Mellon Arena may go out with its top down.
Officials are exploring the possibility of opening the arena's distinctive retractable roof one last time to close down the 48-year-old building this summer.
Jay Roberts, general manager of Mellon Arena/SMG, confirmed Monday that the idea is under consideration, but he added there are plenty of hurdles in the way that could derail the effort.
The main one is whether the roof will open. Mr. Roberts said it hasn't been opened since at least 2001 and then only "a crack." The last time it was fully retracted was 1995, he said.
While officials would like to open the roof as part of Mellon's swan song, "it's impossible to tell whether it will even open," he said.
Mr. Roberts said there are other considerations as well. To open the roof, the arena's huge scoreboard would have to be removed beforehand. Rigging cables used by a lot of concert acts also would have to come down, further complicating the effort.
For the last show, the performer would have to do without the cables, he said.
"There are a lot of question marks," he said.
Still, officials are exploring the idea as part of a grand finale for the iconic silver-domed building, fondly known as the Igloo. It will be closing to make way for the Consol Energy Center, which is being built across Centre Avenue and is scheduled to open in August.
Opening the roof would be a fitting end for the building. It was opened for the arena's first act, an Ice Capades show, on Sept. 19, 1961, but then closed after 22 minutes because of fears that the ice would melt in the 74-degree weather.
Mr. Roberts said SMG is considering several artists for the arena's final show. He said no final decision had been made.
"There are several that we've been working with. At this point, I can't comment on whether there's a frontrunner or who we're hoping to get. There are a couple of options that we're pursuing," he said.
SMG also is trying to line up a big-name act to open the Consol Energy Center. One celebrity name that has been mentioned but not confirmed: the former Beatle Paul McCartney, who is touring this year.
First Published: May 25, 2010, 8:00 a.m.
