If you build it, they will come -- but then what? Won't it be great to watch Al Martin look at called third strikes in this place? More photos of the proposed stadium location in Bob's photo gallery. Hey kids -- Bob went a little long this week, so we broke his story up into the following bite-sized nuggets for you. What disappears when the stadiums are built? Bob shares some Three Rivers memories Will the North Side be hip? The Pirates and the Steelers are moving closer to getting their taxpayer-financed fields of dreams. And in spite of the fact that I think that this whole process has amounted to extortion by a bunch of rich guys, I'm generally happy that the stadiums are going to be built. Believe it or not, I even voted for that ridiculous Regional Renaissance Initiative -- even though it was one of the most poorly-run campaigns and badly-explained pieces of legislation to ever come down the pike. (Not to be a wet blanket here or anything, but a big chunk of the funding for the stadiums is still up in the air. Governor Ridge has pledged the state's share of the funding, which amounts to about one-third of the total cost. Keep in mind, though, that the state legislature controls the purse strings on that cash -- and how likely is it that some state rep from someplace like Macadoo, PA is gonna cough up the dough for a new stadium in Pittsburgh? Ridge will eventually come through with the cash, but it's gonna be a battle -- and it won't be settled until after the next election, you can be sure of that.) But anyway, the politics of this whole issue is beyond comprehension for my little mind. What interests me is the effect that Three Rivers has had and that the new stadiums will have on that little slice of the North Side. Take a look at some of the areas and buildings that will be affected by the new stadiums in Bob's photo gallery When Three Rivers was built, the promise was that the stadium would spur all kinds of development over there on the North Side. Problem was, it never happened. Some blame the fact that the stadium was surrounded by a sea of parking lots, some blame the lousy access to the stadium, and you could probably get an argument from some that just a stadium alone isn't enough to spur development. Whatever the reason, Three Rivers was a pretty dismal failure right from the start -- and what little development did occur over there didn't last long. (Anybody remember the 2001 Disco? It was on General Robinson Street, right across from the WESCO building.) I took a walk around the North Side the other day, from roughly the area proposed for the Steeler's stadium to Federal Street -- where the Bucco stadium will go. There are two sites under consideration for the Steelers' stadium. The team wants to go on the west side of Allegheny Avenue, which is currently a warehouse and some parking for the Science Center. Problem is, the Science Center wants that space for expansion -- and the science guys would like to see the Steelers go where the Kaufmann's warehouse is now, which is closer to the current stadium. (You can see how this all lays out a bit better in my photo gallery. Have you gotten the idea that I want you to go to the photo gallery?) Yeah, it's too late to do anything about it, but is the North Side the right place for the new stadiums? Was there a better location? What effect will the stadiums have on the North Side? These stadiums are the best thing to happen to the 'burgh in a long time! -- Mnmboyd@dmv.com (167.21.10.1) Hey, I thought it should have built it beside Starlake. I'm from Ohio. -- lmaderia (208.250.223.194) pgh. people attitudes have sucked for years. if you don't like the new & improved to pgh.maybe you should move the F OUT! let people from other places move in we 'll be better OFF ! -- m.j. (155.169.102.127) these stadiums will do a lot for pghs. imagine ,from the outside world . it' about time they do something right here .pgh people need to change that poor attitudes & get a grip. at least people in cleveland and othe cities gota better attitude about -- m.j. (155.169.102.127) This city will disolve without these teams -- huah007 (208.157.20.77) Oh well, who is John Galt? -- jkdlee2 (152.163.197.46) this stuff is nice but most of them will go under. people there don't like to spend money to have a good time. -- ksuu (153.37.46.203) The location is perfect. Hate to see 3 Rivers go -- FRANCEAUX (209.44.36.196) It will never fly. No matter what you build Pgh is sill Pgh. The dark steel Town. We still have that image. -- M.E. (206.181.77.34) Can anyone tell me what is wrong with 3 Rivers Stadium that it needs replacing? Wasn't it just built around 1970? Tell me what you think. -- outta-towner (205.217.25.139) Since I wanted to get a look at the whole area, I took a walk on the river trail that winds behind the Science Center and through Clemente Park. Here's a suggestion for the powers that be -- please, for once, don't cut off the river from the development. With some re-working, the new stadiums and whatever else goes in over there could finally open up the waterfront. PNC Park is supposed to bump right up against the river, with long home runs to right field actually plopping into the Allegheny. As it is right now, the river walk along the Allegheny is mostly an unused, ugly stretch of concrete -- open it up and make it more inviting and just watch the riverside cafes pop up. (By the way, during my little walk, the fountain at the Point was actually working! That makes four working days this summer. Thank God we've spent $2 million to repair it -- with apparently more repairs on the way.) As you walk along the river walk, you pass memorials to fallen police officers, Viet Nam vets, the child who was killed during the regatta in 1988, and the future site of a memorial to Korean War vets. As the river walk approaches Sixth Street and the future site of the Pirate stadium, you begin to see some of the buildings that are on their way out. First up is the old WESCO building, which is itself a pretty nondescript brick box, but up until a few weeks ago it was known primarily as the home of those blue neon Westinghouse logos that supposedly never repeated the same pattern twice. Not sure what happened to that sign, although it was rumored to be headed for the Regional History Center. Stay tuned -- I'l try to find out. Also on the hit list are the 3 River's Plaza Apartments (a senior high-rise,) a block of fairly non-exciting shops, the building where I once was interviewed to sell encyclopedias back before I realized I couldn't sell ice water in the desert, and a block of kinda run-down but still pretty neat row-houses. At the risk of sounding redundant, pictures of all of the above can be found in the photo gallery. Ah, memories -- one good, one bad The Sixth Street Bridge, which should be a happenin' place on game days. More photos of the proposed stadium location in Bob's photo gallery. Back to Where's Bob What will get knocked down for the new stadiums? Will the North Side be hip & happenin'?. Finally, as I walked back down General Robinson street towards my car, I walked past Three Rivers itself. I'll be as glad as anyone when that eyesore is knocked down, but I do have a lot of great memories from the place. My mom and dad and I went to a handful of games every year, and those were wonderful. I even went to games during the awful '80's, when the loveable likes of Frobel, DiStefano, Khalifa, Berra, and all the others stunk the joint out. Baseball is fun. (Only managed to score tickets twice to football games though -- plus one time when I marched there as a band geek in 1981.) Walked past Gate B of the stadium and was reminded of one of the most shameful incidents I ever witnessed in Pittsburgh. A few years back I was working at a local radio station, and to pick up some extra cash I would drive the station's van to the games and set up the giant inflatable Steeler's helmet at Gate B. The Steelers played the Indy Colts in the AFC Championship Game in 1994, and I was set up and reading the paper in the van, when a woman who appeared to be about 40 and her 10-year-old daughter walked by. They were wearing Colts jerseys. Now I love Steelers' fans as much as the next guy, but what I saw that day sickened me. Wherever these two people went, they were absolutely showered with garbage and insults -- and I mean they were getting nailed with stuff. I got a look at their faces, and trust me -- they were scared out of their wits. You can just imagine what they had to say about Pittsburgh when they got back to Indy. I'd almost forgotten about that little incident until last week's Pitt-Penn State game, when I had that same feeling as I watched the Pitt students pelt Joe Paterno and the Penn State team with garbage as they exited the stadium. That whole sorry display was a damn good argument for ending that series. We'll see what happens when Pitt plays WVU in Three Rivers in a few weeks. By the way -- have I mentioned there's a photo gallery?