Penguins parade set for Wednesday in Downtown
With Lord Stanley back in the 'Burgh, Pittsburgh is getting ready to throw a little celebration that could attract more than 375,000 Penguins fans.
A victory parade to honor the Stanley Cup champions will start at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday and will wind along Grant Street to Boulevard of Allies and end at a reviewing stand at Stanwix Street.
“Given the level of enthusiasm that Pittsburgh fans have presented so far, we're expecting the crowd to be larger than what appeared in 2009,” said Katie O'Malley, spokeswoman for Mayor Bill Peduto, referring to the hockey team's Game 7 win over the Detroit Red Wings that year.
The 2009 victory parade attracted about 375,000 people.
The Penguins clinched the Cup with a 3-1 Game 6 victory Sunday over the San Jose Sharks, sparking a celebration they carried cross country.
Much like he'd done on the ice 18 hours earlier, team captain Sidney Crosby raised the Cup above his head Monday evening as he stepped from the Penguins' charter flight and descended the stairs at a private Atlantic Aviation hangar in Moon.
“It's been a bit of a whirlwind,” said forward Eric Fehr, who had had only two or three hours of sleep since the win. “The guys were very exhausted after the game, but we managed to have some fun and celebrate. It was pretty special. This is why you play. When you win it, you want to make sure you celebrate it.”
Street closures will begin at 9 p.m. Tuesday at Stanwix Street between Fort Pitt Boulevard and Third Avenue, and Boulevard of the Allies between Commonwealth Place and Wood Street.
Barriers at certain cross streets along Grant Street and Boulevard of the Allies will start going up just after midnight Wednesday, and the city will begin closing the boulevard between Wood and Grant and Grant from the boulevard to Liberty Avenue about 9 a.m.
O'Malley said the parade lineup is being finalized, but it will include Penguins players, their families and team officials, and possibly a high school marching band or two.
Penguins spokesman Tom McMillan said the “whole team” is expected to attend.
The parade is expected to end at 12:30 p.m., followed by a celebration at the reviewing stand at Stanwix Street and Boulevard of the Allies. Some streets could reopen as early as 2 p.m.
Downtown garages and lots will be full during a Wednesday workday, O'Malley said, and she recommended fans park on the North Side or at Station Square and walk Downtown or take public transit.
Port Authority reports nearly all bus routes will be detoured because of the parade and warned riders to allow extra time. Six routes — 20 Kennedy, 21 Coraopolis, 22 McCoy, 24 West Park, 36 Banksville and 38 Green Tree — will be on detour from the start of service Wednesday. Most other bus routes will be detoured beginning about 9 a.m. Regular stops and service are expected to be restored about 5 p.m.
The National Weather Service in Pittsburgh is predicting temperatures in the mid-80s with a chance of thunderstorms.
In 2009, temperatures were in the upper 70s, and fans arrived hours before the parade. Pittsburgh paramedics treated 23 people for heat-related problems.
O'Malley recommended that fans bring water and food.
“They are going to be out in a large crowd for a good part of the day,” she said.
Pittsburgh will provide security and medics along the parade route, O'Malley said, but she could not estimate how many police officers might be needed or what the parade might cost the city.
The 2009 parade cost about $73,000, including police overtime pay and Department of Public Works expenses.
Bob Bauder is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at 412-765-2312 or bbauder@tribweb.com. Staff writer Chris Harlan contributed to this report.
