The Pirates Wanted A 'Jetsons'-Style Futuristic Park
By Tom Bogert
The Pittsburgh Pirates had plans to potentially revolutionize stadium creations all the way back in the late 1950s. Nowadays, it's commonplace for stadiums to simply look to one-up the most recent venue built, ballooning costs to laughably lavish amounts.
But in 1958, the Pirates had serious plans for a stadium to be built on the Monongahela River, one that would have trumped most of the stadiums that were standing at that time, before opting with the old Three Rivers Stadium before it was demolished in 2001, much to the satisfaction of most Pittsburgh fans.
The proposed stadium looks like something that Jerry Jones would be salivating over, aided fully with hotels and parking. (Picture via Brookline Connection)
The stadium would stand where the Smithfield Street Bridge is today.
Speaking of Jones, imagine if it was built and opened? How would that have impacted his personal palace AT&T Stadium in Dallas? Would he have tried to find a body of water to more extravagantly erect a stadium for his Cowboys? The thoughts are endless.
Nowadays, the Pirates have a beautiful stadium in PNC Park, a stadium that has had its raucous, loyal fans rewarded with great baseball on display.
One can't help but think what could have been, though.
As a fan of repetitive disappointment and frustration, Tom holds Liverpool FC, the New York Knicks and New York Red Bulls near and dear to his heart with occasional joy coming from the New York Giants and New York Yankees.
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