Upcoming games
Schedule data syncs from our events feed. Ticket links go to SeatGeek.
No upcoming games currently listed for PPG Paints Arena.
Plan your trip
Curated booking starting points for a Pittsburgh trip. Some links are affiliate links — purchases may earn GameAway a commission at no extra cost to you.
Parking
Reserve a spot in advance — game-day parking near PPG Paints Arena fills early.
Getting there
PPG Paints Arena sits on Centre Avenue at the eastern edge of downtown Pittsburgh, in the historic Hill District just up from the central business district. The walk from Steel Plaza, Wood Street, or Penn Avenue downtown runs about 10–15 minutes uphill on Fifth Avenue. Pittsburgh Regional Transit buses serve the arena directly with stops on Centre Avenue and Fifth Avenue. The downtown light rail stations (Steel Plaza, Wood Street, First Avenue) are a 10–15 minute walk west. Driving from I-376 (the Parkway East) uses the Forbes/Fifth exit; arena-affiliated and adjacent garages ring the venue, and reserving in advance via the parking link above typically beats event-night pricing. Rideshare drop-off zones are signed along Fifth Avenue and Centre Avenue. Confirm bag and entry rules on the arena's official site before going.
The neighborhood
The arena sits on the lower edge of the Hill District — historically one of the most important African American neighborhoods in 20th-century America (August Wilson's Pittsburgh Cycle of plays is largely set in the Hill) — at its boundary with downtown. The blocks immediately west are downtown Pittsburgh's restaurant and theater district, including the Cultural District along Penn Avenue. Market Square is a 10-minute walk west and hosts a dense cluster of restaurants and bars that function as the pre-event spine. The Strip District — Pittsburgh's historic food market neighborhood — sits a 15-minute walk or short ride northeast and is the canonical pre-event food detour. South Side's East Carson Street bar district is a short ride south across the Monongahela. The Hill District side of the arena is quieter and primarily residential.
Where to eat & drink nearby
Walkable pre-event stops include Primanti Bros. Market Square (the downtown Market Square location of the canonical Pittsburgh sandwich), Sienna Mercato (a multi-floor Italian restaurant on Penn Avenue with rooftop bar Il Tetto), and The Capital Grille Pittsburgh (a downtown sit-down steakhouse a 10-minute walk west). The Original Oyster House on Market Square is Pittsburgh's oldest restaurant (1870). For the canonical Strip District detour, Primanti Bros. Strip District is the chain's original 24-hour flagship. Meat & Potatoes on Penn Avenue is a downtown gastropub option. For a quick pre-event bite on Centre Avenue, Mineo's Pizza House is a Pittsburgh institution. Pre-event crowds at downtown bars build quickly within an hour of puck drop or tipoff.
First-timer tips
Walk down from downtown — the 10–15 minute walk from Market Square or Penn Avenue is the standard pre-game approach and beats the parking situation around the arena on event nights. PPG Paints Arena hosts the Penguins as its primary tenant; the building also hosts Pitt men's basketball selected dates, NCAA Tournament rounds, and a steady concert and family-show calendar. The Mario Lemieux statue at the main entrance is the canonical photo stop. Mobile-only tickets are the norm. The arena publishes current bag policy on its official site and the rules change — check before traveling.
Best games to catch
For the Penguins, Metropolitan Division rivalry games against the Capitals, Flyers, Rangers, Islanders, and Devils are the marquee dates and consistently price above season average. Penguins–Capitals carries the heaviest historical weight given the Crosby-vs-Ovechkin era. Penguins–Flyers in the cross-state Pennsylvania Sports rivalry is the closest geographic rivalry and the hardest single ticket of the year. Original Six visits from the Bruins, Blackhawks, Maple Leafs, and Red Wings round out the heritage matchups. Any playoff home games price as the hardest tickets of the year — the Penguins' three Stanley Cup runs at the arena (2009 at the old building's farewell era, plus 2016 and 2017 at PPG Paints Arena) have anchored the building's deep playoff identity. The Penguins' promotional calendar is published on the team site and varies year to year.
What to know
PPG Paints Arena opened in August 2010 as Consol Energy Center, replacing the iconic Mellon Arena (the Civic Arena, the world's first major sports arena with a retractable roof) that sat directly across Centre Avenue. The arena was renamed PPG Paints Arena in 2016 under a long-term naming-rights partnership with Pittsburgh-headquartered PPG Industries. The Penguins won back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2016 and 2017 at the arena, the franchise's fourth and fifth championships overall. The building is owned by the Sports & Exhibition Authority of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County and was the first NHL arena to achieve LEED Gold certification at opening. The arena hosts Pitt men's basketball selected home games (with the program's primary home at the Petersen Events Center on the Pitt campus), NCAA Tournament rounds, and a steady concert calendar. The Mario Lemieux statue at the main entrance is one of the building's signature exterior elements.
Frequently asked questions
What time do doors open at PPG Paints Arena?
Doors typically open about 90 minutes before puck drop or tipoff for standard games, sometimes earlier for marquee events or concerts. Check the arena's official event page for the specific date's door time.
How do I get to PPG Paints Arena from downtown Pittsburgh?
The arena sits a 10–15 minute walk uphill from Market Square, Penn Avenue, or the downtown light rail stations. Pittsburgh Regional Transit buses serve the arena directly with stops on Centre Avenue and Fifth Avenue.
Where can I park near PPG Paints Arena?
Arena-affiliated and adjacent garages ring the venue. Reserving in advance via the parking link above typically beats event-night pricing. Many fans walk in from downtown given the short distance.
Is PPG Paints Arena the same as Consol Energy Center?
Yes — the arena opened as Consol Energy Center in 2010 and was renamed PPG Paints Arena in 2016 under a new naming partnership with PPG Industries. It is the same Centre Avenue building; only the naming-rights partner has changed.
Where's the Mario Lemieux statue?
The Mario Lemieux statue stands at the arena's main entrance on Centre Avenue. The bronze figure depicts Lemieux splitting two Islanders defenders in his famous 1991 'Le Magnifique' goal. It's the canonical pre-game photo stop.
Build your sports road trip
Combine multiple venues into a multi-stop itinerary with GameAway.
