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The Associated Press After two nationally televised accidents involving spectators at Philadelphia's Veterans Stadium and Pittsburgh's Three Rivers Stadium in as many days, stadium officials are performing additional security checks and promising changes for future games. Three Rivers general manager James Sacco said more security guards will be hired and a popular standing room area may be roped off after a six-foot chunk of stadium wall collapsed late in the fourth quarter of Sunday's Patriots-Steelers game. It was the second time in three years that an end zone retaining wall has crashed loudly onto the field during a Steelers game, and Sacco said rowdy spectators were to blame both times. Eyewitnesses said fans, some apparently intoxicated, charged repeatedly Sunday into a wall running alongside the stadium's main concourse. At least two field-level fans were struck by flying chunks of concrete and steel, but they were not hurt. "You can control the structure, but you can't always control the crowd," Sacco said yesterday. "It almost became an event for them. Our investigation revealed the wall collapse resulted not from structural deficiency but from sustained, deliberate action by fans." Another concrete wall about 100 feet away crumbled onto the field during a Monday night home game in 1996, but no steps were taken to prevent fans from lining up along the concourse during Steelers games. The area is covered by movable grandstands during Pirates games. Now, Sacco said a railing may be erected to keep spectators from standing directly behind the walls. "If there's a railing, they can't bang on the walls," he said. The changes were decided upon after an inspection yesterday by the Pittsburgh Stadium Authority, which regulates the stadium; Spectacor Management, which runs it; and city building inspectors. "[We] will take appropriate action to prevent disruptive and possibly dangerous fan activity at future events," Sacco said. "Accordingly, increased security personnel will be assigned ? for the season's remaining home games and changes to the viewing configuration of that area that may be implemented as well." City Council President Bob O'Connor called for regular inspections, saying, "I'm concerned about the safety of the fans. I sit right next to [the wall], and I don't want any bricks falling on me." However, Sacco insisted the 28-year-old stadium is sound and no problems were reported during the yearly structural integrity test performed last month by an engineering consulting firm, Watson Structural Engineers. The multipurpose stadium has had various problems over the years, including numerous water line breaks, one last week that flooded some Steelers offices. And an angry Steelers fan once drove his car up several flights of stadium ramps late one night to protest the team's play, coming to a stop only when his vehicle plowed into vats of nacho cheese. Despite a design now considered outdated, the stadium is considered to be in good shape compared to those elsewhere of similar age, including Cinergy Field in Cincinnati and Veterans Stadium. Pittsburgh Mayor Tom Murphy wouldn't say if the wall collapse proves the need for two news stadiums in Pittsburgh, deferring all questions to Sacco. Steelers spokesperson Ron Wahl said he "doesn't know if it (the wall collapse) and the need for a new stadium are related, but we do want a new stadium." But Philadelphia Mayor Edward Rendell said a railing collapse that caused a group of students to tumble 15 feet onto the Veterans Stadium turf during Saturday's Army-Navy game illustrates the urgent need for new stadiums. The most seriously injured cadet broke a bone in his neck but is expected to make a full recovery. Last month, the General Assembly spiked legislation to partially fund four new stadiums in the state's two biggest cities, but Gov. Tom Ridge said it will be reintroduced next month. "We need two new stadiums," Rendell said. "If we let the [Eagles and Phillies] leases run to conclusion [in 2011], the Vet will be over 40 years old, which is obviously just inherently dangerous." Veterans Stadium was inspected Sunday, hours after the accident delayed the Army-Navy game, and additional checks were made yesterday. City engineers were investigating to determine what caused the rails to give away. Navy athletic director Jack Lengyel said the condition of Veterans Stadium is "a concern" and West Point spokesman Capt. John Cornelio said it is "something that's going to be addressed." But neither suggested the accident might cause the game to be moved. The Army-Navy game has been played 15 times previously at Veterans Stadium and is scheduled to remain there through 2002.

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