Civic Arena Dome: Open During Demolition

Pixburgh, PA

Civic Arena open dome during demolition

This is the last time we will ever have the chance to see beyond the retractable roof of the Civic Arena. Since the onset of this situation, many have questioned why the arena sat there many years without having the dome opened. There is an entire generation (or two) of Pittsburghers that probably didn’t even believe it was possible. It doesn’t really matter at this point, just enjoy it while it lasts.

This photo was taken from the top of the Steel Building.
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Poll: Top 5 Dark Knight Memories in Batburgh

Thank you Batman! From Boring Pittsburgh

This is what the ad should have looked like

Like Batman returning to the world of Bruce Wayne, Pittsburgh has removed the Gotham City mask and life is back to normal. City roads have been reopened, the fake snow has been carried to the landfills, and Haddad’s trucks are back at the base. In other words, the Burgh is back to being boring for the time being.

Dear Mr. Christopher Nolan, thank you for making this the most exciting summer in Pittsburgh and for not being a jagoff about our incessant urge to share spy shots with Batman fans around the world.
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Steel Town aka Still I Rise, Now Filming (pics!)

"Steel Town" aka "Still I Rise" filming on location in Pittsburgh 5/23/2011

"Steel Town" aka "Still I Rise" filming on location in Pittsburgh. Base Camp at Civic Arena!

Steel Town begins filming in Pittsburgh today. So far the second out of three films that are calling the Burgh home this summer. It has been a lot of fun tracking the Perks of Being a Wallflower crew, and Batman will be here before we know it.

As if it isn’t cool enough that Pittsburgh is the Hollywood of the East, it also happens to be the setting of a few of the stories. “Steel Town” will be based on an inner-city Pittsburgh school! Perks was written by a Pittsburgher and takes place here too. Remember when Russell Crowe was in town with The Next Three Days? That movie also took place in the 412.

The Burgh is on the map.

Thanks to Steel Town, Pittsburgh will host stars like Holly Hunter, Oscar Isaac (Robin Hood), Viola Davis (Doubt), and director Daniel Barnz (Beastly). Another name we’re all familiar with, Maggie Gyllenhaal (The Dark Knight). Her brother Jake was here back in 2009 and he was awesome! Will she love Pittsburgh as much as her bro? Will she get her own Steelers tramp stamp?
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Batman Says Suck It, Pittsburgh!

Batman blowing up the Civic Arena in Pittsburgh - by DJ Coffman

Inside dope… more rumors!

Here’s a little post-it doodle I did at Pittsburgh Comicon last weekend. There were location scouts and casting people inside The Con floating around, one guy I remembered from Chicago filming (and seeing him at Chicago Comicon for sure), so I asked about the rumor and he said that an offer WILL be made that “they won’t refuse” to not only take the Mellon down, but pay for the entire cleanup and removal way faster than the city could do it.

KDKA may have debunked the rumors for now, but we’ll have to wait until this summer to see what goes down with the Igloo when Batman: The Dark Knight Rises turns the Burgh into Gotham City.
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Batman Not Going to Explode the Igloo?

The rumors about Batman filming in Pittsburgh are 100% true, but rumors about why are (supposedly) 100% false. According to a report by KDKA’s Jon Delano, the Pittsburgh Film Office and the SEA are denying any connection between the removal of the vacant arena and Batman: The Dark Knight Rises.

That means we will not be seeing an exploding Civic Arena scene in the movie.

Yes, the story went viral. No, it might not be true. But if Pittsburgh intends on calling itself “Hollywood of the East,” we’d better loosen up and get used to it. Rumors make up an entire industry in the real Hollywood.
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