Penguins Stanley Cup victory parade will be Wednesday in Pittsburgh

Bob Bauder
Monday, June 12, 2017 2:28 p.m. | Monday, June 12, 2017 2:28 p.m.

Chaz Palla | Tribune-Review

Penguins center Evgeni Malkin skates with the Stanley Cup after defeating the Nashville Predators in Game 6 on Sunday, June 11, 2017, at Bridgestone Arena.

Louis B. Ruediger | Tribune-Review

Kim Polly, owner of RPG Sports in the Pittsburgh Mills, arranges Penguins merchandise on Monday June 12, 2017.

It could rain on the Penguins' parade.

The National Weather Service says showers and thunderstorms are likely after 9 a.m. Wednesday, the day Pittsburgh will celebrate the Penguins' fifth Stanley Cup championship with a parade through Downtown.

Pittsburgh officials announced it will honor the team with a victory parade starting at 11 a.m. The parade will start at Liberty Avenue, move along Grant Street to the Boulevard of the Allies and end at Commonwealth Place at a stage in Point State Park. The city is expecting "upwards of 500,000 people," according to Operations Chief Guy Costa.

2017 @penguins #StanleyCup Parade, Wed June 14 @ 11am. Same route, ends @ Pt State Park. Release to come. @billpeduto @Pgh311 @Allegheny_Co

" City of Pittsburgh (@CityPGH) June 12, 2017

Road closures will begin at 9 a.m. Wednesday, and city officials advised commuters to be Downtown before that time.

Temperatures are expected to be in the high 80s and city officials are asking spectators to prepare for heat and humidity.

Costa said rain should hold off until afternoon — he hopes, anyway.

"The forecast we have right now is showing rains to come in right after 3 p.m," he said. "Right now as we speak we should be rain free. After 3 p.m. We feel the event should be cleared."

Mayor Bill Peduto, a die-hard Penguin fan, tweeted that he likely won't be able to attend. Peduto is scheduled to speak at the National Press Club in Washington about automated vehicles and mobility issues, according to spokesman Tim McNulty.

"If you're upset with day/time — join the club. I'll be driving back from D.C.," the mayor tweeted Monday afternoon.

Here's the info. Had to wait for team to confirm. If you're upset with day/time - join the club. I'll be driving back from D.C. https://t.co/ambzAryhra

" bill peduto (@billpeduto) June 12, 2017

The Penguins defeated the Nashville Predators 2-0 Sunday in Game 6 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville to win the cup for a second consecutive season. The Penguins have won the Stanley Cup in 2017, 2016, 2009, 1992 and 1991.

Penguins players and officials returned home — with Penguins Captain Sidney Crosby hoisting the Stanley Cup — on a chartered flight about 1:10 p.m. Monday.

Costa said the consecutive championship is expected to draw more than the 400,000 people who showed up for 2016's victory parade.

The city is accommodating by stretching out the parade route and holding ceremonies in the park, which offers a larger area for fans to view players on stage. Costa said the Penguins would provide four large-screen TV's for fan viewing along the parade route and in the park.

Last year's parade along the same route ended at Stanwix Street.

"When we ended the parade at the intersection of the Boulevard of the Allies and Stanwix we were really confined to the area," Costa said. "We found out a lot of fans couldn't get to see the players because they were at the side of the stage."

Bob Bauder is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at 412-765-2312, bbauder@tribweb.com or @bobbauder.