Mellon Arena, Pittsburgh Civic Arena, Hockeytahn, or the House that Mario Built, however most people it Pittsburgh know this arena as The Igloo. It is currently the oldest building in the NHL and for one more playoff run, it will host the Pittsburgh Penguins. Although Yinzers are excited about the new Consol Energy Center, it will be difficult to call anything home after the igloo.
For 43 years the igloo has hosted countless Penguins games. Although the building is made of steel frames, seats that may or may not have an obstructed view, and a sheet of ice, the Igloo is so much more than exterior. The framework will never begin to describe what the Mellon Arena means to so many people in the city of Pittsburgh.
It has been there through the thrill of victory, the agony of defeat, and all of the drunken fights you and your friends had with Flyers fans. It has seen young fans, old fans, lifelong fans, bandwagon fans, drunken fans, loud fans, and stunned fans that root for other teams. It has hosted goalies that have stood on their heads, defensemen who crush their opponents into the boards, high flying wingers, players that have betrayed the Pens, and the some of the greatest players that would ever and will ever play the game. It has been through years where our Pens were dead last, short playoff runs, long playoff runs, and championship runs. There was also a time where the Penguins would never see the Igloo or Pittsburgh. Although, it has never seen the boys in black and gold physically lift a Stanley Cup. It still hosts 3 cup banners that are hung almost majestically in the rafters. The igloo has seen it all…
Can you honestly think of a stadium in the United States that accommodates fans that cannot afford a ticket to the game? What other stadium puts up a monstrous big screen television smack dab in front of the arena so that all fans can see? Provided you are not watching the game on NBC, people have taken out blankets, lawn chairs, and even living room furniture for the biggest summer party in western Pennsylvania. Nowhere else in the NHL shows what goes on outside of the arena after the home team scores. The Igloo does it all…
And then there’s this…
The Igloo has SURVIVED it all…
The Igloo has also hosted some of the most historic events in Pittsburgh. On December 27, 2000 bright lights professed the greatest news that Pittsburgh had ever seen, reflected on the outside of the igloo ”66 Mario”. Just like batman’s emblem illuminating the night sky, 2 numbers and a name on the igloo brought hope to all fans and Pittsburgh and struck fear in those who played against him. Though the greatest moment in Mellon Arena history occurred on March 23, 2007 in a win over the Buffalo Sabres. Although the focus was not on that particular game, but when Mario Lemieux walked with great confidence to center ice and stated, “I am proud to announce the your Pittsburgh Penguins will remain right in here in Pittsburgh, where they belong”. Although, that meant that the Penguins would have to move to a different arena, it also meant the Penguins would be staying put, and perhaps most notably, Mellon arena was able to see another Stanley Cup Banner.
All that being said, the Pittsburgh Penguins have a chance to do something remarkable, which is win a Stanley Cup in the igloo. On Saturday, the Penguins clinched a playoff birth and now have the potential to have home ice advantage for at least the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Granted, everyone would take a Stanley Cup anywhere it was won, but it would be a very fitting ending to Mellon Arena’s story if the Penguins could raise the cup in Pittsburgh
Let’s win one more cup in the House that Mario built… The Igloo.
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