MAPACA

Mid-Atlantic Popular &
American Culture Association

This research will trace the historic progression relative to construction of two iconic sports venues: Forbes Field which was unveiled in 1909 and Forbes Field which was introduced to Pittsburgh in 1970. Forbes Field, the first professional ballpark to exceed the one million dollar construction cost threshold, served to change the sports landscape in profound ways. Among them was an appeal to attracting a more affluent, upscale audience, while its construction was centered on efficiency, specialization, and engineering expertise, all elements of a national move to industrial efficiency, of which Pittsburgh was a focal point. Forbes Field was regarded as a highly advanced engineering marvel at its unveiling. On the other hand, Three Rivers Stadium was not particularly unique from an architectural standpoint. It was part of a broader move to circular “all-purpose” stadia that was replicated in multiple cities. Nevertheless, one unique aspect of Three Rivers Stadium was a profound focus on civil rights demonstrations at the construction site as this structure began to take shape. The stadium site was often the center of civil rights protests that unfolded as part of the broader American civil rights movement during the 1960s and 1970s. This study will use primary documents from the first decade of the 20th Century and the 1960s and 1970s to compare and contrast what unfolded during each construction period. In addition, interview content from those involved in the Pittsburgh demonstrations during the civil rights movement will add further depth to the analysis. It is hoped that this research will offer tangible evidence of cultural changes that unfolded in Pittsburgh during the 20th Century. I am unaware of any single study that has compared and contrasted the construction of these two unique and iconic Pittsburgh sports venues, so I hope to have the opportunity to present.