Pittsburgh landmark serves as official ‘Pens Signal'

PITTSBURGH — A Pittsburgh landmark is letting Penguins fans know when their favorite hockey team scores a goal even if they’re not watching the game.

Where Batman has the bat signal, Pittsburgh’s Gulf Tower now serves as the “Pens Signal.”

Whether on Mount Washington, at a Pirates game or even at the big screen, Pittsburghers will always know when the Pens score.

Each time the Pens score, the top of the gulf tower, which is illuminated by LED lights, lights up red just like a goal light.

Penguins Director of Events Presentation Billy Warham is the person responsible for controlling the light.

“It’s really as simple as when we score a goal, you push the button that says, 'hockey score' and instantly the lights go red on the top of the building,” said Warham.

Warham said there is a slight trick as to when to turn on the lights after a goal since the fans watching the game at the big screen are on a seven-second delay, so he is sure to take a look outside and wait for fans to react before sending the signal.

“We want to make sure that we trigger it after they know we scored a goal. We don’t want to give it away five or eight seconds prior to them knowing. So it’s all about the viewing experience for them out there,” said Warham.

WPXI