PITTSBURGH — Some of our favorite Pittsburgh-area traditions and landmarks now look totally different as we complete one year in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Here’s a few comparisons:

PPG Paints Arena

The Pittsburgh Penguins are one of the NHL’s most popular teams, which is no surprise considering the star power on the roster and the loyal fanbase that fills PPG Paints Arena for home games. The 2020 season was cut short due to COVID-19 and then playoffs were done in Toronto with no fans in attendance. In March of 2021, the Penguins welcomed some fans back into the stands when Gov. Wolf eased the restrictions on indoor crowds. The Penguins are 4-1 this season since fans returned.

Beaver Stadium

Penn State’s Beaver Stadium is the second largest in the country based on capacity, and when the entire crowd is wearing white for a night game, there’s nothing that compares. In 2020, the Big Ten football delayed the start of season until the October 23 weekend due to COVID-19. The Nittany Lions played nine games, four of them at home, but the stands remained empty.

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Holiday Market

The People’s Gas Holiday Market has become a tradition in downtown Pittsburgh during the holiday season. Thousands of people would head to Market Square to browse the shops or get their pictures taken with Santa Claus. In 2020, the market was still open but things looked a little different. Masks were required, chalets and lines allowed for social distancing and everything was cleaned more often.

Roberto Clemente Bridge

The Roberto Clemente Bridge sees a ton of foot traffic during the spring and summer months. It’s a popular walkway for Pirates fans who park in downtown Pittsburgh and then walk over to PNC Park to catch a game. Tens of thousands of folks pack onto the bridge for Picklesburgh each year. But in 2020, the Pirates shortened season was played in an empty ballpark and Picklesburgh was canceled due to COVID-19.

Heinz Field

The 2020 NFL season was a bit of a whirlwind for the Pittsburgh Steelers and their fans. The season started with empty seats at Heinz Field, but by week 4 against the Philadelphia Eagles, there were limited Black and Gold fans in the stands. As coronavirus numbers fluctuated, the state’s attendance allowances changed and by the playoffs in January, it was back to an empty stadium. Hopefully next year, there will be 68,000 screaming Steelers fans at Heinz Field again.

One year since first COVID-19 cases reported in Pennsylvania