So if you happen to not like hockey, or want to enjoy some of your other favorite activities inside a great building, the CEC is the place to be.

Player Facilities

Fans are not the only ones who will benefit from the new arena. There are also numerous benefits to be had for the Penguins and visiting teams.

The Penguins’ locker room has a unique design. It is in an oval shape and the ceiling pays tribute to the domed roof at Mellon Arena. It will also have video access so players can watch film without going to a separate room and an interactive whiteboard to draw up plays.

The training area has also been expanded to include a larger weight room with a 25-yard sprint track. There is also an adjacent hydrotherapy room with hot tubs and cooling tubs.

Unlike Mellon Arena, opposing NHL teams will not get the shaft in their locker room area. Their locker room will also have video access and will feature carpeting and bigger lockers.

What Else?

What other features of the Consol Energy Center are you looking forward to experiencing this season?

Let me know!