Heritage Alerts - Igloo History

The Civic Arena was built in 1961 - not for the Penguins - but for the Civic Light Opera. Because the CLO wanted to experience music both under the stars and - when necessary - free from the weather, and because Pittsburgh wanted to enhance its reputation as cutting edge and innovative, the Civic Arena was designed and constructed with a 417-foot diameter retractable roof.

The arena's eight 300-ton roof sections can be retracted to open the Igloo in just two minutes. Architectural Record magazine noted in 1961 that "no such roof has ever been built before." To this day, it is one of the largest retractable domes in the world.

Its shining stainless steel top gave Mellon Arena its nickname "the Big Igloo," which, in turn established "Penguins" as the name of Pittsburgh's hockey franchise in 1967. The arena boasts 2,950 tons of Pittsburgh steel in its 170,000 square foot structure. Over the years, new balconies, luxury skyboxes, and club seats have been added, bringing the arena's capacity to 17,000 from its original 10,500.

The then-Civic Arena and its adjacent parking areas were constructed on 95 acres in the Lower Hill section of the city, a predominantly African-American neighborhood known for it jazz clubs. With great controversy, over 1200 people were relocated to make room for the arena.

The Mellon Arena has been home ice to the Pittsburgh Penguins for the entire life of the franchise, including the team's two back-to-back Stanley Cup victories in 1991 and 1992. At 40, it is the oldest NHL hockey arena in the league.

When the team faced financial hardships in 1999, hockey hall of famer Mario Lemieux took ownership of the Penguins and saved the franchise from ruin (or perhaps relocation). At that time, the Penguins signed an $18-million, 10-year agreement that changed the name from Civic Arena to Mellon Arena, after the Pittsburgh-based bank.

Besides many Penguins games over the years, Mellon Arena has also hosted other important sporting events, including the Larry Holmes vs. Renaldo Snipes heavyweight boxing match in 1981, the 1983 World Figure Skating Championships, and the NCAA Division One Men's Basketball Tournament first and second rounds in 1997.

The grand opening show at the Mellon Arena was the Ice Capades on September 19, 1961. Since then, the arena has seen hundreds of concerts, including performing legends such as Frank Sinatra, the Beatles, and the Rolling Stones. Country star Garth Brooks sold out six consecutive nights of concerts at the arena.

The largest attendance ever at the arena was 18,150 for a WWF wrestling event in 1999. Next highest was a 1995 Robert Plant/Jimmy Page concert that brought in 17,764 fans.

"Without a new arena, the Penguins will not be able to survive," says Tom Rooney, executive vice president and chief operating officer of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Rooney and other proponents of the new venue say that Mellon Arena isn't viable anymore because of its age and the fact that - because of its structure -- it can't be expanded. Senator Rick Santorum has stated that he is in favor of demolishing Mellon Arena, citing the "mass of parking lot and arena that cuts off the Hill District from the rest of the city." The state legislature has earmarked $60 million in state funds for a new arena in Pittsburgh, but only the governor can release the money.

Others, such as Gary English, say the arena meets the criteria for historic-status, and should not be torn down. English, an architectural activist, cited the arena's retractable dome as "Pittsburgh's technological contribution to the world," according to a July 9 article on www.Pittsburghchannel.com. He has completed an application with the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission to preserve the arena. Charles Rosenblum, in a Pittsburgh City Paper editorial, says the arena is too significant "historically and technically" to be torn down. He supports developing a cultural center near the Igloo, noting that this was planned in the early 60s but never materialized.

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