Latest news with #BuccoBricks
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Investigation finds Pirates promised to take care of Bucco Bricks, but instead threw them out
Pirates fans who purchased a 'Bucco Brick' over 20 years ago recently found out that the commemorative bricks they paid for were destroyed. Lifelong Pirates fan Tom Crombie says his 'Bucco Brick' was a heartfelt way he and his family honored his late father every time they visited PNC Park. 'So we'd always see it. It was right behind Willie Stargell out in left field in the right hand corner,' Crombie said. 'I knew exactly where it was. We'd go there, I'd have people send me pictures of it like 'oh, look who's brick we was your dad's!'' Crombie is one of some 10,000 people who bought Bucco Bricks, never thinking that these commemorative and personalized bricks would end up in a Reserve Township recycling facility some 20 years later. 'It's just a disappointing action by them in a world where they're struggling to have popularity in Pittsburgh, and I think they need to do everything they possibly can to keep fans,' Crombie said. The Sports and Exhibition Authority of Pittsburgh, or 'SEA,'- which owns and operates PNC Park, launched an independent investigation into the excavation and disposal of the Bucco Bricks. The findings were released Thursday. The report says removing the bricks was part of a sidewalk replacement project funded by a state grant. The SEA's report says it was told that special care would be taken to salvage the Bucco Bricks. The SEA says it was the Pirates who made the decision to dispose of them. 'After 25 years, the sidewalks around PNC Park represented a safety risk and were in desperate need of repair, this included the Bucco Bricks,' Pirates spokesperson Brian Warecki said. 'The way in which we communicated and handled the replacement of those bricks was flat out wrong. That has been well documented at this point and something we, the Pirates, take sole and total responsibility for and are working hard to make right.' The Pirates have opened up a website, offering fans who previously had Bucco Brick the opportunity to get a complimentary commemorative brick. 'Really let down by the Pirates,' Crombie said about the situation. 'You know I can put up with them not spending money and you know not making the playoffs all the time, cause my son and I enjoy going to the game so much, but that was the first time that I really was falling out of love with the Pirates.' The Pirates also say a new permanent display at PNC Park will include all the original messages from the Bucco Bricks. We're told they're finalizing those plans and will share them later this season. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
CBS News
15-05-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
Bucco Bricks investigation reveals Pirates "opted to discard them," Pittsburgh Sports & Exhibition authority says
An independent investigation into the ongoing saga surrounding Bucco Bricks, PNC Park, and the Pittsburgh Pirates found the team was given options for saving the commemorative bricks, but chose instead to get rid of them. The Pittsburgh Sports and Exhibition Authority released its findings Thursday, saying in part that a plan was presented to the team to either keep the bricks or give them back to fans, but the team declined. "Rather than being treated as construction debris, careful steps were taken and project funds were expended to salvage and preserve the Bucco Bricks either for reinstallation or for a return of them to the fans who had purchased them," the report read. "The Pirates rejected both of those options and opted instead to discard them." What are Bucco Bricks? Prior to the opening of PNC Park in 2001, the Pirates offered fans the opportunity to purchase commemorative, personalized bricks that were laid outside of the stadium's home plate entrance. In September 2024, the Pittsburgh Sports and Exhibition Authority approved a sidewalk replacement project outside of PNC Park. During the project, the construction company P.J. Dick removed the bricks, with instructions not to treat them as construction debris. the Bucco Bricks were set aside then shrink-wrapped on a pallet. In total, 32 pallets of bricks were handed over to the Pirates, and the construction company continued with the sidewalk replacement project, the report stated. When the project was completed in March of this year, fans started asking questions about their missing Bucco Bricks. Bucco Bricks spotted at recycling facility Then, last month, the bricks were found at a recycling facility. Pictures and videos sent to KDKA-TV showed Bucco Bricks being brought to facilities, including one in Reserve Township, where building materials are brought to be recycled. (Photo: Provided) It was the conclusion of a long push by fans demanding answers to where their cherished keepsakes had gone. "Unbelievable. That's unbelievable," said fan Mark Robinson. "We bought those bricks. That's my brick. I mean, my daughter's name is literally on the brick. It's mine, and they just got rid of it. It's awful." Pirates owner Bob Nutting apologizes to fan As the story continued to unfold, one fan told KDKA-TV he received a personal email from team owner Bob Nutting, apologizing for the way the situation was handled. "I think he took it as a shock, just like everyone else did," Brian Carothers said. "It was an apology email, saying he was embarrassed by how the situation was handled with the Bucco Bricks." (Photo: KDKA) In the email, Nutting said he saw Carothers' interview with KDKA-TV and wanted to reach out to him. He added he would have supported selling the bricks to him if possible. Nutting said the images of the bricks "carelessly tossed aside" were a mistake, disrespectful, and offered his apologies. In response, the team has now offered free replica bricks to fans as a sign of goodwill. "I know how meaningful the messages and tributes are. We respect that. We appreciate that," Pirates President Travis Williams wrote in a letter. "We are, and have always been, absolutely committed to ensuring these special messages and tributes live on permanently at PNC Park." Bucco Bricks investigation launched At the April 10 board meeting of the Pittsburgh Sports and Exhibition Authority, it was decided that an independent investigation would be conducted into the removal and disposal of the bricks. The report, released Thursday, detailed how the bricks came to be disposed of. "The Pirates have stated that reinstalling the pavers was not a viable long-term option because, over time, they would become a tripping hazard and would need to be replaced again," the report read. It also found that no public funds were used to dispose of the commemorative bricks. "The only expenditure of project funds was to salvage and preserve the bricks," it said. "Specifically, P.J. Dick was paid $13,500 for performing that service." In total, the investigation found that contract documents and specifications of the project were prepared on the Pittsburgh Sports and Exhibition Authority's behalf to "salvage, preserve, and deliver the Bucco Bricks to the Pirates." The full report can be found at this link. We have reached out to the Pirates for comment and will update this story once we receive a response.
CBS News
16-04-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
Pirates to offer owners of "Bucco Bricks" a free replica of their keepsake
In an open letter to Pirates fans, Pirates President Travis Williams announced a new program from the team to the owners of "Bucco Bricks", the chance to get a complimentary replica of their brick. "I know how meaningful the messages and tributes are. We respect that. We appreciate that," Williams wrote in his letter. "We are, and have always been, absolutely committed to ensuring these special messages and tributes live on permanently at PNC Park." The Pirates are offering the replica bricks after the removal and planning of a new, permanent display that will showcase the original messages that were printed on the bricks. According to the team, this is the third time they have had to replace the bricks due to cracking, wear and tear, and uneven surface areas. Williams' letter went on to say that the team has expedited the process to develop a new display. "My hope is that, through our actions, you will be assured that we appreciate you and we care about you," Williams wrote. To get one of the replicas, the original donors can go to this link and fill out a form to get their commemorative brick. After questions from fans about where their commemorative bricks had gone after being removed early this year, KDKA-TV had been sent several pictures and videos of the bricks at a recycling facility in Reserve Township . "Unbelievable. That's unbelievable," said Mark Robinson at the time. "We bought those bricks. That's my brick. I mean, my daughter's name is literally on the brick. It's mine, and they just got rid of it. It's awful." Following the news of the bricks being sent to a recycling facility, one owner of one of the bricks offered to purchase them from the facility to get them back to their rightful owners. "These are just people who want to get in touch with the memories they have about baseball. The ones who helped them fall in love with baseball, and we can facilitate it," Brian Carothers said. As the fever pitch continued to rise from fans and Bucco Bricks owners, the Pirates' owner, Bob Nutting, responded to Carothers . In the email, Nutting said he saw Carothers' interview with KDKA-TV and wanted to reach out to him. He added he would have supported selling the bricks to him if possible. Nutting said the images of the bricks "carelessly tossed aside" were a mistake, disrespectful, and offered his apologies. The Pirates have not yet released plans for what the new, more permanent display will be, where it will be located, or what it will include.
CBS News
11-04-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Westmoreland Cultural Trust removes bricks from in front of Palace Theater, lets patrons know ahead of time
In the wake of all the drama surrounding the Pirates, PNC Park, and the "Bucco Bricks" , the Westmoreland Cultural Trust has a message for its patrons. "Your bricks are safe." The trust removed commemorative bricks during a recent renovation in front of the Palace Theater. A line of bricks in front of the theater was all personalized. Some were memorials to those who enjoyed going to the theater, but recently they were removed. Unlike the bricks at PNC Park, of which many ended up in a dumpster , the bricks that were removed in front of the Palace Theater are being repurposed for something even more significant. The Westmoreland Cultural Trust put those commemorative bricks in several years ago, but eventually made the decision to remove them after patrons kept tripping on them. It's a sensitive issue after the reports of what happened at PNC Park, especially since owners of the Bucco Bricks were not told what was happening. "They made another big mistake; they shouldn't have done that," said Ryan Smith. To get ahead of any potential concern regarding the brick, the trust issued a statement on their Facebook page, saying, "Every single brick has been saved, including those that were damaged. We're currently exploring meaningful ways to repurpose them somewhere outside the theater so they remain a visible and valued part of our legacy." According to those whom we spoke with, the Westmoreland Cultural Trust's idea of repurposing the bricks is a good call. "They could do something with it in the courthouse, maybe put it in the square or something, maybe a small sculpture, put them on the ground here," Smith said. "[They could] build a wall like they did [with] the Vietnam wall close to it," added Henry Padlo. Regardless of what they do, people are at least pleased they let them know it was happening.
CBS News
10-04-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
Pirates fan asked to remove bag from his head during game, team cites safety reasons
A Pirates fan hoping to send a silent but clear message about the state of the team was forced to remove the bag he was wearing on his head, prompting the team to explain why the symbolic gesture isn't allowed for safety reasons. Frustrated by the play on the field, the Clemente logo removal, and the Bucco Bricks disappearance, season-ticket holder Tom Lohr decided to wear a brown paper bag on his head to Wednesday's game. "It sends a message that wearing a bag on our head that we're proud to be Pirates fans but were embarrassed of the product on the field and how the team's been run," Lohr said. "For me, it represented a nice, peaceful, silent protest." During the third inning, a ballpark staff member told Lohr that he'd either have to take off the bag or leave. He took off the bag. "I asked him why, and he said, 'there's a no mask policy at the ballpark," Lohr said, explaining it prompted him to check the ballpark's rules online. "There are a lot of rules, but none that say anything about masks." A Pirates spokesperson told KDKA-TV that it is an unwritten rule that fans aren't allowed to cover their entire heads at the ballpark, explaining that it's a rule that's common at sports venues across the country. The rule has been in place for years, and is the reason the Pirates don't let people in with Halloween masks or any other non-religious full face coverings. "This [rule] is for the safety and comfort of all our other guests," the Pirates spokesperson said. "While this incident certainly seems innocent enough, the problem with someone's face being covered is that it prevents security from identifying fans in the event of a safety emergency." It's the lack of a publicly available policy that left Lohr coming to a different conclusion. "I'm thinking... he just doesn't want me to have my bag on my head, because it tells the world that Pirates fans are embarrassed of the product that's on the field," Lohr said. But, the Pirates say that's not the case and that they have gone to great lengths to ensure even the most frustrated fans can have their say. "I'd say if you don't want someone wearing a bag over their face, be honest, be sincere, have some authenticity about managing a team that's successful," said fan Stephen Erskine outside of the ballpark Wednesday. On Opening Day, the Pirates did not toss out of the ballpark the group of fans who followed and berated team owner Bob Nutting. "We appreciate the passion of our fans and respect the ways in which they express that passion both in good times and bad," The Pirates spokesperson said. Lohr is hoping other fans join him at a future game, wearing bags like him. "In some cases, these face coverings can be scary and concerning to other guests, especially families," the Pirates spokesperson added.
