Pittsburgh Penguins Mulling Playing Home Games Outside: Report

Pittsburgh PA

04 December, 2020

1:04 PM

Description

PITTSBURGH, PA — The Pittsburgh Penguins are one of four NHL teams considering playing home games in outdoor venues rather than indoor arenas next season. The Anaheim Ducks, Boston Bruins and Los Angeles Kings also are mulling the idea, according to a Sportsnet report. Playing outdoors would allow a limited number of fans to attend the games more safely than in an indoor arena. The Penguins have played a handful of games outside over the years but they have been limited to special NHL events. The team played the Buffalo Sabres in the 2008 NHL Winter Classic in Orchard Park, NY.; the Washington Capitals in the 2011 Winter Classic at Heinz Field; the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2014 NHL Stadium Series at Soldier Field and the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2017 NHL Stadium Series at Heinz Field. It's unclear whether the Pens would play at Heinz Field or PNC Park. The Steelers have games scheduled at Heinz Field through the end of the month and the Pirates are slated to begin the 2021 season at PNC Park in April, which could complicate the scheduling of Penguins games. Further muddling matters is that the Penguins don't know when they would need to schedule those games. The NHL had hoped to begin the new season in January, but still has not made a formal announcement as to when the season will start.