Three Rivers Stadium 737740 222794083 2008-07-01T03:52:40Z Gridironrb 3480257 changing links and editing text {{Infobox_Baseball_Stadium |stadium_name = Three Rivers Stadium |nickname= ''Stadium of Champions'' |image = [[Image:ThreeRiversStadium.jpg|right|250px|Aerial view of Three Rivers Stadium, circa 2000]] |location = 300 Stadium Circle<br /> [[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania]] 15212 (now demolished) |broke_ground= |opened = [[July 16]], [[1970]] |closed = [[December 16]], [[2000]] |demolished = [[February 11]], [[2001]] |owner = City of Pittsburgh |operator= [[SMG (property management)|SMG]] |surface = Tartanturf ([[1970]]-[[1982]])<br> [[AstroTurf]] ([[1983]]-[[2000]]) |construction_cost = [[United States dollar|$]]55 million |architect = Deeter Ritchy Sipple, Michael Baker, Jr. and Osborn Engineering |former_names = |tenants=[[Pittsburgh Pirates]] ([[Major League Baseball|MLB]]) ([[1970]]-[[2000]])<br>[[Pittsburgh Steelers]] ([[National Football League|NFL]]) ([[1970]]-[[2000]])<br> [[University of Pittsburgh]] ([[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]]) ([[2000]]) <br> [[Pittsburgh Maulers]] ([[United States Football League|USFL]]) ([[1984]]) |seating_capacity = 47,971 (baseball)<br> 59,000 (football) |dimensions=Left Field - 340 ft (1970), 335 ft (1975)<br>Left-Center - 385 ft (1970), 375 ft (1975)<br>Center Field - 410 ft (1970), 400 ft (1975)<br>Right-Center - 385 ft (1970), 375 ft (1975)<br>Right Field - 340 ft (1970), 335 ft (1975)<br> Backstop - 60 ft }} '''Three Rivers Stadium''' was a multi-purpose sports [[stadium]] and event facility located in [[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania]] from [[1970 in sports|1970]] through [[2000 in sports|2000]]. The stadium's name was derived from the junction of the [[Monongahela River|Monongahela]] and [[Allegheny River|Allegheny]] rivers, where they formed the [[Ohio River]], the "Golden Triangle". The stadium was located on the north side of the [[Confluence (geography)|confluence]]. ==Design== The stadium's design was nearly circular, attempting to facilitate use by the [[Pittsburgh Pirates|Pirates]] and [[Pittsburgh Steelers|Steelers]] with equal accommodation. Unfortunately, as was the case with other cities in which this so-called "[[cookie cutter stadium]]" approach was employed ([[RFK Stadium|Washington]], [[Shea Stadium|New York]], [[Astrodome|Houston]], [[Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium|Atlanta]], [[Busch Memorial Stadium|St. Louis]], [[McAfee Stadium|Oakland]], [[Qualcomm Stadium|San Diego]], [[Riverfront Stadium|Cincinnati]], and [[Veterans Stadium|Philadelphia]]), the fundamentally different shapes of the playing fields made the stadium inadequate to the needs of either sport. Even by "cookie cutter" standards, the upper deck at Three Rivers (known to regular stadium-goers as "Peanut Heaven") was exceptionally high, making for steep climbs by event attendees and adding to its cavernous feel. By the 1990s, the use of multiple low-bid contractors in its construction began to show, as parts of the concrete began to turn differing shades of brown. ==History== In [[1958]], the Pirates sold [[Forbes Field]] to the [[University of Pittsburgh]], who wanted the land for expanded [[graduate school|graduate]] facilities. Pitt then leased Forbes back to the Pirates until a new multipurpose stadium could be built. The Steelers opted to play at [[Pitt Stadium]] in the meantime. A site on the North Side had been chosen earlier in the year, but it took until [[April 25]], [[1968]] to finally break ground. Three Rivers Stadium opened on [[July 16]], [[1970 in sports|1970]], and was home to the Pirates, Steelers and the [[United States Football League|USFL]] [[Pittsburgh Maulers|Maulers]], as well as to [[concert]]s, [[monster truck]] rallies, [[professional wrestling]] shows, [[Billy Graham]]-type revivals, high school football playoffs, and other events. In all, Three Rivers Stadium hosted over 5,000 events in its 30 years of existence, but it was seen as an outdated facility in the "luxury box" and "signature stadium" era of the 21st century. [[Image:Wagner statue 930606.JPG|thumb|left|200px|The [[Honus Wagner]] Statue outside Gate C]]The stadium did have its moments of glory and drama, mostly in its first decade of existence. The Pirates won the [[1971]] and [[1979]] [[World Series]] while playing here, upsetting the favored [[Baltimore Orioles]] in both series. The [[1971]] World Series featured the first [[night game]] in World Series history (Game 4). [[Roberto Clemente]] ended his career while playing here, garnering 3,000 hits before his death in a plane crash while transporting [[earthquake]] relief supplies in December 1972. Slugger [[Willie Stargell]] established himself as a fan favorite. The Pirates also made the playoffs during [[1990]]-[[1991]]-[[1992]], only to be defeated by the [[Cincinnati Reds]] and the [[Atlanta Braves]]. Since then, the competitive disproportions of the big-contract era in baseball has made it extremely difficult for small market teams like the Pirates to be competitive. Three Rivers also hosted the [[1974 in sports|1974]] and [[1994 in sports|1994]] [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game]]s. Pirate pitcher [[Ken Brett]] was the winning pitcher (and only Pirate) in the 1974 game. On October 1, 2000, the Pirates held their last game ever at Three Rivers Stadium against the [[Chicago Cubs]] when they lost 10-9. The Pirates threw a celebration after the game when the team moved home plate to [[PNC Park]] while it was under construction. Both [[WGN]] and [[FSN Pittsburgh]] were among the networks that televised the last game ever at Three Rivers. The Steelers enjoyed their greatest era while playing at Three Rivers, culminating in four championship trophies in six years during the 1970s with wins in [[Super Bowl IX]], [[Super Bowl X]], [[Super Bowl XIII]] and [[Super Bowl XIV]]. No NFL team has since replicated or bettered the feat of winning four Super Bowls in six years. The Steelers, coached by [[Chuck Noll]], featured [[quarterback]] [[Terry Bradshaw]], [[running back]] [[Franco Harris]], [[Wide receiver|receiver]] [[Lynn Swann]], and [[Defender (football)|defender]] "Mean" [[Joe Greene (football player)|Joe Greene]], who anchored the "[[Steel Curtain]]." The "[[Immaculate Reception]]" occurred here, in a 1972 [[American Football Conference|AFC]] playoff game against the [[Oakland Raiders]]. In the 1990s the Steelers, coached by [[Bill Cowher]], again made the Super Bowl ([[Super Bowl XXX]]), only to lose to the [[Dallas Cowboys]]. One of the biggest upsets in NFL history (as well as one the worst losses in club history) occurred on [[January 15]], [[1995]], when the [[San Diego Chargers]] scored a late-game goal line stand and upset the Steelers in the [[AFC Championship Game]], 17-13, despite a then-AFC Championship Game Record 347 passing yards by quarterback [[Neil O'Donnell]]. A year later, on [[January 14]], [[1996]], the franchise clinched its fifth conference title with a 20-16 win over the [[Indianapolis Colts]] in the AFC Championship Game, surviving a last-second [[Hail Mary pass]] attempt by the Colts' [[Jim Harbaugh]] that just barely fell incomplete. The stadium would go on to host one more conference title game, on [[January 11]], [[1998]], as the Steelers fell, 24-21, to [[John Elway]] and the eventual Super Bowl Champion [[Denver Broncos]]. It would be Three Rivers Stadium's last-ever NFL playoff game. For the [[2000]] football season, Three Rivers Stadium was the interim home for the [[Pittsburgh Panthers]] football team, after Pitt Stadium shut down in [[1999]]. [[Penn State Nittany Lions|Penn State]] and their storied coach [[Joe Paterno]] visited Three Rivers during this season, with Pitt winning 12-0 in the last game to date between these old rivals. The stadium officially shut down for good following the Steelers' 24-3 win over the [[Washington Redskins]] on [[December 16]], [[2000 NFL season|2000]] in a Saturday afternoon game nationally televised by [[NFL on FOX|FOX]]. Prior to the start of the game, the Steelers honored all of their greatest players to ever play at Three Rivers Stadium. Eight weeks later on Sunday morning, [[February 11]], [[2001]], the city watched as Three Rivers Stadium was [[building implosion|imploded]]. The Pirates moved into a baseball-specific facility, [[PNC Park]], situated to the east of the old stadium site, along the north bank of the [[Allegheny River]]. Later that year, the Steelers, along with the University of Pittsburgh football team, moved into football-specific [[Heinz Field]], built right next to the old stadium site to the west, along the north bank of the [[Ohio River]]. The "Gate D" sign to the stadium, near Heinz Field, is what is left of Three Rivers Stadium. Fans were allowed to take home Three Rivers Stadium's seats and turf, among other things after the implosion in 2001. The UPMC Sportsworks Center contains seats from Three Rivers Stadium. On [[November 26]], [[2007]], an historical plaque was dedicated by the "Gate D" area in honor of Three Rivers Stadium. *Hosted 9 [[National League Championship Series|NLCS]]: **[[1970 National League Championship Series|1970]] **'''[[1971 National League Championship Series|1971]]'''* **[[1972 National League Championship Series|1972]] **[[1974 National League Championship Series|1974]] **[[1975 National League Championship Series|1975]]** **'''[[1979 National League Championship Series|1979]]'''* **[[1990 National League Championship Series|1990]] **[[1991 National League Championship Series|1991]]*** **[[1992 National League Championship Series|1992]] <nowiki>*</nowiki>''Pirates clinched pennant at Three Rivers'' <nowiki>**</nowiki>''[[Cincinnati Reds|Cincinnati]] clinched pennant at Three Rivers'' <nowiki>***</nowiki>''[[Atlanta Braves|Atlanta]] clinched pennant at Three Rivers'' *Hosted 2 [[World Series]]: **'''[[1971 World Series|1971]]''' **'''[[1979 World Series|1979]]''' ''Both series went 7 games and finished in [[Memorial Stadium (Baltimore)|Baltimore]].'' *Hosted 18 NFL playoff games: **'''[[NFL playoffs, 1972-73|1972]] AFC Divisional Playoff'''&ndash;'''Steelers 13, [[Oakland Raiders|Oakland]] 7 ([[Immaculate Reception]] game)''' **1972 [[AFC Championship Game]]&ndash;[[Miami Dolphins|Miami]] 21, Steelers 17 **'''[[NFL playoffs, 1974-75|1974]] AFC Divisional Playoff'''&ndash;'''Steelers 32, [[Buffalo Bills|Buffalo]] 14''' **'''[[NFL playoffs, 1975-76|1975]] AFC Divisional Playoff'''&ndash;'''Steelers 28, [[Indianapolis Colts|Baltimore (Colts)]] 10''' **'''1975 AFC Championship Game'''&ndash;'''Steelers 16, Oakland 10''' **'''[[NFL playoffs, 1978-79|1978]] AFC Divisional Playoff'''&ndash;'''Steelers 33, [[Denver Broncos|Denver]] 10''' **'''1978 AFC Championship Game'''&ndash;'''Steelers 34, [[Tennessee Titans|Houston (Oilers)]] 5''' **'''[[NFL playoffs, 1979-80|1979]] AFC Divisional Playoff'''&ndash;'''Steelers 34, Miami 14''' **'''1979 AFC Championship Game'''&ndash;'''Steelers 27, Houston (Oilers) 13''' **[[NFL playoffs, 1982-83|1982]] AFC First Round Playoff&ndash;[[San Diego Chargers|San Diego]] 31, Steelers 28 **[[NFL playoffs, 1992-93|1992]] AFC Divisional Playoff&ndash;Buffalo 24, Steelers 3 **'''[[NFL playoffs, 1994-95|1994]] AFC Divisional Playoff'''&ndash;'''Steelers 29, [[Cleveland Browns|Cleveland]] 9''' **1994 AFC Championship Game&ndash;San Diego 17, Steelers 13 **'''[[NFL playoffs, 1995-96|1995]] AFC Divisional Playoff'''&ndash;'''Steelers 40, Buffalo 21''' **'''1995 AFC Championship Game'''&ndash;'''Steelers 20, [[Indianapolis Colts|Indianapolis]] 16''' **'''[[NFL playoffs, 1996-97|1996]] AFC Wildcard Playoff'''&ndash;'''Steelers 42, Indianapolis 14''' **'''[[NFL playoffs, 1997-98|1997]] AFC Divisional Playoff'''&ndash;'''Steelers 7, [[New England Patriots|New England]] 6''' **1997 AFC Championship Game&ndash;Denver 24, Steelers 21 *Hosted 2 [[Backyard Brawl]] college football games between the [[Pittsburgh Panthers football|Pitt Panthers]] and the [[West Virginia Mountaineers football|West Virginia Mountaineers]]: **[[November 27]], [[1998]] - West Virginia 52, Pitt 14 **[[November 24]], [[2000]] - '''Pitt 38''', West Virginia 28 '''''Bold''' indicates won by the Pittsburgh teams.'' == External links == {{Commonscat|Three Rivers Stadium}} *[http://www.steelersfever.com/three_rivers_stadium.html Steelers Fever - Three Rivers Stadium] *[http://www.ballparks.com/baseball/national/3river.htm Three Rivers Stadium Statistics] *[http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/pit/homepage/pit_homepage.jsp Pittsburgh Pirates official website] *[http://www.Pittsburghsteelers.com Pittsburgh Steelers NFL Official website] *[http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/pit/history/ballparks.jsp Pirates Ballparks website] *[http://www.3riversstadium.com/index2.html Three Rivers Stadium website] {{start box}} {{succession box | title = Home of the [[Pittsburgh Pirates]] | years = 1970 &ndash; 2000 | before = [[Forbes Field]] | after = [[PNC Park]] }} {{succession box | title = Home of the [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] | years = 1970 &ndash; 2000 | before = [[Pitt Stadium]] | after = [[Heinz Field]] }} {{succession box | title = Home of the [[University of Pittsburgh]] | years = 2000 | before = [[Pitt Stadium]] | after = [[Heinz Field]] }} {{succession box | title = Host of the [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star Game]] | years = 1974<br>1994 | before = [[Kauffman Stadium|Royal Stadium]]<br>[[Oriole Park at Camden Yards]] | after = [[Milwaukee County Stadium]]<br>[[Rangers Ballpark in Arlington|The Ballpark in Arlington]] }} {{end box}} {{Pittsburgh Pirates}} {{Pittsburgh Steelers}} {{coor title dms|40|26|47.5|N|80|0|45.5|W|type:landmark}} [[Category:Defunct college football venues]] [[Category:Multi-purpose stadiums]] [[Category:Defunct American football venues]] [[Category:Defunct Major League Baseball venues]] [[Category:Defunct National Football League venues]] [[Category:Pittsburgh Pirates]] [[Category:Loenus Stadiums]] [[Category:Pittsburgh Steelers]] [[Category:1970 architecture]] [[Category:1970 establishments]] [[Category:2000 disestablishments]] [[Category:Sports venues in Pittsburgh]] [[Category:Major League Baseball All-Star Game venues]] [[Category:Pittsburgh Panthers football]] [[Category:Demolished buildings and structures]] [[Category:United States Football League venues]] [[fr:Three Rivers Stadium]] [[ja:スリー・リバース・スタジアム]] [[pt:Three Rivers Stadium]]