Downtown Pittsburgh ice rink still open with capacity changes
The Rink at PPG Place in Downtown Pittsburgh plans to stay open, but with capacity changes, in light of Gov. Tom Wolf’s new pandemic restrictions.
Outdoor gatherings are limited to 50 people.
“The ice rink will be open and abiding by the state requirements,” said Byron Sharp, president of Magic Ice USA, which owns and operates the rink, via email.
“We are glad to be able to give people something to do, something that is fun,” said Andre “Andy” Sanders, general manager for the rink, in a previous Tribune-Review story. “This is our premier rink. This is definitely our baby.” The PPG rink is celebrating its 20th season.
The standard protocols for the pandemic will continue to be in place: Temperature checks and standing 6 feet apart while waiting in line. Masks are required, even while skating, but not when eating at the snack bar.
Ticketing is done online to control crowd size. They can be purchased here. Timed sessions will be in one hour and 45 minute intervals.
A 73-foot high Christmas tree sits in the middle of the rink and 144 glass plates form the walls around the outside and inside the rink.
The rink is larger than the one in Rockefeller Center in New York City, according to its website, and two-thirds the size of a National Hockey League rink. It takes up 13,450 square feet of space, Sanders said.
The rink opened in December 2001 and was replaced with a larger surface in 2015. The $1 million ice rink is 116 feet by 116 feet, which is 25% bigger than the one it replaced.
Located in PPG Plaza between Third Avenue and Fourth Avenue, the rink is planned to be open through March 1.
Pittsburgh was one of the first outdoor rinks for Florida-based Magic Ice USA, which manages rinks across the country.
The usual annual happenings — such as the annual Princess, Superhero and Skate with former Pittsburgh Penguin Phil Bourque — have yet to be determined. A Valentine’s Day skate will be held Feb. 14.
Admission is $11 for adults, $10 for children 12 and under and $10 for seniors and military. Skate rental is $5.
The rink is open seven days a week.
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a TribLive reporter covering the region's diverse culinary scene and unique homes. She writes features about interesting people. The Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist began her career as a sports reporter. She has been with the Trib for 26 years and is the author of "A Daughter's Promise." She can be reached at jharrop@triblive.com.
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