Pittsburgh Olympics? (State College, Washington, Duquesne: construction, college, airport)

[JoeP]

The airport can handle all of the traffic and more - it was built to handle something like 40-50 million people.

However, none of that matters without the actual flights and they wouldn't change all that much.
Also the games would require a lot more hotel rooms than the area has.
Also important is the ability to have facilities/locations for events and I can't see anywhere to place a new dedicated stadium.

If they could pull one off, the smaller winter games would be a smarter move.

As for Chicago, it didn't lose its bid because it couldn't handle it or is not a good enough city, it's because this is a global thing and the US has hosted a lot and Rio was "due."

[Blackbeauty212]

Please Pittsburgh doesn't have the Transportation or the Infrastructure to deal that amount of People....The Parkway West would be a huge conga line (not that it isn't already) from the Airport into the City 24/7....with PAT's death spiral...LOL...FORGET IT

Pittsburgh needs to get its Transportation crisis solved first.

[UKyank]

Lack of adequate hotel rooms alone would nix things

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by Hopes

Someone should have told Atlanta that they were supposed to represent US culture, not southern culturer.

Although if you ask people in Georgia to represent non-Southern U.S. culture, you'd probably end up with a bunch of people in latte costumes getting gay married to readings from the Communist Manifesto.

[AaronPGH]

Originally Posted by Blackbeauty212

The Parkway West would be a huge conga line (not that it isn't already) from the Airport into the City 24/7

This is an amazing mental image.

[ForYourLungsOnly]

the US won't host a summer olympics for a while...Chicago didn't get it because the US already had it not long before...it had nothing to do with "Chicago vs Rio". With that said..if Atlanta's transit system couldn't handle the crowds, a crumbling PAT would be an absolute DISASTER. I'm sure they would obviously increase transit frequency for the Olympics...but it's not like PAT can afford to do that even now, let alone for a summer Olympics crowd. There are not enough accommodations in the city (hotels, venues, etc.) There really isn't enough room. Period. If/when a US city gets the summer again in the near/semi near future, It should be somewhere like Chicago, Philadelphia, Boston, SF..or even somewhere in the Pacific Northwest.

[MathmanMathman]

Originally Posted by Mr. Mon

Except Atlanta couldn't effectively handle it.
There was little preparation for the high heat and humidity;

Surprisingly, that summer, the heat wasn't that bad. And Atlanta's altitude is around 1,000 feet. The humidity isn't that bad like it would be for a coastal city.

the MARTA was completely overwhelmed and inadequate for the crowds;

It did ok. A lot of buses were used from other cities like...Pittsburgh.

the distances between venues was a massive hassle;

Granted that they weren't concentrated in one area like it was with Barcelona.

and the fully chromed pick-up trucks and cheerleaders in the opening ceremonies were just embarrassing.

Note to Pittsburgh: scratch chromed pickup trucks and cheerleaders.

[MathmanMathman]

Originally Posted by JoeP

Also the games would require a lot more hotel rooms than the area has.

In Atlanta, a lot of people rented out their homes. It doesn't have to be all hotel rooms.

Also important is the ability to have facilities/locations for events and I can't see anywhere to place a new dedicated stadium.

As I said, I'd focus on the universities because they can use the "left over" infrastructure. And Pittsburgh does have a concentration of universities.

If they could pull one off, the smaller winter games would be a smarter move.

The only question I would have, is there a good place for Olympic caliber downhill skiing?

As for Chicago, it didn't lose its bid because it couldn't handle it or is not a good enough city, it's because this is a global thing and the US has hosted a lot and Rio was "due."

Definitely. Chicago can do it. It's more a matter of world politics.

[MathmanMathman]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

Although if you ask people in Georgia to represent non-Southern U.S. culture, you'd probably end up with a bunch of people in latte costumes getting gay married to readings from the Communist Manifesto.

So who is stereotyping who?

[Rodeno]

Originally Posted by MathmanMathman

There was an old story back in 2000 about Pittsburgh considering putting in a bid for the Summer Olympics.

How about it? Olympics 2020 in Pittsburgh?

My gut reaction is...no. But if Pittsburgh were to make it a long term goal...what would it need?

The airport, if parts are not scheduled for demolition, probably could handle the traffic. But a rail line to move people to downtown would be a good idea.

Where should it be? I'm inclined to follow the Atlanta model and build facilities at Pitt, CMU, Duquesne, Carlow U, and Chatham U. Athletic venues and dorms can be put to use after the games. Shoot, you probably could even build housing for visitors on the campuses as hotel space is very limited that can be converted to dorm space afterwards. And in which case, any rail line from the airport should go up through the Oakland area.

Consol Energy is located in the right area for some venues, David L Lawrence could be used too. As the story suggests, I guess the rivers could be used for rowing?



Erie could get involved for the sailing venues.

The Olympic stadium would be a problem as it pretty big and really has little use outside of the Olympics. Atlanta converted its stadium into Turner Field. Maybe it could be converted to give Pitt its own stadium again? Nothing like having your own field and giving Oakland back its Pitt tailgating.

It could be a great catalyst to transform Oakland and the surrounding areas and leave the universities with a lot more infrastructure.

And could Pittsburgh host the Winter Olympics or are the skiing venues not up to that standard?

A rail line from the Airport would be a must and better busing... Also, where would you build a stadium in Oakland...