Although Pittsburgh Mayor Tom Murphy "says it's premature"
to discuss sites for a new Pirates ballpark, he has asked the
city Planning Dept. to analyze possible sites. Pittsburgh
Planning Dir Eloise Hirsh says the city's geographic information
system will take a ballpark outline and "manipulate it around to
see where it might fit." Murphy has said a ballpark should be
part of an entertainment package, but would not specify
specifics. Riverboat gambling has been one suggested attraction
of such a package. The complex would be near public
transportation, and include parking in a half-mile radius to
provide several stadium routes. The PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE
reviewed seven areas of the city with potential ballpark sites.
Larry Lucchino, a former Orioles exec and "one of several
prospective buyers" for the Pirates, said his memories of
Pittsburgh's Forbes Field helped influence Camden Yards' design.
Lucchino added: "The ballpark should fit the tradition, the
history, and the architecture of Pittsburgh" (Patricia Lowry,
PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 10/16).
