“Just growing up in Pittsburgh and knowing different neighborhoods, having family there and just loving it, it’s like no other place.” – Wiz Khalifa

Arena: PPG Paints Arena (2010)

Location: Downtown Pittsburgh

Game Attended: February 16, 2019 vs. Calgary

Game Result: 5-4 Calgary Win, Two Fights, and a Free Puzzle!

Seat Location: Downstairs Corner (Penguins Shoot 1x End)

Overall Impression: Great Building with Great Energy

I’m a diehard Philadelphia Flyers fan, and I just don’t like the Pittsburgh Penguins. But, let’s call a spade a spade: they’ve built a strong franchise with an equally strong hockey team. And more often than not, they seem to have my beloved Flyers’ number. It sucks, but it be like that sometimes.

Nevertheless, if I’m going to complete my journey around the NHL, I had to embrace (or at least sit neutrally amongst) the fans of the team I so strongly dislike. So with an open mind and a belly full of Crabfries from Chickie’s and Pete’s, I set out for Pittsburgh.

College mentee Dan and I got tickets for a Saturday matinee, and the building was packed! PPG Paints Arena, built in 2010, is a great facility worthy of a great fanbase in the Steel City. It’s a bright, clean, and spacious facility near Downtown Pittsburgh, with some great character and plenty of tributes to the Penguins’ five (ugh) Stanley Cup championship teams.

A couple of PPG’s nice features included wide, open concourses with plenty of light, banners and murals commemorating Pens history, and a wall of local hockey jerseys (similar to those in Columbus and New Jersey).

Inside the rink itself, there are great sight lines, a nice giant Jumbotron, and exciting in-game music to pump up the crowd. The Pens scored four goals on this day, and it was fun to see the entire building celebrating and cheering their team. (Editor’s Note: the Editor did NOT celebrate these goals, and did once accidentally cheer for a Calgary goal. Dan was kind enough to teach me a chant (“Lemon Pledge”) so I could participate in the “Let’s Go Pens” chants while still maintaining my personal sense of dignity.)

We ate before the game, so I didn’t get to sample any of PPG’s concessions. But someone in the row in front of us got a grilled cheese from The Yard and hooooooboy did it look tasty! If you’re in Pittsburgh, do yourself a favor and try a sandwich at any of the Primanti Bros’ locations in the city. Fantastic sandwiches topped with fries, coleslaw, and tomatoes that rival my beloved cheesesteaks and roast porks!

Overall, my experience at the Penguins game was very fun. Of course it helped that Calgary won (yeah Pittsburgh, I give yinz permission to call me a jag), but the atmosphere at PPG was exciting and full of energy. A beautiful new building (albeit not close to public transportation) with great fans to enjoy a hockey game. It’s pricy, largely because the Pens have sustained a high degree of success recently, but it was still a great day at the rink!

Building: 4.5 / 5

Atmosphere: 4.5 / 5

Neighborhood: 3 / 5

Overall: 4 / 5