Pirates Managing General Partner Kevin McClatchy "wowed
a crowd of Pittsburgh notables" with his model of a new
ballpark, "but shed little light on the team's contribution"
to its $203M cost, according to Rich Lord of the Pittsburgh
TRIBUNE-REVIEW. McClatchy said he was "extremely confident"
that the stadium will be completed by Opening Day, 2001. The
team is aiming for a groundbreaking in 14 months. Though the
team will only sign a 25- to 30-year lease, McClatchy
predicted the park "would keep baseball in Pittsburgh for
another 111 years" if the team, state, city of Pittsburgh
and Allegheny County can "formalize a suitable financing
agreement." McClatchy: "The money's not in the bank yet."
Pirates VP/New Ballpark Development & Comm. Steve Greenberg
said that the team is negotiating naming rights with "at
least two" local companies, including PNC Bank. Plans for
the new 38,000-seat ballpark include 64 luxury suites, 540
Field Club seats (with access to a private lounge), 2,260
upper club seats, with an average ticket price of $15 and
10,000 seats priced under $10 (PITT. TRIBUNE-REVIEW, 3/18).
REAX: In Pittsburgh, Kim Burger writes that "skepticism
was the sentiment all over" the city on Tuesday (TRIBUNE-
REVIEW, 3/18). Columnist Bob Smizik: "It has been some time
since the baseball future of the region looked so promising"
(PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 3/17).
