Energy+Consol+Center

Energy Consol Center This is the home to one of the best hockey teams playing in the NHL today, the Pittsburgh Penguins. This building was created with better features to accommodate the fans. At night it show cases the energy and the electricity produced during events. A team called the Pittsburgh Pirates played in the NHL from 1925 to 1930 before moving to Philadelphia. The NHL did not return to the city until the Penguins entered the league in the 1967-1968 season (“Pittsburgh Penguins”).The Pens started at the Civic Arena/Mellon Arena. Also known as the “Igloo” because of its shape (“Consol Energy Center” ESPN). The Penguins were modestly successful during the 1970’s but struggled during much of the 1980’s.The team failed to make the play-offs from 1983 through 1988. However, center Mario Lemieux joined the team in 1984 and became one of the greatest scorers in NHL history. The Penguins won consecutive Stanley Cups in 1991 and 1992. After winning its second Stanley Cup, Pittsburgh made the play-offs every season from the 1992-1993 seasons through the 2000-2001 season. The team slumped during the early 2000’s but again returned to the play-offs in 2007. Sidney Crosby had entered the league in 2005 and had quickly become one of the most exciting players in the NHL. Pittsburgh won the conference title in 2007-2008 but lost in the Stanley Cup finals to the Detroit Red Wings, 4-2. The Penguins repeated as conference champions in 2008-2009. Pittsburgh defeated Detroit in a rematch of the prior year's Stanley Cup finals in an exciting seven-game series (“Pittsburgh Penguins”). In 2010, the Penguins moved across the street and into the new Consol Energy Center (“Consol Energy Center” ESPN).
 * (1) **** What’s the hockey history in Pittsburgh? **

The Consol Energy Center is the new home of the Pittsburgh Penguins. The franchise decided that they need a more fan friendly arena, more space better, newer, nicer looking structure. Energy Consol center has roughly 300,000 more square feet than the Igloo and almost 1,200 more seats. The hockey capacity is 18,087, reflecting Crosby's No. 87. In July 2004, the Penguins sought to link the cost associated with the new building construction with slots profits, thus sparing taxpayers the burden of replacing Mellon Arena, which opened in 1961 and is the oldest and smallest arena in the NHL. The site of the former St. Francis Hospital was imploded on March 22, 2008 to make way for the “Consol Energy Center: Pittsburgh”. The Pittsburgh City Planning Commission approved new plans for the arena on May 6, 2008. A groundbreaking ceremony for the new multi-purpose arena on Thursday, August 14. Â The ground was officially broken at 11:41 am at the future location of “center ice” of the new facility. CONSOL Energy Inc. signed a 21-year naming rights agreement with the Pittsburgh Penguins on December 15, 2008. Involving one of the nation’s leading energy companies, an energetic young hockey team and this vibrant city and region. The atrium in the front allows everyone to see the energy and electricity inside the building during events. When you’re inside, you get to see the most beautiful city skyline in the country. That’s really the signature part and it came out today in those renderings. It would take 18 months to construct. Completion expected before the 2010-2011 season (“Consol Energy Center: Pittsburgh”).
 * (2) **** Why is Consol Energy Center so important and what took place before the Pens could move in? **

I think that’s what it is mainly known for to the “out of towners” so far. Consol Energy Center also will host the NCAA men's basketball first and second rounds in 2012 and the NCAA Frozen Four in 2013. The arena will be home to the expansion Pittsburgh Power of the Arena Football League next spring (“Consol Energy Center” ESPN).
 * (3) **** Is Consol Energy Center only for the purpose of hockey? **

**Works Cited**
 * “Consol Energy Center” //ESPN NHL// 2012. Web. 1 Feb.2012 [].
 * “Consol Energy Center: Pittsburgh’s New Arena” //PittsburghHockey.net// © 1999-2012. Web. 1 Feb. 2012 [].
 * “Pittsburgh Penguins” //World Book Advanced//. World Book, 2012. Web. 31 Feb. 2012. [].


 * Energy Consol Center: This is the home to one of the best teams in the NHL the Pens!