Consol Yourself: The New Arena Rocks!
by PopRocks on Aug 30, 2010 1:03 PM EDT
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PrintThis weekend I officially joined the ever-growing list of hockey fans who have toured -- and subsequently been impressed by -- the new arena in Pittsburgh. Before I went I was, quite frankly, worried that everything had been over-hyped and blown out of proportion. It wasn't as if I was expecting to meet Mario or anything, but I sort of felt like I was on my way to the theatre for Star Wars, Episode 2: an expedition that did not end with puppy dogs, ice cream, or rainbows.
Anyway, the short version is that I was not disappointed. Even a little bit!
After the jump you'll see my two favourite aspects of the arena. Feel free to add your own thoughts in the comments.
The Seats:
The main reason I went to the arena on Saturday was to check out the seating, so I spent a significant amount of time wandering around the rink, and up and down the levels. Here's the best way I can describe it: When players talked about playing in Mellon Arena they often talked about how they always felt like they were really close to the fans. With the set-up at the CEC, it feels like that from the fans' perspective. As I sat in the various seats around the arena (with unconditionally unobstructed sight lines), I felt like I would have a fantastic view of the game no matter where I sat. Maybe it was the mario-juice they made me drink on the way in, but I'm pretty sure I'll be able to see the expressions on the players' faces even if I'm sitting in the back row of the 200 level. And if I can't, the jumbotron is big enough to accost me with the details of the game in no uncertain terms. Oh ... and the seats are really comfortable with plenty of leg room. Airlines: take note!
The History:
As I wandered around the arena trying to find an appropriate exit point, I happened into one of the stairwells. I was greeted by a giant team picture from the 2004-2005 season (see what I did there? ;)). It turns out that the stairwells are the place to find pictures of teams from the entirety of the Pens' lifetime, complete with rosters and special notes. Beyond the various "interactive displays" that everyone has been talking about, there are random tributes to Pittsburgh's hockey history found throughout the arena. If you think stuff is cool, you'll like this stuff!
So ... enough about me. What about you? Have you seen the arena? What did you like most? Least? (what?!) How incredibly excited are you that there are only a few dozen more sleeps to go until hockey season begins?
The content expressed in fanposts does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the staff here at Pensburgh.com. FanPosts are opinions expressed by fans of various teams throughout the league but may be more Pittsburgh-centric for obvious reasons.
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I was there on Saturday myself. Most impressive parts?
1. The new HUD over the ice. The screens are just gigantic. Unless you see them in person you really have no idea how large they are.
2. Every concession stand, and I mean every one, have HD screens displaying the menus. It was a spectacular detail.
I was there Saturday, as well. PopRocks, if memory serves me correctly (and it may not) we likely traveled down the same roads from Toronto to get there. It was completely worth the trip. Consol (or whatever we will be calling it) exceeded my admittedly lofty expectations. I am kicking myself right now, though. I didn’t go in the stairwells! I’ll have to check them out next visit. My favourite parts were: the open concourses (I swear I stopped at every viewpoint to look at the ice); the amazing upper bowl from the incredible views to that awesome elevation that has you walk down the steep grade to excellent seats; the pictures everywhere but especially on the private box level; and the selection of food available. The screen, the colours, the gorgeous windows, the kid’s area (hope they let me play there too), and the interactive area were all excellent too. I can’t wait to see hockey in that building!
I am, in fact, displaced from the Toronto area (well … that’s what I tell Americans … and I did live in North York for a few years … ), but my displacement has brought me to semi-permanent residence in the Burgh. So my journey took less than 20 minutes on the bus, which I imagine was a good deal shorter than yours!
Shero gets an A. Burkie gets a checkmark.
The stairwells
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Yes, these little extra details were quite nice.
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Follow me on twitter, Picasa or at Pens Through My Lens.
by PensAreYourDaddy on Aug 30, 2010 3:46 PM EDT up reply actions
Sight lines are great. You could see the ice wonderfully from everywhere.
All the seats are comfortable. (I sat in each major seating area that I was allowed into. The luxury box seats would be awesome to sit in but I know I probably never will sit there again :) )
I am a little apprehensive about the food. I for one liked the deluxe chicken nachos at mellon better and the beer selection is still kind of weak. The best beer I saw was Yuengling in bottle.
One last thing that I am not sure about is the overall “show” that will happen at the games. The amount of lights and speakers make me worry it will end up having more of a Capitals feel to the game-day and I really don’t want that.
And finally, I got to meet Katie O’Malley and got a spot on PensTV, so that was cool.
All in all I quite enjoyed the Open House and look forward to going to some games there very soon.
I have to say that when I saw that their soda of choice was RC Cola I was … disappointed? And I agree on the beer selection.
I did take a picture of Primanti’s, though.
Shero gets an A. Burkie gets a checkmark.
to tell the truth, I am not that disappointed by the soft drink choices…. as long as they are not charging $4 for a cup of Fago or Giant Eagle cola it is OK with me.
But friends do not let friends drink crappy beer.
My friends always make me drink Labatt at Pens games.
They might not be my friends!
Shero gets an A. Burkie gets a checkmark.
Molson!
"Hockey captures the essence of Canadian experience... hockey is the chance of life, and an affirmation that despite the deathly chill of winter we are alive." - Stephen Leacock.
Good question, maybe you can ask Chris Devivo (Media Technology guru) about the game presentation. His blog is at backteching.com which is encouraged reading for all Pens fans. I would expect a more “modern” type game presentation, if only because they finally have the capabilities to do so.
I would hope that, unlike Washington, it doesn’t turn into a million bells, whistles and a crazy screaming PA Announcer imploring you to make noise at the end of every TV timeout. If I want that, I’ll go to a monster truck rally.
"Game's the same. Just got more fierce."
May do that but I refuse to use twitter and he is a bit slow on updating backteching…..
Just the difference between the low-tech but quaint Mellon vs the high tech Consol has me a little worried that the powers that be may try and turn it into an whiz bang show for the ADHD youth.
The VAST amount of corporate branding within the center only makes me more apprehensive.
That was one of my few complaints. I hate the usage of LED ads, especially on the boards and the “rings” around the concourses that will occasionally change during gameplay and shift the whole lighting of the arena slightly. It ruins the watching experience a little bit for me. But that’s the way of the world in 2010 and something’s gotta pay the bills.
Overall I know for a fact the game presentation people know they don’t want to push things too far, but with finally having the huge jumbotron and the chance to do a lot, I’m sort of expecting they do go a little too far at first, then they’ll listen to their customers and hopefully reign it in a little bit.
"Game's the same. Just got more fierce."
by Hooks Orpik on Aug 31, 2010 10:31 AM EDT up reply actions
I Am Jealous
Wish I could be there for a visit, but I will have to wait until my husband and I can attend a game this season and take everything in.
You all are very lucky to get to see Consol up close and personal.
It doesn’t sound like anyone is disappointed. And the seats/seating all sound very comfy—which is great. I agree with Pop Rocks: all Airlines could make there seats bigger and roomier.
One Who Lives And Breathes All Things Penguins
by PensFanInDenver on Aug 30, 2010 4:22 PM EDT reply actions
The seating
I spend a lot of time on seatdata during the season scoping out different seating locations when I am buying tickets. One of my goals at the open house was to get my own collection of photos of each section of the new arena. In case anyone else has this need, feel free to consult my CEC Seating album on Picasa. These are high res photos so you should be able to do a pretty good zoom on whatever section you want to see, though admittedly I was focused primarily on the lower bowl.
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Follow me on twitter, Picasa or at Pens Through My Lens.
by PensAreYourDaddy on Aug 30, 2010 4:38 PM EDT reply actions
Damnit!
Why couldn’t they have done this next week? My parents are moving back to Pittsburgh and I’m helping them drive cross country and then going to hang out in my home town for a bit.
Does anyone else know if they are going to be doing anything like this again?
"Hockey is the only tribe I belong to." -Jack Falla
There’s a Lady Gaga concert next week.
by SlayerGhaleon on Aug 30, 2010 5:43 PM EDT up reply actions
No, I mean that’s why they did the open house this past weekend. It’s booked with concerts the rest of the way.
by SlayerGhaleon on Aug 30, 2010 6:37 PM EDT up reply actions
I love hearing what the Consol’s like from you guys.. The only chance I have of going to Pittsburgh this year is the Winter Classic, so for now I’ll just settle for Heinz field
"Hockey captures the essence of Canadian experience... hockey is the chance of life, and an affirmation that despite the deathly chill of winter we are alive." - Stephen Leacock.
Pittsburgh welcomes you!
See the city before you go into the game, try and see PNC Park if you can, too ( at least from the outside )
This city is an amazing place to be, and we will have plenty to see and do during the WC!
Oh and you lucky SOB for getting tix!
Every day is a great day for hockey!
by Slo-mo Malkin on Aug 31, 2010 9:32 PM EDT up reply actions
Almost forgot…and of course go see the Stillerz Superbowl trophies!
Every day is a great day for hockey!
by Slo-mo Malkin on Aug 31, 2010 9:33 PM EDT up reply actions
hehe, I haven’t gotten the tix yet, but I’m literally begging my parents for them (I won’t be able to afford them)
The only other time I was in Pittsburgh (Pens-Leafs games FTW!) I didn’t get a chance to tour the city, so I’m hoping this winter vacation I’ll be in the Pitt :D
"Hockey captures the essence of Canadian experience... hockey is the chance of life, and an affirmation that despite the deathly chill of winter we are alive." - Stephen Leacock.
It is a very nice city, I’ve been there a few times, and I didn’t go to a Pens game, but I went to a Pirates game and it’s a really nice stadium. I was actually in Pitt the day Bill Guerin scored the double OT goal against the Flyers the year they won the cup, and that day I was walking around the city and everyone had a friggin Pens jersey on while I’m wearing my Avery jersey lol. But it a beautiful city, hopefully someday I go back
Proudly suffering as a Ranger fan
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