http://cellar.org/pictures/3river.jpg

This bonus image is for Failsafe, who lived in Pittsburgh and surely attended many games at this stadium. I wouldn't have posted it otherwise, because this was shown on PA TV scores of times -- even in Philly, because we expect to see this happen to the Vet in a few years. There are far more interesting pictures of implosions, but I'm guessing this one will have sentimental value for the guy.

That was amazing. I remember when The Arena was torn down in St. Louis a few years ago and it brought back a lot of memories at that point.

I'm sure that Three Rivers brought brought back a lot of great memories as well...the Steel Curtain, the '79 Pirates, Stargell. And I liked that they used the camera inside the stadium when it was going down.

I think it's sad in a way though. When the "cookie-cutters" were built between '66 and the early '70s (Atlanta, St. Louis, Cincy, Pittsburgh, DC, Philly), they were considered state of the art. After 2003, the only ones that will be left are in DC and St. Louis--and even those are staring at the wrecking ball in the near future. Now in these days of big money, the big multi-purpose stadiums are passe...and every team wants their very own home. I guess I find it somewhat disturbing because these stadiums are under 40 years old...and probably still have some good life left in them. (Well, except for RFK...DC let it go straight to hell.)

The Stadium
 

I appreciate this tony...In my short 16 years I have been to that stadium easily 150 times....I used to love it. I still remember the time I went all the way to the top with my little brother, and we were looking over the car lot, and he proceeded to puke all over this cadillac and the honda next to it. So many memories....and god willing the new PNC Park will be just as much fun.

I just find it interesting that the city of Pittsburgh has a new stadium when we've barely been able to pay off the interest on three rivers, but this should bring a venerable boost to an otherwise dying downtown, so it's almost worth it.

Long Live the Cookie-Cutters in our hearts and our south sides
(I'm all teared up now...:)...that was a great stadium)

Steve

alph: "this should bring a venerable boost to an otherwise dying downtown, so it's almost worth it."

I really sincerely doubt it; this isn't going to change the city like Cleveland and Baltimore, the big renaissance of Pbg already happened and sadly nobody noticed.

I somewhat agree. Busch helped give St. Louis's downtown a mini-boost in the mid-60s, but a lot of that had to do with the Arch. St. Louis was starting to blossom again when the TWA Dome opened in 1995.

Baltimore is essentially the same boat, only they got a 5-year jump on the rest of the cities. Charm City was going headstrong with the Harbor and Camden Yards in 1991. PSInet added to the revitalizing. (Now if Baltimore Arena was rebuilt or torn down, that WOULD be a big boost.)

I think Cincy and Pitt will benefit from their new stadiums...even if it's only minor. The simple fact that the stadiums are new will give a boost regardless. We'll see the same thing here in a few years.

Thanks T!

I did indeed see many games in that stadium. And many great teams ... namely the 70's Pirates and Steelers back in the days before free agency really destroyed baseball and threatens to do so to football. You know...on the Steelers of those days EVERY player was brought up through their farm system and I remember a team that didn't even have a single traded player.

Ah....the good old days!

I remember when they first built Three Rivers...the bridge wasn't built yet...just the ramp leading up to the phantom bridge...and countless cars zoomed up the ramp to find themselves floating in the river! It made the news interesting each day!

That's wild! Why didn't they have the ramp marked off with hundreds of signs?

Yesterday on WIP sports radio there was speculation that they CAN'T implode the Vet, because there is a subway nearby if not underneath it, and the ground can't handle the stress of the stadium falling on it. Does that make sense? Can anyone remember a building implosion over a subway? How could the subway manage to have a stadium built over it in the first place? And why doesn't Manhattan sink into the oean?

<sarcasm>Well, it's on WIP, so it's <i>gotta</i> be true.</sarcasm>

In all seriousness, I don't think that the BSL stop is directly underneath the Vet; the line itself runs under Broad St., and I believe that some of the concourses run underneath the parking lot. I dobt that any of the station is under the stadium itself, though.

But I could be wrong,
Z

More Pittsburgh Legendry
 

Does anybody know anything about the B52 that, according to local legend, disappeared into the Monogahaela(sp?) River? From what I've read, a B-52 flying fortress bomber was seen crashing into the river, but there's been no evidence that the plane ever existed. Theories point to a fourth, underground river that could've carried that plane to Gods know where. If anybody has any more info/memories of this event, I'd appreciate your input.

Steve

[quote]Originally posted by Tony Shepps
[b]That's wild! Why didn't they have the ramp marked off with hundreds of signs?

The ramp was marked - clearly - but in a tipsy state, the drivers didn't heed the warning.

re: Monongahela B-52
 

Steve, it couldn't've happened. The fourth "river" is the Wisconsin Glacial Aquifer, running under the Point. Totally sealed off waterway, though if the plane DID get in, it would be fairly well-entrenched in Dixie by war's end.

Sidenote: That's where the fountain at the Point gets it's water from.

Believe it or not, I stayed awake in AH2 to hear Teach tell us this. Probably worth something on down the road.

~Mike