How Many Times Was The Civic Arena Roof Opened

As demolition work continues pittsburghers see something they haven t seen in decades.

How many times was the civic arena roof opened.

The civic arena served its mission well as a music venue hosting over 800 major concerts over its 50 year history. It was the first retractable roof major sports venue in the world covering 170 000 square feet cons. Spectators watch a pittsburgh triangles tennis match under the open roof of the civic arena in 1975. It was crazy looking to me since it drastically changed the appearance of the arena.

The flying saucer shaped shiny steel domed arena on its opening in 1961 was the wthe world s first major entertainment venue with a retractable roof. Before the start of the 1974 75 season the ice surface at the civic arena was reduced from 205 feet to 200 feet. On august 25 1994 the civic arena roof opened to the space odessy theme song while the phantoms played the minnesota arctic blast. It was the first time the stainless steel dome was opened for a professional hockey game it was the only time it was opened.

You could see the orange upper seats from outside. Contrary to popular belief the roof worked fine. The civic arena primarily served as the home to the pittsburgh penguins the city s national hockey league franchise from 1967 to 2010. It s maximum opening would be about 75 open with the roof leaves under the support arm.

The dome on the civic arena is open a crack. I believe only once. These are but a few of the many memorable moments in civic arena history. The civic arena formerly the civic auditorium and later mellon arena was an arena located in downtown pittsburgh pennsylvania.

Constructed in 1961 for use by the pittsburgh civic light opera it was the brainchild of department store owner edgar j. It was the first time the stainless steel dome was opened for a professional hockey game. One of the arena s feature attractions was the retractable roof which was supported by a 260 foot arch.