PPG Paints Arena is clearing its calendar.
Per a recent release, the following events have been postponed and rescheduled due to the outbreak of the coronavirus:
- Reba McEntire Live in Concert (March 26) has been rescheduled for July 16, 2020
- Trolls Live (March 27 - March 29) has been rescheduled for Sept. 11 - 13, 2020
- Five Finger Death Punch (May 14) has been rescheduled for Oct. 30, 2020
- Ringo Starr & His All Starr Band (June 20) has been rescheduled for June 18, 2021
- Roger Waters (July 8) has been postponed to a future date TBA
- Lauren Daigle (July 9) has been postponed to a future date TBA
- Justin Bieber (Aug. 4) has been postponed to a future date TBA
The release specified that tickets already purchased for these events will be valid on the rescheduled dates and they "expect direction in the coming days and weeks" as the situation continues to develop. As of today, April 1, 2020, some events still remain on PPG Paints' Calendar, but that will have to formally change in the upcoming days/weeks barring a significant breakthrough toward combating the virus. Governor Tom Wolf recently extended his shutdown order in the state to cover 26 counties — Allegheny County included — with a tentative end date of April 30.
For the Penguins specifically, this move from PPG Paints Arena potentially clears dates for playoff hockey in the summer, although no formal return date for the league has been (or can be) given at this point. In a recent conference call, Mike Sullivan responded to a question from our Dejan Kovacevic about the team's most recent win over the Devils — way back on March 10 — with the following:
“We felt it was an important one for us and for our self-confidence, building some traction moving forward. So yeah, it’s a good feeling to hang onto in the event that there’s a return to play here.”
That "in the event" is everything. The situation is still fluid and developing, and any predictions right now are just that. For now, PPG Paints Arena is playing it safe an smart, clearing space to ensure a smooth return when such a comeback is possible.
