Pair of Immaculate Reception anniversary events canceled in wake of Franco Harris' death

The Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum has canceled its public event Thursday honoring Pittsburgh Steelers great Franco Harris following his death Wednesday.

The program, entitled “Franco Harris and the Immaculate Reception: 50 Years Later” was set to take place at 6:30 p.m.

The sports museum said ticket holders will receive further information via e-mail.

“Since we know that many ticket holders have traveled from out of town to attend this event, the Heinz History Center and Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum will remain open from 5-8 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 22, free of charge for all visitors thanks to event sponsor Jones Day and other anonymous donors,” a museum spokesman said in a statement.

The event was scheduled to involve a panel that included Harris, Hall of Fame defensive lineman Joe Greene, running back “Frenchy” Fuqua, offensive lineman Jon Kolb and Raiders contemporaries Phil Villapiano and Mike Siani.

Another event that is being canceled is a private event that was scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Friday at Stage AE on the North Shore. A screening of the NFL Network documentary “A Football Life: Franco Harris” was planned to be unveiled.

Plans remain in place for the public event Friday at the Immaculate Reception monument on West General Robinson Street between Acrisure Stadium and where Three Rivers Stadium once stood. That event will commence at 3:30 p.m. It will include a radio rebroadcast of the play at 3:41 p.m. — the precise moment of the Immaculate Reception 50 years earlier.

The Steelers also will continue with plans to have Harris’ No. 32 jersey retired at halftime Saturday night of their game against the Las Vegas Raiders.