Record-breaking crowd celebrates with Pittsburgh Penguins at Stanley Cup championship parade
The Stanley Cup is back in Pittsburgh, and the Penguins shared it with the entire city Wednesday. A crowd of historic proportions gathered downtown to watch the team's championship parade.
City officials estimated the total amount of spectators at somewhere between 380,000 and 400,000 people -- the largest crowd for a sports celebration in Pittsburgh history.
VIDEO: Watch Sheldon Ingram's report
"The one thing I've learned is this is one crazy sports town," said coach Mike Sullivan, hired to replace Mike Johnston when the team was floundering in December.
Sara Odes brought her 10-year-old son all the way from Huntsville, Alabama, to see the parade. They made the drive during Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final, listening to an online broadcast as the Pens defeated the Sharks to clinch the trophy.
"Just being here with him today, enjoying with him and my family, the city -- it's just unreal. It really is," she said.
Stepping off from the East Busway entrance at Grant Street and Liberty Avenue, the players traveled slowly in open vehicles toward the Boulevard of the Allies, waving to fans along the way. After a right turn, the procession ended at the Boulevard of the Allies and Stanwix Street.
Video: Sidney Crosby rides with the Stanley Cup in the parade
A stage was set up on Stanwix Street for a series of victory speeches -- including Sullivan, general manager Jim Rutherford, team captain Sidney Crosby and the "HBK Line" of Carl Hagelin, Nick Bonino and Phil Kessel.
Bonino sported a custom WWE championship belt that was gifted to the team by pro wrestling star Triple H. He let out a Ric Flair-style "Whoo!" and gave props to "the legend" Kessel.
Video: 'HBK Line' celebrates Stanley Cup championship
The crowd popped big when they saw a special guest: Harnarayan Singh, of "Hockey Night in Canada: Punjabi Edition." He replicated his now-viral call of a Bonino goal from the Stanley Cup Final, and the fans chanted along, repeating "Bonino" in rapid succession several times.
Video: 'Bonino Bonino Bonino!': Punjabi broadcast team celebrate in Pittsburgh
Also taking the stage were radio broadcasters Mike Lange and Phil Bourque. In a nod to the 1991 Pens championship team, they told the crowd it was time to take the Cup down to the river again "and party all summer."
Watch: Penguins Stanley Cup parade: Mike Lange and Phil Bourque speech
And Rutherford, who pulled off a series of trades that helped shape Pittsburgh's championship roster, told the crowd that he had one more deal left to make: "We'll try to meet here at this time next year."