More than 600,000 fans gather for Pens victory parade

Devoted Penguins fans began staking out spots along the team's Wednesday morning championship parade route at 8 p.m. Tuesday night.

The parade, which began at the intersection of Grant and Liberty avenues, marched down Grant to the Boulevard of the Allies, where it turned west and continued to Commonwealth Place. The parade ended in Point State Park, where a stage was set up for players and team officials to address fans.

Officials began to close streets around 9 a.m.

Pat Claybaugh and his friends staked out a spot in the front row, as it were, at Point State Park at 8 p.m. Tuesday.

"Last year, we came down at 6 a.m. and it wasn't early enough," he said. "So we want to get close enough to get good pictures and, hopefully, see the Cup."

PREVIOUS COVERAGE:

• Penguins return home after clinching back-to-back Stanley Cup wins
• Back-to-back champs: Penguins parade slated for Wednesday
• WATCH: Penguins talk about their Stanley Cup win
• Couple celebrates Pens' Stanley Cup with engagement
• No arrests in connection with raucous Penguins title celebration
• Highlights from Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals

That endpoint has drawn the early attendees eager to see and hear their favorite players and get a good look at the Stanley Cup.

"This team has so many injuries, they persevered through so much," Claybaugh said. "Sidney Crosby is now one of the top five NHL players of all time, and Malkin is in the top 50."

Heat led to eight people being taken to hospital, 49 others being checked by medics

Due to the heat, emergency medical service crews were all along the parade route. Several people were treated for heat-related illnesses and some were taken to the hospital.

The number of medics on hand was increased to make sure everyone got the service they needed.

Many people used umbrellas to block themselves from the sun and kept hydrated with water bottles.

During the parade, the temperature reached 83 degrees. The heat, along with high humidity and tightly-packed crowds, led to eight people going to local hospitals and 49 others being checked out by local medics.

“I started to get lightheaded and shaky,” said Paige Montrose, who suffered from the heat.

TRENDING NOW:

• Did you miss the Penguins Victory Parade? Open to watch videos from the celebration
• Several people injured in shooting at San Francisco UPS center
• VIDEO: Pennsylvania Rep. Mike Doyle talks about GOP event shooting
• PHOTOS: Penguins Victory Parade

Montrose was one of the patients that got looked at after signs of heat exhaustion and dehydration came on pretty quickly.

“They sat me down in a chair right away and came over and took my blood pressure,” Montrose said.

Dr. Christian Martin-Gill and other medical personnel were stationed in half a dozen pop-up tents along the parade route ready for any patients or complications.

“Obviously it’s been a very hot day, so we’re prepared to deal with dehydration, collapse and folks that are just exhausted,” Martin-gill said.

While several had to be assisted, the city told Channel 11 their preventative efforts and proactive approach this year seemed to have worked.

No arrests made this year, security measures went smoothly

Channel 11 checked in with the city after the parade, and they said no arrests were made and safety procedure went off without a hitch.

The city estimates that the size of Wednesday’s crowd was about 650,000 people – more than double the population of the city.

“Huge police presence,” said Lynn Conchran, a first-time parade-goer.

She said it didn’t take long for her to notice the extra security in place.

“We saw police going up on top of some buildings,” said Giovanna Zanardelli, a spectator.

Channel 11 spotted several City of Pittsburgh Public Works trucks blocking intersections along the parade route. It's a safety procedure becoming common in metropolitan cities across the world as a way to prevent attacks by cars or trucks driving into crowds.

“I think it’s a shame it’s come to that, you know? But I don’t worry about it. I always feel safe,” Zanardelli said.

Sources told Channel 11 that law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, Pennsylvania State Police and local departments were all in place Wednesday to protect spectators and the athletes.

Cox Media Group