CRANBERRY TWP — Thousands of people got a first hand look at the new UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex over the weekend before it opened today for business.

Some visitors took to the ice to skate where the Pittsburgh Penguins will have their training camp and practices.

The facility had open houses on Saturday and Sunday during which an estimated 12,000 people toured the new building, UPMC Media Relations Manager Chuck Finder said.

Invitations went out to construction workers, UPMC employees, Penguins employees, and Penguins season ticket holders along with 10,000 free tickets that anyone could register for to tour the facility for free.

“We have had a lot of people from Cranberry come in who have watched it grow from the beginning,” Finder said.

Rick Grimes of Evans City said he was interested in seeing what is behind the scenes such as the Zamboni and the Penguins' locker room, which is a replica of the Pens locker room at Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh.

“This was a one-shot deal,” he said of the special viewing.

He said the facility will be a good addition to the community because it will provide activities for youths — both as spectators and athletes.

“It's good to give the kids something to do; to occupy their minds with good things and keep their minds from being occupied with bad things,” he said.

The complex will be used as early as Labor Day weekend for youth hockey tournaments.

Vincent Cannizzaro of Johnstown said he brought his son Ben, 6, to the complex to see it before his son plays there in a few weeks.

Ben brought his helmet and skates Saturday to go on the new ice.

“He's always had a hockey stick in his hands since he was 1 year old,” Cannizzaro said.

Lori and Robert Schmitt of Mars, who said they have been big fans of the Penguins since the early 1990s, are excited about the prospect of being able to attend open practices and training camp not far from their home.

“We've been admiring the building as its been under construction,” Lori said. “It's great that it's right here in our community.”

Both the medical and athletic aspects of the building make it a great asset for young athletes, Robert said.

“If you want to play hockey, this is where you want to live,” he said.

Matthew Stanick and Caleb Dawson, who are both entering the eighth grade in the Seneca Valley School District, took the time Saturday to skate.

“I love the facility. It's huge. It's a privilege to go in here,” Matthew said.

Caleb said he was impressed with the medical facilities. He is familiar with sports medicine because he had knee surgery in March.

“I had to go to 20 appointments for my knee. I would have wanted to come here if it were open in time,” he said.

But the athletic training offerings of the complex go beyond hockey and the Penguins.

“This could be a place where athletes from everywhere will come, a premier sports medicine facility,” he said.

The $70-million, 185,000-square-foot complex off Cranberry Springs Road took about 15 months to build.

It includes two sheets of ice, facilities that will be used by the Penguins, 24 patient exam rooms and other medical facilities for use by UPMC patients and the Sports Performance Center that will be led by former Penguins player Gary Roberts for training and exercise.