Pittsburgh Police, Local Restaurant Owners Preparing For Stanley Cup Final Game 5 Night
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- It has been decades since one of Pittsburgh's pro teams has had the chance to clinch a championship at home.
If it were to happen on Thursday night, it's sure to set off a huge celebration, and police are already preparing.
There was a lot of concern regarding how Pittsburgh Police and the administration handled the Donald Trump rally here in mid-April.
There were four police officers injured. Union leaders complained officers were not allowed to wear riot gear, and protesters with opposing views were allowed to get to close to each other.
The city promises a different approach with any possible Penguins' victory celebration.
In memos sent from Pittsburgh Police Chief Cameron McLay to staff, the chief states: "It will take a lot of police resources to handle spontaneous celebrations and to ensure public safety."
Regarding staffing, the chief states: "The PBP will need to ramp up resources considerably."
Chief McLay also expresses concern: "Fans will celebrate throughout the city and the potential for property damage, traffic congestion, and other criminal activity increases exponentially."
The chief mentions all officers will be on 12-hour shifts, and the afternoon shift Wednesday will be "assigned to the academy the day prior to the potential deciding Stanley Cup victory game for the Mobile Field Force Training (aka Riot Training)."
Right now, it looks like officers will have access to riot gear.
There's been no comment on any of this information from the administration tonight, but a new conference has been called for Wednesday.
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Meanwhile, local restaurant and bar owners are busy preparing for Game 5, too.
The owner of Industry Public House in Lawrenceville is hoping to have a big party by the end of the night, and he's confident the police will keep it in check.
"We like Lawrenceville, and we have a good crowd that comes out, and we don't anticipate any problem," said Jim Stillwagon, of Industry. "We haven't had them in the past and we don't expect them to start now."
Of course, the Pens didn't have the chance to win at home in 2009.
Over at Buford's Kitchen, across the street from CONSOL Energy Center, they expect to have a very busy night.
"We expect to be busy from 3 o'clock until 2 in the morning," says the restaurant's Nickie Krade.
As for things possibly getting out of hand, Krade says, "I have plenty of security guards here. The police presence outside has been tremendous thus far as the crowds have grown… so I feel comfortable in knowing that we have enough measure in place for it not to be a problem."
The other prime spot police will be focusing on is the traditional celebration ground call Carson Street on the South Side.
"We're going to expect a ton of people," said John DeMauro, of the Southside Bar Association. "We expect a lot of excitement, and hopefully, everyone stays safe."
Things have gotten pretty rowdy here in past moments of euphoria, but DeMauro says the establishment owners are confident the police will keep things controllable.
"I think it's something we've experienced before and they'll be prepared for that," he said.
