Even though many Penguins fans could not make the trip to Detroit, they still turned out in droves to cheer on the team.

A total of 13,589 people packed Mellon Arena on Saturday night to watch on the Jumbotron as the Penguins battled the Red Wings in Detroit in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final.

The Penguins will open Mellon Arena for Game 2, as well, on Monday. Game time is slated for 8 p.m., but the Mellon Arena doors will open at 7 p.m.

Admission is $5, with all proceeds going to the Mario Lemieux Foundation for cancer and neonatal research. Ticketmaster has agreed to waive all service charges and fees for fans purchasing online to support the efforts of the Mario Lemieux Foundation. Parking will be free in arena lots after 6 p.m. Mellon Arena concession and novelty stands will be open. 

The video screen in front of Gate 3, which has attracted fans throughout the Penguins’ playoff run, will not be operating for the road games. It will again be available to fans for the Pens’ first two home games of the series (Games 3 and 4).

“The outdoor screen has been tremendously popular, but the demand from our fans has been so overwhelming that we decided to open the arena for the first two road games of the Finals,” said team president David Morehouse. “It’s a way to create a ‘game-like’ atmosphere and enable even more fans to get together and watch the Penguins go for the Cup.”

All seating is general admission. Tickets are sold on a first-come, first-served basis and are available online at www.ticketmaster.com, as well as at the Mellon Arena Gate One box office.

The Penguins encourage fans to purchase tickets early and take advantage of Ticketmaster’s TicketFast® option, allowing them to print their tickets from home. As with other Mellon Arena events, fans are not permitted to bring food, beverage or other prohibited items into the building.