PITTSBURGH -- The Stanley Cup is back in town, and hundreds of thousands of Penguins fans jammed downtown Pittsburgh to cheer the champs at a victory parade Monday.
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Beginning at Grant Street and Seventh Avenue, the parade followed the same route that the
Steelers' Super Bowl parade took in February -- proceeding on Grant Street, turning onto the Boulevard of the Allies and ending at Stanwix Street, with a stage celebration and short speeches by top players.
"This is an amazing feeling," team captain Sidney Crosby told the estimated crowd of 375,000. "Today is better than I ever dreamed, and I think it's better than all of us ever dreamed, so thank you for your support ... It was a privilege and an honor to go through this with everyone. We've all dreamed of doing this, and let's do it again some other time."
Evgeni Malkin, the Most Valuable Player in the Stanley Cup playoffs, showed off his Conn Smythe Trophy as he rode in an open-top car.
Malkin was with his parents, Vladimir and Natalia, who became popular fixtures at Mellon Arena home games as the Pens' championship season went along.
When Evgeni Malkin reached the parade stand, he poured a bottle of Moet into the Cup and his dad took a big swig, followed by Crosby's mother and father. A sign in the crowd said "MVP Most Valuable Parents."
Team owners Mario Lemieux -- a former Conn Smythe winner -- and Ron Burkle rode together in another car to the stage.
"It's unbelievable," said Lemieux (pictured, left). "You can see how many people we have here. I really feel we have the best fans in the world, and again today, they're showing it."
Mayor Luke Ravenstahl rode in his second championship parade in less than five months. He was at the Steelers' Super Bowl celebration in February.
"The exciting thing for me today is you see so many young people along the parade route. They weren't here for the Super Bowl (parade) because they were in school, so it's exciting," Ravenstahl said.
One fan held a sign that said "Smiling like a butcher's dog" while radio play-by-play announcer Mike Lange's car rolled by. Lange, a member of the
Hockey Hall of Fame, has made
that saying and many others famous throughout the years.
Pittsburgh police spokeswoman Diane Richard said the downtown crowd was estimated at 375,000 people.
Many of the thousands lining the streets of downtown Pittsburgh skipped work to attend the parade.
"I decided to leave at lunch time and come up here to check out the activities," said John Schmidt.
When asked if he thought his bosses would mind, Schmidt didn't seem too concerned.
Video:
Fans Skip Work, Take To Streets For Pens Parade"Not at all. If they did that's their problem, not mine," said Schmidt.
Some also made the event a family affair.
"I had my 25-year-old son here when we got the first cup, now I have my 7-year-old son here for this one. It's a lot of fun. We're celebrating it all again," said Moochie Donatucci.
Watching the Pens raise Lord Stanley's Cup was a far cry from a few years ago when the team's future in Pittsburgh was in jeopardy.
"A couple years ago we were sitting here thinking they were going to end up in Kansas City. To end up here with that cup, its awesome -- can't beat it," said ViJay Murali.
Video:March Of The Penguins Faithful: Fans Travel To Pittsburgh For ParadeThose who weren't able to attend in person watched WTAE's coverage online. Erin Schorr e-mailed thepittsburghchannel.com to say, "I am in Toledo, Ohio watching the parade during my lunch break eating a Chipped Ham sandwich and eating an Eat N’ Park cookie at my desk. (The numerous Red Wings fans that I work with aren’t really loving my Pens Stanley Cup t-shirt today)"
The city police bureau said more than 200 officers were on hand, in addition to city EMTs and firefighters.
No major incidents were reported, but there were 23 calls for medical service for people who became overheated, Richard said.
Various street closures were in effect around the Golden Triangle. Police expected all streets to be open in time for the afternoon rush hour.
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