Photo from inside the new Consol Energy Arena in Pittsburgh

[li0lsh]

It looks exactly like every other new NHL arena. The one thing I think the NHL could learn from the MLB is that making each teams arena different definately adds a cool element to the games and even makes some people want to visit the city to take in a game. My roommate for example is attempting to check out every MLB park by next year(he started in 2008).

*and before anyone asks the banners hanging from the rafters are not the unique touch I'm suggesting.

Can you give an example?

 

[dare2be]

It looks exactly like every other new NHL arena. The one thing I think the NHL could learn from the MLB is that making each teams arena different definately adds a cool element to the games and even makes some people want to visit the city to take in a game. My roommate for example is attempting to check out every MLB park by next year(he started in 2008).

*and before anyone asks the banners hanging from the rafters are not the unique touch I'm suggesting.

I don't think it's as easy to do for the NHL as it is for MLB...rink dimensions are standard in the NHL while ballfield dimensions vary widely from team to team, making unique features (skyline views, fountain/waterfalls, specially placed seating, etc) much more flexible. Plus the indoor vs. outdoor constraints also hinder flexibility. For the NHL, fan experience and sightlines are the primary consideration, not uniqueness factors. JMO

 

[SFNL]

There was more to it (amenity wise) than what you can see in that photo.. Personally, I just wanna see some hockey. Others need entertained while there... I'd prefer those people stayed home and watched the Pirates..

 

[dare2be]

Still, amenities or not, GagneFire brings up a legitimate point about the ice surface.

 

[banditshcky11]

There was more to it (amenity wise) than what you can see in that photo.. Personally, I just wanna see some hockey. Others need entertained while there... I'd prefer those people stayed home and watched the Pirates..

I can remember not to many years ago when watching the Flyers play in Pitt was comparable to playing in ATL now. Agreed that adding "special ammenities" does nothing for the game itself and yes sight lines should be the most important thing at any sporting event. My point more was that maybe for some of the struggling teams having something extra to pull tourist interest into their seats would help both the clubs themselves and the entire NHL(can u say profit sharing?). There are tons of complication but even something so simple as adding full jersey designs to the seats so when the arena is empty you can still see your home teams colors. maybe using a different fan vision set up, things along those lines to at least give each arena it's own personality would be a welcome change imo.


*Also this isn't a dig at Pitt's new arena it's actually a problem I have with all the NHL buildings. A team's arena should have as much personality as the team they represent.

 

[Eddie_Shack]

*Also this isn't a dig at Pitt's new arena it's actually a problem I have with all the NHL buildings. A team's arena should have as much personality as the team they represent.

Are you suggesting that the Minnesota Wild should play in a church basement?

 

[SLY]

Are you suggesting that the Minnesota Wild should play in a church basement?

lol... Not many teams can pull something like that off.

 

[banditshcky11]

Are you suggesting that the Minnesota Wild should play in a church basement?

See that would be unique, imagine following your team to Minny and being escorted under ground only to discover last night's bingo cards on the ground.

 

[juliansteed]

There's really only so much you can see from that picture. Not really sure what people are expecting. From that angle, I would expect it to look similar to the other rinks. The concourse and the exterior are what's going to have to give it some personality. Plus the skyboxes but not sure how much those will matter to the average fan.

 

[loki604]

The arena actually does have a ton of personality. It is obvious that every decision was made with hockey/the Pens in mind. Some interesting things:

Trib Total Media Center. They have selected the all Penguins team. There are touch screens where you can read about the players and watch video clips. Very cool. Also more touch screens with "championship moments" footage and you can zoom in to read the names on the Cup.

There's a kids area with little games. Some are on touch screens; there are also Wii's set up. You can try shooting a puck into a replica of Crosby's dryer.

There are displays throughout the arena that show off different moments in Penguins history, with a huge photo and description of the event.

Taken from Mellon, there are jerseys displayed for all the highschool teams.

There's also going to be this:

"For just a $66.00 donation to the Mario Lemieux Foundation, your photograph, combined with thousands of others, will create a 20’ x 8’ Mario Mosaic that pays tribute to the career of Pittsburgh Penguins hockey legend and Hall-of-Famer, Mario Lemieux. The mosaic will be displayed in the main lobby of the new CONSOL Energy Center, allowing the general public to view the mosaic during regular business hours free of charge!"

All of these things and an eventual Lemieux statue...not sure they could give it more personality.

 

[Eddie_Shack]

I think Mario should stand out front on game days, spray painted gold pretending to be a robot.

 

[Winged_Wheel88]

I think Mario should stand out front on game days, spray painted gold pretending to be a robot.

But what would Crosby do then?

 

[Automattic]

Wow! All the fans from before the lockout have already taken their seats...








...ok, I'm done trolling for the day.

 

[evolver115]

But what would Crosby do then?

Crosby will just put it in the back of the net:p

 

[h X c Chris]

Looks like the Wachovia center with the lights turned off, different color seats, and terrible ice.

 

[juliansteed]

The arena actually does have a ton of personality. It is obvious that every decision was made with hockey/the Pens in mind. Some interesting things:

Trib Total Media Center. They have selected the all Penguins team. There are touch screens where you can read about the players and watch video clips. Very cool. Also more touch screens with "championship moments" footage and you can zoom in to read the names on the Cup.

There's a kids area with little games. Some are on touch screens; there are also Wii's set up. You can try shooting a puck into a replica of Crosby's dryer.

There are displays throughout the arena that show off different moments in Penguins history, with a huge photo and description of the event.

Taken from Mellon, there are jerseys displayed for all the highschool teams.

There's also going to be this:

"For just a $66.00 donation to the Mario Lemieux Foundation, your photograph, combined with thousands of others, will create a 20’ x 8’ Mario Mosaic that pays tribute to the career of Pittsburgh Penguins hockey legend and Hall-of-Famer, Mario Lemieux. The mosaic will be displayed in the main lobby of the new CONSOL Energy Center, allowing the general public to view the mosaic during regular business hours free of charge!"

All of these things and an eventual Lemieux statue...not sure they could give it more personality.

My point exactly. All stuff that wouldn't be seen in that picture in the OP.

 

[banditshcky11]

"For just a $66.00 donation to the Mario Lemieux Foundation, your photograph, combined with thousands of others, will create a 20’ x 8’ Mario Mosaic that pays tribute to the career of Pittsburgh Penguins hockey legend and Hall-of-Famer, Mario Lemieux. The mosaic will be displayed in the main lobby of the new CONSOL Energy Center, allowing the general public to view the mosaic during regular business hours free of charge!"

This is a joke in the fact that the same fans who have been there through the years and paying to see lemieux play game after now are now finding that even after he retires they are forced to pay again to prove they are real fans :P

Nah that actually does sound pretty cool, but I would think it would be a better idea if the mosiac was constructed throught the season from pictures taken of fans at games. Oh and free of charge since I don't think the pens are hurting enough to start charging for things of this caliber, I mean what's next $2 for 3 sheets of TP?

 

[dare2be]

Nah that actually does sound pretty cool, but I would think it would be a better idea if the mosiac was constructed throught the season from pictures taken of fans at games. Oh and free of charge since I don't think the pens are hurting enough to start charging for things of this caliber, I mean what's next $2 for 3 sheets of TP?

Thing is, this isn't for the Pens, it's for charity (Mario Lemieux Foundation).

 

[banditshcky11]

Thing is, this isn't for the Pens, it's for charity (Mario Lemieux Foundation).

Would have helped had the charity part been in the original post

 

[dare2be]

Would have helped had the charity part been in the original post

In the post you quoted, first words:

"For just a $66.00 donation to the Mario Lemieux Foundation"