Stanley Cup Final: Thousands of Penguins fans gather outside arena
By David Rouben
Everyone in Pittsburgh who can’t afford a ticket to the Stanley Cup Final is instead watching the game outside the arena.
The Pittsburgh Penguins have made it a tradition to organize a viewing party outside of CONSOL Energy Center for every playoff game. But for Game 5, with a chance to win the Stanley Cup for the first time ever on home ice, the crowd is more than substantial.
There was always going to be a big crowd for a potential elimination game in the Stanley Cup Final, but judging by the photos that have been shared by Puck Daddy, it looks like all of the people of Pittsburgh have shown up to this viewing party.
If they’re not in the game itself, they’re just outside of it:
Needless to say, Pens fans are very excited about what they’re about to witness. It would be a huge disappointment if the Penguins aren’t able to clinch the cup tonight, but if that’s the case, owners of nearby bars will have no trouble with attracting customers at all.
However, despite the large gathering, NBC still believes that Game 5 will do well in the local markets. That’s because scalper tickets are unbelievably priced for this game. It costs around $1,000 to for a standing room only section, while the most expensive price is close to $10,000.
Next: SI Kids: Muhammad Ali dies at 74
Tickets for this game are listed higher than they would be for Game 7, since the Cup is only in the building for the Penguins. In Game 7, that’s not necessarily the case.
Whatever happens, we’re sure to be in for a really exciting Stanley Cup Final game – then again, when is it not?
Visit our NHL Playoffs page for the latest news and content.