What’s new at PPG Paints Arena? – Pittsburgh City Paper

Ahead of the 2025-26 NHL season, the Pittsburgh Penguins hosted a What’s New at PPG Paints Arena tour showcasing upcoming giveaways and theme nights, new concessions, and the soon-to-be relaunched Penguins Hall of Fame, returning on Oct. 25 after a three-year hiatus.

This year, the focus is on celebrating the team’s history and legacy, said Penguins’ vice president of marketing Miles Ritenour, with 2025 marking the 20th Penguins season for “The Big Three” — Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang — and 15 years of hockey at PPG Paints Arena.

“How do we celebrate the players that have been here, the players that are currently here, that are in the prime of their career, or maybe going towards the end of it?” Ritentour asked the group of assembled media and some ticketholders.

One answer? More bobbleheads. “Big Three” legacy bobbleheads will be given out at games in December, February, and March. Other giveaways include a Zamboni-shaped gravy boat, a Mr. Rogers-inspired yellow cardigan, a cowboy hat for Country Night, and a deck of cards featuring Penguins players with former goaltender Marc-André Fleury as the joker.

After retiring from the NHL five months ago, Fleury, a three-time Stanley Cup champion, appeared at a Penguins preseason home game to a sellout crowd on Sept. 27.

“It [feels] more like the start of a baseball season this year, where it’s like, okay, we’re gonna have opening day right out of the gate,” John Sadini, vice president of arena operations, told Pittsburgh City Paper. “That was kind of what the Fleury experience was.”

To honor the arena’s 15th anniversary, fans can snap photos at a yellow Birthday Bridge display on the concourse. Nearby is a “reconcepted” Fifth Avenue Food Hall, replacing the former GetGo market (section 116), with food stands including “Ital-yinz” and “Apps, Snacks N’at” offering a chicken parmesan sandwich, “cheezy” bread, meatballs, wing dings, and a “hallmark” new pickle pierogi served with dill pickle dip and topped with shaved cherry-infused pickles.

“We wanted to really bring in Pittsburgh flavors,” said Aramark general manager Matt Kingsley. “And obviously food halls are all the rage right now.”

Executive Chef Terry Davidson said his team developed new recipes throughout the off-season, including expanding last season’s “Mic Drop!” menu honoring late Penguins broadcaster Mike Lange.

“It’s a remembrance to him and it’s very special,” Davidson said.

New dishes based on Lange’s slogans are “I’ll Be Cow Kicked,” a smoked barbecue sandwich, and “Smoked Like a Bad Cigar,” a pastrami hoagie (available in Club sections 101 and 111).

The smashburger trend comes to the arena with a hot bacon jam burger and cherry Coke-infused loaded smashburger (at Steel City Smash and sections 108 and 206 respectively). Polish Grill (section 105) adds a kielbasa hoagie, while Dahntahn Lobster (yes, spelled that way) introduces Old Bay-flavored lobster nachos drizzled with queso (section 110).

Leaning into the Pittsburghese, a new concept, Dippy’s (section 105), will launch this season, featuring dipping sauces paired with cheesesteak egg rolls, chicken empanadas, pot stickers, and more.

The Penguins play the New York Islanders for their home opener on Thu., Oct. 9.

This article appears in Fall Guide 2025.

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