Steelers Shed Plan Slow Going

The long-evolving plan to build an amphitheatre across from Heinz Field, home to the Pittsburgh Steelers, is again on hold while team officials and the developer seek a time extension to complete the project.

The Steelers and Ohio-based Continental Real Estate Co. are said to be seeking a three-year extension from the Stadium Authority board to complete a brick courtyard that is part of the $10 million North Shore complex where the proposed shed would be built.

The delay is reportedly because of a cut in state funding from $4 million to $2.5 million. However, officials have said the entertainment facility would be completed by 2010 as agreed, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Chairwoman Debbie Lestitian reportedly questioned the request for the delay.

“It’s kind of funny to say they don’t have the money in a year when the Steelers won the Super Bowl,” she was quoted as saying. “They probably made that in concessions and things.”

The Stadium Authority board has yet to set a date to discuss the request. The board would also need to review the final design, the paper said.