On this date in 2001, Pittsburgh said a final goodbye to Three Rivers Stadium. This multi purpose facility was home to the city's sports renaissance, with the Pirates being consistent winners during the '70s and '90s and the Steelers ranking among the NFL elite. But between the artificial turf, the symmetrical playing field and a poorly designed lower seating bowl, the fan experience was far from perfect. The slope, or rise, of seats was lower than in similar parks in Philadelphia, Cincinnati and St. Louis. Frankly, for the first time since I was a nine-year old in the Polo Grounds, people sitting in front us serious obscured my view.
Of course, there was the Pirate Parrot to excite the crowd.
The mascot moved onto PNC Park, but that was about the only holdover. Instead of a hulking concrete circle, the Parrot now frolics in a open, sun-splashed playground with fans sitting close the field, and the rows rising nicely so more of the crowd feels like they're on top of the action.
The architectural brilliance brings the Pittsburgh skyline and its golden bridges -- including one named for the beloved Roberto Clemente -- into the view. Entering its 20th season, PNC is one of baseball's absolute gems.
Comments