Youth Of A Nation: Penguins' Playoff Run Attracts Young Fans

Penguins' Playoff Run Attracts New Demo

During the Penguins' Stanley Cup Finals run, young fans in Pittsburgh "have been gathering in groups to show a pride and spirit that some thought they lacked" for the team, according to Dan Majors of the PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, who wrote under the header, "Pens Find A New Breed Of Fan." The "newly minted fans were sitting in lawn chairs outside [Mellon Arena], watching the playoff games on an outdoor screen." Penguins President David Morehouse: "We noticed there are a lot more young fans with this particular team." Morehouse indicated that the student rush program making discount tickets "available to students for all games -- even sellouts -- is paying dividends," as well as the age of the team's players. Morehouse: "The youth and the energy that they have is appealing to young people. A lot of our players aren't much older than the young fans. And I think hockey, in general, has caught on in Pittsburgh. The sport lends itself to a younger audience." He added Pittsburgh "became a hockey town on the level of Detroit, if not better, this year. We sold out, they didn't. Our television ratings were higher, our merchandise sales were higher. We basically beat them on every level except the series." Morehouse also said Pittsburgh economically is "moving more toward technology and medicine and other things. So is Pittsburgh's youth. ... Maybe the Penguins represent Pittsburgh new" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 6/6).

CHAMPIONSHIP FOR A CITY: In a special to the DETROIT NEWS, Ilitch Holdings President & CEO and Red Wings VP Christopher Ilitch writes the Red Wings' Stanley Cup championship gives the city of Detroit "reason not only to celebrate the ultimate reward of the hard work and dedication of our lovable players and the Red Wings organization, but also to get inspired by their accomplishments." Ilitch: "This victory is a great reminder that if we remain focused, adapt, persevere and stay positive, we too can drink champagne from the proverbial cup. Like the Red Wings, all of us in our town and state must dream of a better and brighter future, so we don't cap our potential, but instead accomplish tremendous success together" (DETROIT NEWS, 6/6).