In the tradition of the Beatles' 1965 concert at Shea Stadium and Billy Joel's Yankee Stadium appearance in 1990, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band will christen PNC Park on Aug. 6 with the first musical event at the North Shore baseball field. Springsteen fans have one person to thank for this gift: PNC Park groundskeeper Luke Yoder. "Luke is religious about the field," Pirates owner Kevin McClatchy said Thursday at a press conference announcing the concert. "He wouldn't let us do anything unless he thought we could protect the field. He's the one who gave the us the green light." Springsteen's appearance will be part of the ongoing tour launched last July to support his album "The Rising." Columbus, Ohio, and Cleveland, large markets within driving distance of Pittsburgh, are not currently scheduled for Springsteen shows this summer. ClearChannel Entertainment executives Rich Engler and Ed Traversari credit this show in part to Springsteen's affinity for and history with Pittsburgh. They cited appearances at the Syria Mosque, Stanley Theater and Three Rivers Stadium -- all no longer exist -- and his longtime friendship with local musical legend Joe Grushecky. "I think the biggest show we ever had was one of Bruce's shows at Three Rivers," said Engler, noting a 1985 show that drew more than 60,000 fans. The Aug. 6 show will be limited to about two-thirds of that figure, as organizers expect to be able to shoehorn about 40,000 into PNC Park when stage and light specifications are finalized. Engler admitted that he and Traversari have been eyeing the Pirates' home field as a possible concert venue since it opened in 2001. McClatchy also envisioned hosting a concert at PNC Park, but wanted to wait a few years before committing to any such venture. "I don't think we'll be in competition with ... other venues," he said, "but I can see us doing one or two big concerts a year, because it's a different type of venue than others in the area." Engler said Springsteen's management team has expressed excitement about being the first musical event at PNC Park, noting that they were especially impressed by the park's dynamics and scenic location. McClatchy, who said he is a huge fan of Springsteen, is going to do something he rarely does the night of the concert: miss a Pirates game. On Aug. 6, the Pirates are scheduled to be in San Francisco, an event close to his heart because of its proximity to his hometown of Sacramento. But not that close. "I will be here," McClatchy said, smiling. Additional Information:

Ticket Information

Tickets, $75 and $55, will go on sale at 10 a.m. May 10 via www.cc.com , www.tickets.com or by phone at (877) 848-4099. Tickets also will be available at the PNC Park box office, with an eight-ticket-per-person limit.

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