The Civic Arena, formerly the Civic Auditorium and later Mellon Arena, was a multi-purpose arena located in Downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It primarily served as the home to the Pittsburgh Penguins, the city's National Hockey League (NHL) franchise, from 1967 to 2010.
Constructed in 1961 for use by the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera (CLO), it was the brainchild of department store owner Edgar J. Kaufmann. It was the first retractable roof major-sports venue in the world, covering , constructed with nearly 3,000 tons of Pittsburgh steel and supported solely by a massive cantilevered arm on the exterior. Even though it was designed and engineered as a retractable-roof dome, the operating cost and repairs to the hydraulic jacks halted all full retractions after 1995, and the roof stayed permanently closed after 2001. The first roof opening was during a July 4, 1962, Carol Burnett show to which she exclaimed, "Ladies and gentlemen ... I present the sky!"
The Civic Arena hosted numerous concerts, the circus, political and religious rallies, roller derbies as well as contests in hockey, basketball, fish tournament weigh-ins, pro tennis, boxing, wrestling, lacrosse, football, ice skating championships, kennel shows, and soccer. The structure was used as the backdrop for several major Hollywood films, most prominently Sudden Death in 1995. Prior to its demise, it was known as Mellon Arena, named for Mellon Financial, specifically American businessman and 49th Secretary of the Treasury Andrew W. Mellon, which purchased the naming rights in 1999. Their naming rights expired on August 1, 2010, and the arena once again adopted the name of Civic Arena.
The Civic Arena closed on June 26, 2010. The former Mellon naming rights expired soon after, and the Penguins and all other events moved across the street to the new Consol Energy Center (now PPG Paints Arena). After various groups declined historic status for the venue, it was demolished between September 2011 and March 2012. In its place, existing public parking lots in the area were expanded over the entire site. Two of the many streets stricken from the city's street plan when the arena was originally built were subsequently re-extended back through the site: Wylie Avenue and Fullerton Street. On March 13, 2025, ground was broken for the upcoming construction of Citizens Live at the Wylie, a 4,500 capacity venue, which is expected to open in mid 2026. The Penguins have the rights to redevelop the property and a preliminary plan exists for residential units, retail and office space.
Construction and design
The $22 million ($ in dollars) arena was completed for the CLO in 1961. Mayor David L. Lawrence had publicly announced plans for a "civic theater" as early as February 8, 1953 after years of public pressure had built after CLO president, civic leader and owner of Kaufmann's department store Edgar J. Kaufmann announced his intention on December 1, 1948, to find a new home for the group. Funding was provided by a combination of public and private money, including grants from Allegheny County, the City of Pittsburgh, and Kaufmann. The arena's design incorporated 2,950 tons of stainless steel from Pittsburgh.
To make room for the arena, the city used eminent domain to displace 8,000 residents and 400 businesses from the lower Hill District, the cultural center of black life in Pittsburgh.Trotter, Joe W. & Day, Jared N. "Race and Renaissance: African-Americans in Pittsburgh Since World War II." Demolition began in 1955 and was finished by 1960. The last structure to be demolished was Bethel African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, built in 1908. The city charter prohibited using eminent domain on churches, but the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh was able to do so because it was not a city entity. On July 21, 1959, a steel strike halted work on the arena and delayed its opening date.
The Arena was designed for the CLO, which previously held productions at Pitt Stadium. The roof, which was supported by a arch, was free of internal support leaving no obstruction for the seats within. The roof, which had a diameter of , was divided into eight sections. Six of the sections could fold underneath two—in 2½ minutes—making the Civic Arena the world's first major indoor sports stadium with a retractable roof. A total of 42 trucks mounted on 78 wheels, 30 of which were individually driven, supported and moved the six moveable sections. The trucks, gear motors and 480-volt AC motor drive that moved the roof sections were designed and manufactured by Heyl & Patterson Inc., a local specialist engineering firm.Moveable Civic Arena Roof Rolls on Wheels Designed by Heyl & Patterson
The arena's capacity fluctuated depending on the event being hosted, but was increased due to additions between 1972 and 1991. The arena originally consisted only of lower bowl seating, but over time, upper decks were installed in the arena's "end zones" to increase capacity. In December 1999, Mellon Financial purchased the Arena's naming rights in a 10-year, $18 million agreement, which renamed the arena Mellon Arena.
The original center scoreboard was an electromechanical Nissen scoreboard with digital clock display, which appears in the 1979 movie The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh. That board was replaced during the 1986 renovations by an American Sign and Indicator scoreboard with a black-and-white three-line matrix animation/messageboard on each side, which appears in Sudden Death. White Way Sign created the arena's final center scoreboard, this one with a Sony JumboTron videoboard on each side, which remained for the arena's final sixteen years of use.
History and events On September 17, 1961, the Ice Capades hosted the arena's first event. Globally televised figure skating was hosted by the arena three times: The 1983 United States Figure Skating Championships, 1994 and 2004 editions of Skate America all having nearly week-long competitions.
Political events Major political rallies were part of the early history of the arena. Former President Dwight Eisenhower appeared at a Republican rally on October 12, 1962. President Lyndon B. Johnson delivered a campaign address on October 27, 1964, and Sen. Barry Goldwater on October 29, 1964. On April 26, 1964, the 2-week long International Conference and Debate of the Methodist Church opened at the Arena. Vice President Nixon visited for a campaign rally at the arena on October 28, 1968. Henry Kissinger, Frank Borman, and Li Choh-ming visited for the University of Pittsburgh commencement on April 27, 1969.
Boxing matches Cassius Clay vs. Charlie Powell on January 24, 1963, to a global television audience from the Civic Arena. Sugar Ray Robinson, Sonny Liston and Floyd Patterson also participated in boxing matches at the arena. On November 6, 1981, the globally televised World Heavyweight Title was fought at the arena between Larry Holmes and Renaldo Snipes with an undercard bout between Buster Douglas and David Bey.
Professional wrestling WWF SummerSlam – 1995 WWF King of the Ring – 1998 WWF Unforgiven – 2001 WWE No Way Out – 2005 WWE Armageddon – 2007 WWE Bragging Rights – 2009
King of the Ring in 1998 is remembered for the Hell in a Cell match between Mick Foley and the Undertaker, where Foley fell from the top of the cell, suffering multiple injuries. Journalist Michael Landsberg called it "maybe the most famous match ever." In 2011, this incident was named as the number one "OMG!" incident in the WWE history. The final WWE event was a Monday Night Raw episode on May 10, 2010. Future professional wrestling events would later take place at the newly built Consol Energy Center (now PPG Paints Arena), located across the street.
Basketball America's first high school basketball All-Star game, the Dapper Dan Roundball Classic was held at the arena annually between 1965 and 1992.IT'S A BASKETBALL TOWN. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (PA) – Friday, March 14, 1997. MARINO PARASCENZO The men's basketball programs of both of the city's NCAA Division I institutions, the University of Pittsburgh and Duquesne University, frequently used it either as a primary or secondary home court, and the last basketball game played at the arena was the two schools' annual rivalry game in 2009. Among the two schools, Duquesne made the most extensive use of the arena, using it as their home from 1964 until 1988. From 1984 to 2002, Pittsburgh used the arena for select games against popular opponents.
The Philadelphia 76ers, Pittsburgh Pipers, Pittsburgh Condors, Pittsburgh Rens, Pittsburgh Piranhas, and the Harlem Globetrotters hosted regular-season basketball games at the Arena. The Pipers won the 1968 ABA Finals in the venue, doing so in game seven over the New Orleans Buccaneers on May 4 by a score of 122–113. The first and second-round games of both the 1997 and 2002 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournaments were held at the Arena.
Tennis The Pittsburgh Triangles of World TeamTennis hosted three Eastern Division Championships at the arena from 1974 through 1976 and the Bancroft Cup finals in 1975, winning the title on August 25, 1975, with paid attendance of 6,882.
Indoor soccer The Pittsburgh Spirit Major Indoor Soccer League team also hosted matches at the arena.
Roller derby Roller derby featuring the hosting New York Chiefs took place at the arena as well.
Gymnastics Olympic gold medal winner Mary Lou Retton performed at the Aaena as part of the "Tour of Champions" event on November 2, 1990.
Notable musical events The first rock concert at the arena was emceed by Porky Chedwick on May 11, 1962, as a DiCesare Engler production and featured Jackie Wilson, The Drifters, The Coasters, The Castelles, Jerry Butler, The Flamingos, The Angels, The Blue-Belles, and The Skyliners.
On September 14, 1964, the Beatles played the arena during their first United States tour. Opening acts were the Bill Black Combo, The Exciters, Clarence "Frogman" Henry, and Jackie DeShannon. A sell-out crowd of over 12,000 paid $5.90 to attend.
Motown came to the arena on March 6, 1969, with a Temptations concert.
On July 11, 1971, the world's first "authorized" production of Jesus Christ Superstar opened at the Civic Arena.
Black Sabbath played at the arena on February 1, 1974. Circus reported, "They broke the existing box office record by grossing $76,000."
On August 14, 1974, Canadian rock band Rush played the first show on their debut US tour with new drummer Neil Peart at the Civic Arena. They were opening for Uriah Heep at this show.
Pink Floyd was at the Civic Arena for The Dark Side of the Moon Tour on June 19, 1973.
Elvis Presley played his final New Year's Eve show at the Civic Arena on December 31, 1976, and played to a sellout on June 25 and 26, 1973. The arena has hosted other major concerts by every act from Frank Sinatra to Garth Brooks to Jimmy Page and Robert Plant.
By the mid-1970s the arena was among the premier venues in the nation, with Billboard magazine naming it the 9th best in the U.S. on December 30, 1976. Sly and the Family Stone, the Steve Miller Band, Grand Funk Railroad, Boz Scaggs, and the Beach Boys all played the arena in 1974.
The Bee Gees performed two concerts here on September 4–5, 1979 during their Spirits Having Flown Tour.
The Jacksons performed at Pittsburgh Civic Arena on August 13, 1981, during their Triumph Tour.
Guitarist Randy Rhoads played one of his final shows here with Ozzy Osbourne on February 2, 1982, until his passing 45 days later.
Duran Duran performed February 28, 1984, during a snowstorm and their Grammy win was announced onstage.
Pop superstar Michael Jackson performed three concerts at Pittsburgh Civic Arena on September 26, 27 and 28, 1988 during his Bad World Tour.
Pop singer Britney Spears performed at the arena once in 2001 on her Dream Within a Dream Tour and in 2009 to a sell-out crowd as a part of her Circus Tour.