City, Team Gear Up For Stanley Cup Playoffs
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- The banners are hung, the CONSOL Energy Center is dressed in its Stanley Cup finest and the last-minute ticket shuffle is on.
"I got two tickets," said Mayor Bill Peduto. "They are my tickets' section 108, and I don't want to eat $310. So, I'm hoping someone out there will let me know that they want to buy them. I'm just selling them for face value."
Mayor Peduto will be there - the guest of someone else - and smiling as his city once again takes center stage.
"It's our name in the paper worldwide on a daily basis. It's pride knowing we have one of the best teams in the world with some of the greatest talent."
It's all to the accompaniment of cha-ching, cha-ching in the entertainment industry.
"A Penguins' playoff game dollar-wise is about a $3.4 million hit for the city every home game," says Craig Davis, of Visit Pittsburgh, "and that's where it is for the first-round and it only increase after that with the further rounds."
Doc Mendelson is anxious to immerse his Blue Line Grille, with its rooftop patio across from the CONSOL, into its first Stanley Cup run.
"Clearly, to have the fan base of the Penguins to come and experience that during the playoff run, it's advertising I couldn't pay for," said Mendelson.
Meanwhile, as the quest for the Cup begins anew, the Penguins' front office has decided that it's time to spritz the playoff potpourri. So, get ready for the first gold out.
"It's one of our colors, and I think we just wanted to change things up," said Tom McMillan, the Penguins vice president of communications. "We've done versions of whiteouts for seven or eight years now, and I think we just decided, what can we do differently?"
Fans in the PensGear store gave the idea the thumbs up.
"I think it's different. I'm curious to see how it looks tonight," said Stacy Stout, of Scott Township. "It's something different to spice up a little bit."
"I think it's a great idea. I think it does have an impact against the opponents," added Scott Fargo, of Mount Lebanon.
But if you browse the available Penguins items, there's just not a lot of gold going on. So, a battery of boxes is awaiting the crowd as the Pens dress the faithful.
"The shirt is this with our slogan, 'Buckle Up Baby!" Phil Bourque's slogan," said McMillan. "So, that's the color and the look of the shirt.
And there's a rally towel, too, of course.
"It's a "Buckle Up" towel, so just a little bit of a different look this year," he added.
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