An investigation into the removal of the Bucco Bricks conducted on behalf of the Pittsburgh Sports and Exhibition Authority revealed that the Pirates were provided options to either preserve the bricks or give them back to fans who originally purchased them, but elected to discard them in a Reserve Township recycling facility.

"Rather than being treated as construction debris, careful steps were taken, and project funds were expended, to salvage and preserve the Bucco Bricks either for reinstallation or for a return of them to the fans who had purchased them," the report reads. "The Pirates rejected both of those options and opted instead to discard them."

The report also determined that no public funds were used for the disposal of the Bucco Bricks. The only expenditure of project funds was to salvage and preserve the bricks, a service conducted by contractor P.J. Dick. The bricks were removed, placed on pallets segregated by year and the pallets were shrink-wrapped to protect the bricks before being placed in the possession of the team.

"After the commemorative pavers were palletized and shrink-wrapped, P.J. Dick coordinated with Pirates personnel for the Pirates to take possession of the palletized bricks. This was sometimes accomplished through text messages. Pirates’ employees then moved the palletized bricks from the sidewalk area and placed them outside of the nearest ballpark entry gate. Pirates’ employees later relocated the pallets to inside the entry gates (i.e., to areas no longer on the construction site). Upon completion of the project, Pirates’ employees relocated the pallets to the main concourse to facilitate their removal. After the Pirates took possession of the palletized pavers, P.J. Dick had no further involvement with them. In total, approximately thirty-two (32) pallets were generated, delivered to the Pirates, and stored by the Pirates before their eventual disposal by the Pirates," the report reads. "It was the Pirates, not the SEA or any of its contractors, that made the decision to dispose of the Bucco Bricks. The Pirates engaged Michael Brothers, a local hauling and recycling company, to pick up, transport and dispose of the pavers at its recycling facility in Reserve Township. The pickups occurred on March 31, April 1 and April 2, 2025. The total cost of the removal, transport, and disposal was invoiced to, and paid by, the Pirates." 

Back on April 16, the Pirates offered commemorative replica bricks to those who participated in the program, while plans for a new "permanent" display are being finalized. Pirates president Travis Williams also stated back then that the original messages on all of the bricks will return to PNC Park.