PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Penguins expect a full house, but not a sellout, when they host the Columbus Blue Jackets next Saturday in the second hockey game ever at the brand-new Consol Energy Center.
How is that possible?
The Penguins are giving away all 18,000 tickets. About 8,000 college and trade school students will attend the game and a local jobs fair at the arena, using tickets they won on a local Internet jobs board. The other tickets are going to youth hockey leagues and other groups that benefit kids.
CEO David Morehouse says there's no catch. He says it makes good sense to cultivate young fans and to help local businesses attract bright, local employees. He says it's also a great way for the team to capitalize on the buzz of its new arena.
