For the third time in the past six years, the historic Hunt Armory is getting new operators.
Chatham University plans to lease — and potentially buy — the community ice rink from the Urban Redevelopment Authority after the Pittsburgh Penguins’ lease to run the rink expires in May.
At their meeting Thursday, the URA was set to consider approving a 10-year lease agreement with the university that includes an option to purchase the armory for $2 million or extend the lease for another decade.
“Chatham has been involved since the very beginning, and they have grown their hockey programs around the Hunt Armory, which is just a few blocks away from campus,” Penguins President of Business Operations Kevin Acklin said.
“We believe that Chatham is a natural fit to lead the next phase of the armory.”
Chatham University officials could not immediately be reached for comment.
Chatham intends to transform the facility at 324 Emerson St. into a permanent rink open year-round with an estimated $15 million investment in upgrades. The rink operates now seasonally.
The rink will also serve as a home base for the school’s men’s and women’s hockey teams, according to the URA’s agenda materials.
The URA began accepting proposals for reuse of the armory, opened over 100 years ago, in 2015. Shadyside residents rallied around a $32 million plan by the Mosites Company to build a full-sized rink, smaller sheet of ice and retail, office and parking spaces.
But when that project collapsed due to funding shortfalls, the Penguins stepped in and spent more than $1 million on a seasonal rink. Since 2021, the URA has licensed the facility to the team, which has run public skating and hockey programming there for part of the year.
As recently as March 2024, the team was in talks with the city and URA to consider operating the rink year-round and purchasing it, the Post-Gazette reported. But that deal never materialized. Meanwhile, the team has been working with Chatham and the URA on plans, Mr. Acklin said.
“The Penguins take great pride in our hockey initiatives at the grassroots level in Pittsburgh and we are grateful for the support of Chatham and Highmark with our Hunt Armory project over the past 4 seasons,” he said.
“We are very excited for the future of the armory under Chatham’s leadership.”
First Published: April 9, 2025, 8:38 p.m.
Updated: April 10, 2025, 7:40 p.m.
