Pirates' Bucco Bricks Fiasco: Team Offers Solution

PITTSBURGH, PA — The Pirates are attempting to correct a public relations fiasco that occurred earlier this year when commemorative bricks paid for by fans in the front of PNC Park were removed without notice.

The team has announced plans to install bronze plaques featuring thousands messages from Pirates fans that originally displayed as part of the Bucco Bricks program along the exterior of the ballpark along West General Robinson Street.

The plaques will be installed on the lower portion of the limestone façade, according to the final design that Pirates president Travis Williams presented to the Sports & Exhibition Authority (SEA) of Pittsburgh on Thursday. The plan was developed in consultation with architect and urban planner Janet Marie Smith, who also worked with the Pirates on a multitude of other enhancements to PNC Park in recent years.

The authority approved the Pirates’ plan, which will be reviewed with the City of Pittsburgh’s Arts Commission later this month.

“We know how important these messages and memories are to our fans,” Williams said in a statement.

“This plan accomplishes our stated goal of improving upon the permanence of the display while maintaining the essence of the original program. We believe we have developed a solution for these messages that will stand the test of time, and the passion and dedication of our fans will remain a permanent fixture at PNC Park.”