The mayor has expressed his desire for a destination center and first day
attraction and the Cathedral fulfills the idea of destination on several levels.
The Cathedral is conceived as a multiuse space, a religious, concert, and
forum space in program, but also open to all for many other uses. Sports
forums, weddings, highschool convocations, conferences and many other events
will take on new and heightened meaning in this awesome space of golden light.
As a performance space the Cathedral will offer stage hydraulics, lighting, and
a structure which allows suspension of large scale backdrops. The 90 foot doors
which open to the river will provide opportunities in plays and dance
performances for entrances and exits of great and high drama. The large
electronic screens facing the space and the river will allow events from various
parts of the world to be played out here with the presence of the whole valley
seen through the glass walls. The sense of gathering in such a meaningful
setting in the heart of an American city and with the ability to broadcast in or
out electronically via the large screens will make this space part of the world
forum. As can be seen in the business plan for the Cathedral the projected attendance
considering only the Cathedral sponsored events is 595,000 placing it as the
fourth largest draw, following the Pirates, the Zoo, and the Penguins.
The multiuse nature of this building
will bring great inspiration and meaning on Sundays and also enliven the space
with
music and gatherings the other six
days of the week. When events are not occurring the Cathedral will still
remain open
24 hours a day, as a place of
reflection and prayer, a destination point where one ponders the beauty of the
space, the city,
and their ultimate destination.
In considering the
drawing power of such a space by comparison, the Crystal Cathedral in California
has found that more people visit the Cathedral on weekdays than on Sundays and
is building a $40 million visitor��s center to accommodate the 250,000 visitors
they now have and the 500,000 they are projecting for the year 2001. The program
is also televised to 30 million people worldwide each week. As can be seen on
the 7:00AM Channel 11 service, the volume and beauty of the space combined with
the music, the message, and the guest interviews which are part of the uplifting
service draws people and also extraordinary preachers, musicians, choirs,
writers, physicians, and speakers who donate their time and talent to testify
and perform in this space. While much of this talent comes from California,
Pittsburgh can draw from New York and its own gifted populace. The space, the
thoughts and talents expressed, and the music will attract people of character
to the city.
Two of the major events the Cathedral will host are the Christmas and Easter
pageants. Like those performed on a grand scale at the Crystal Cathedral and at
Sight and Sound Theatre in Lancaster, Pa. the pageants will become annual events
in the city and an impetus for visiting. As can be noted in the business plan
the annual projected attendance will be 203,000 with a revenue of $4.5 million.
Combined with other revenue, and allowing for operational costs, the Cathedral
is estimated to operate with a $5 million positive cash flow which after
the building financing is complete, will provide for great and unique
outreach programs as outlined later in the proposal. With these revenues and
visitor impact will come substantial economic benefits to the city and region
with estimated taxes of $2.4 million to the State, $1.3 million to the County,
$384,000 to the RAD, and $1.9 million to the City in taxes and parking revenue.
Through the events and religious services broadcast out and broadcast in from
Rome and other parts of Europe, the Cathedral may provide the visual and
spiritual link to bring the European visitors the Governor desires.