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Opening days fast closing in on workers at new stadiums
Friday, December 29, 2000 By Robert Dvorchak, Post-Gazette Staff Writer
News item: The man from the North Pole called the newsroom hot line to say he had always used one stadium and three rivers as a landmark when he flew his sleigh into Pittsburgh. But this year, he must have had too much eggnog, because what to his wondering eyes should appear but three stadiums on one river -- not to mention an emerging convention center.
It will take everybody awhile to get their bearings in 2001, what with all the goings and comings in the skyline and the riverfronts.
Today at 1:35 p.m., the countdown clock outside PNC Park will drop to100 days until the official first pitch. At the same time, expectations and anticipation are heightening.
"This ballpark, I think it's just magical," Pirates Manager Lloyd McClendon said after a recent tour. "Even before it's finished, it has already come to life. It's going to be a showpiece."
Those who ventured public funds into a Pittsburgh makeover hope the magic applies not only to the Pirates new home, but also to the Steelers stadium, the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, a redesigned North Shore and a reinvigorated riverfront as well.
The Regional Destination Financing Plan, commonly known as Plan B and carrying a total price tag of about $1 billion, is the biggest public works project in city history.
"The city's going to be a bustling place," said Steve Greenberg, vice president of new ballpark development for the Pirates.
THE PLAYERS: After preseason games March 31 and April 1, Pirates open PNC Park on April 9. Steelers unveil new stadium with preseason game in August and will open their regular season with the Cleveland Browns. David L. Lawrence Convention Center closes in June and western-most portion of new center opens in January 2002. The entire building will be finished 14 months later.
WHAT HAPPENED IN 2000: Teams signed leases with Sports & Exhibition Authority and their construction managers topped out their structures with no serious injuries. Foundation work on the new convention center was completed.
MAJOR ISSUE: The $1 billion regional destination financing plan was undertaken to save the Pirates, preserve the Steelers and raze an inadequate convention center to allow the city to compete for 21st-century business/tourist dollars. Plan now includes re-establishing the North Shore street grid and enhancing riverfronts with a new park.
CONTROVERSIES: Political deal called Plan B revived the projects after voters said no to taxpayer subsidies; Pirates have kept key players and added free agents but baseball salaries have never been more out of whack and collective bargaining agreement expires Oct. 31; some question wisdom of leaving Three Rivers when $26 million is still owed on a structure built in 1970; some tenants questioned design of convention center and decision to close down for seven months starting in June.
Before 2001 brings in the new, it must sweep out the old, as when thirty-something Three Rivers Stadium is reduced to rubble with an implosion.
The Pirates and the Steelers bade farewell to the concrete bowl this year with fireworks, confetti and a nostalgic curtain call of former players. The Pirates front office will leave the old digs Jan. 15 to move into the new administration building adjacent to PNC Park.
The fast-track schedule calls for the ballpark to be substantially completed by March 11, with preseason games March 31 and April 1 against the Mets before the April 9 opener against Cincinnati.
With a blanket of snow on the outfield grass and ice choking the Allegheny River, it's hard to imagine that baseball is only three months away. The ballpark has been on the tightest construction schedule of any new facility in the country, and not a day goes by that somebody who knows somebody has heard that it won't be done on time. Those involved insist it will.
"There's a lot of work left to do, but the construction manager is on top of it," Greenberg said. "Now's the crunch time."
Out of the muck of controversy has emerged a charming baseball venue that brings fans closer than ever to the game. Who knows? If the Pirates can field a winner and baseball gets its wacky economics in line by the end of the season, the sport may indeed witness a rebirth.
Die-hard seam-heads will marvel at the way PNC Park plays. Casual fans will find plenty of allure in its amenities.
Just before Christmas, Outback Steak House took possession of the restaurant building in left center field. The leases on four retail outlets will be announced next week, which like Outback, will be open year-round. Here's a hint: Three of the outlets are expected to be a pizza pub, a coffeehouse and a smokehouse restaurant.
Inside, on the main concourse, two major food courts are going in.
One is SmorgasBurgh, featuring Primanti Brothers, Benkovitz Seafoods, Quaker Steak & Lube and Beers of the Burgh. At Three Rivers, Primanti's had three cash registers; it will have 19 at PNC Park.
The other is Pop's Plaza, not far from Willie Stargell's statue. It will feature Chicken on the Hill from the local minority firm of Quik-It Chicken; Fam-A-Lee Barbecue, a second minority company; Pop's Potato Patch; Willie's Chili; and The 475 Club. The plaza will also have some type of funky lights and a seating area.
The scoreboard will be erected in February, with its giant TV screen, matrix board and ad panels. The lockers in the visitors' clubhouse are in -- "It means we're getting close," Greenberg said -- but a lot of work remains to be done on the luxury suites and club seat level. Seven miles of railing are being installed.
Landscaping will be one of the final touches, although new street lamps have already been placed on General Robinson Street.
For the record, the outdoor walkway along the outfield perimeter has been officially dubbed the River Walk. Promenade was ruled out because it's not a Pittsburgh word.
The Pirates are in the midst of their season ticket campaign; tickets go on sale to the general public in early March.
"I hope we have designed a ballpark that people will want to come to to see baseball, but the ballpark will also have life all the time," Greenberg said.
Although it's forbidden because of safety concerns, some fans have already sneaked into the ballpark. One enthusiast, after visiting the dugouts, even sat himself behind first base while visions of baseball danced in his head.
"It was open and I couldn't resist," he said before he was shooed out by security.
When Three Rivers comes down early next year, there will be an unobstructed view from Downtown of a football stadium that has already taken on a life of its own. The Steelers construction team will be heavily involved in demolition plans because the new structure is only 65 feet or so from the western rim of the old stadium.
"In 2001, the project enters a whole new level. Over the holidays, everyone is taking a deep breath before we kick it up another notch," said Steelers project manager Heidi Edwards.
One phase that will bring the concrete and steel to life comes when the yellow seats are installed beginning next month. The sod growing on a New Jersey turf grass farm will be installed around May 1. Before the stadium opens in August, a "super flush" will be held in July to test all the toilet fixtures and plumbing.
Over at the convention center site, demolition work has begun on the old PNC Bank building. Workers are awaiting the first shipment of steel in January. A total of 15,000 tons of steel beams, girders and cables will provide the skeleton of what will become the city's new front lawn and living room.
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