This week the Pittsburgh Penguins announced plans to open a seasonal hockey rink within the 46,500 square foot Armory by Thanksgiving, which would be the first public rink built within the city limits in decades, and provide a publicly-accessible rink to support equitable and inclusive hockey programming for Pittsburgh youth.
The announcement followed a series of talks among the Penguins, the City of Pittsburgh and the Urban Redevelopment Authority about building a rink at the Armory, which Shadyside residents identified as their preferred use for the historic, 46,500 square foot structure. The rink would be operated from November to March and serve as the headquarters of the Penguins' Hockey Diversity Program and a new middle school hockey training academy. All costs of rink installation and operations will be supported by the Penguins, at no public expense.
Community sessions are being held July 26 and July 28 to discuss hours of operation, parking, programming and any other matters important to residents and stakeholders. The sessions will start with a presentation and follow with a question-and-answer period.
"I'm grateful to the Pittsburgh Penguins for their investment the Hunt Armory and their work to re-open the doors of this long empty building. I look forward to meeting with members of the community, the Penguins, and all partners to answer questions and troubleshoot any concerns at the two scheduled meetings later this month, as well as throughout the next year," said City Councilperson Erika Strassburger.
The dates and times of the sessions are:
In-Person Presentation w/ Q&A
Calvary Episcopal Church, Parish Hall
315 Shady Ave
Pittsburgh, PA 15206
6 p.m.
Virtual Presentation w/ Q&A
Webex (Password: Hunt728)
6 p.m.
A presentation on the Hunt Armory rink plans is available for review here.
Those wishing to submit questions or concerns about the project, or to sign up for email updates, may do so here.
The rink is being supported by a grant from the National Hockey League (NHL) and the National Hockey League Players' Association (NHLPA) to support efforts to create access to the game of hockey for youth players of color in city neighborhoods. The announcement follows last month's launch of the team's Willie O'Ree Academy, which provides targeted training, social and mentorship opportunities for youth hockey players of color in the greater Pittsburgh area.
