Rich Engler leans back in his chair in his Penn Avenue office and ponders another first in his career. The East Deer native is about to help Pittsburgh usher in yet another new concert era. When Heinz Field opens for the first event in its history Saturday, the 'N Sync mega concert, Engler, as the show's promoter, will be one of the principals behind the scenes ensuring that everything goes smoothly. 'N Sync also performed the final concert in Three Rivers Stadium last summer. It was Engler who, early in his career, staged the first free rock concert on Flagstaff Hill in Oakland. It was Engler who, with partner Pat DiCesare, bought the then Stanley Theatre (now the Benedum) and turned it into a place for a lot of musical memories for local residents. One of the first major rock concerts in Three Rivers Stadium was a DiCesare-Engler presentation. The final two last summer also were Engler's. Before there was a Star Lake Amphitheatre, there was Engler's I.C. Light Amphitheatre on Pittsburgh's South Side. The former Creighton resident does not take this most recent 'first' for granted. 'It's an honor to be involved in this new venture. It's great to be part of history, and it's a great family show, a fun show, to bring in,' Engler says. 'This opens up the door for other type of events, including concerts and festivals.' While the $29.50 seats are sold-out, tickets ($45.50 and $65.50) still are expected to be available Saturday at the box office. Stadium shows have a unique magic, says Ed Traversari, Engler's associate. 'It's fortunate the Steelers have graciously agreed to allow shows to be played in there,' he says. 'Stadium shows are unique. It's nice that a lot of young kids going to concerts are getting to experience it.' Traversari says amphitheater shows have a unique appeal, as well, and Pittsburgh is fortunate to have these venues. 'But I always thought stadium shows have a special ring to them, especially with a younger crowd. They are a little more open to the largeness of the shows.' The availability of a stadium keeps Pittsburgh on the concert map for major tours, says Jimmy Sacco, Heinz Field's general manager, the same position he had at Three Rivers Stadium. 'Heinz Field was built with the idea of doing shows here on a regular basis,' he says. 'It will rank right up there in terms of other facilities across the nation.' Because he won't be scheduling around 81 home baseball games, as he had to do at Three Rivers Stadium, there will be many more dates open to host large-scale and smaller shows, he adds. 'At Three Rivers, we had to turn down shows because of conflicts with baseball,' he explains.
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