PNC Park - Pittsburgh Pirates

Photos by Lloyd Brown, Stadium Journey

Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.14

PNC Park 115 Federal St Pittsburgh, PA 15212

Pittsburgh Pirates website PNC Park website

Year Opened: 2001 Capacity: 38,747

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Baseball in the ‘Burgh

The Pittsburgh Pirates are one of the oldest franchises in major league baseball, as they were founded in 1881 as the Pittsburgh Allegheny’s. They are unique in the baseball world in that they have never relocated from their city of origin. PNC Park serves as the fifth home for the franchise since those early days.

PNC Park opened in 2001 just down the street from its previous home at Three Rivers Stadium. It is one of the smaller MLB ballparks by capacity at 38,747. PNC Park is also an “old school” ballpark as it features a natural grass playing surface. Featuring archways and materials like stone, steel, and brick, the structure embraces a classic architectural style.

Food & Beverage 5

Most people would not say that Pittsburgh is a “foodie” town. However, the food and beverage program at PNC Park will convince you otherwise. While the stadium favorites are always present, it is well worth your time to check out the concession stands featuring foods that are unique to the melting pot of populations that live in the Pittsburgh area.

Some of the more popular stands in the park are Primanti Brothers, Manny’s BBQ, Deli Dogs, Ballpark Burgers, Cannonball Burger, Nachorita, Chicken on the Hill, and Chickie and Pete’s. Several of these outlets are in a food court set up known as Pop’s (Pirate superstar Willie Stargell’s nickname) Plaza. Fans place their orders at a centralized kiosk, then pick up their food at the appropriate food counter.

Drinking establishments are also well represented at the ballpark. The Miller Lite Landing is located atop the right field wall, with a two-level bar offering more than 40 beers on tap. Several breweries have stands at PNC Park, including Great Lakes Brewing Company, the Fat Head Bullpen Bar, and the Brew Kettle. Many of the drinking establishments are open to the field, so you will not miss much of the action on the diamond.

PNC Park is unique in that it allows outside food to be brought into the ballpark. It must be in single-serve portions in a clear plastic container. No alcohol or sodas may be brought into the park.

Atmosphere 4

While PNC Park is one of the smaller ballparks as far as seating capacity, it more than makes up for it as far as the setting it provides for fans to watch the game. The park is nestled along the banks of the Allegheny River, with picture postcard views of the Pittsburgh skyline and the many bridges that link the North Shore with the downtown area over the center and left field walls. The ballpark is physically connected to the downtown area by the appropriately named Roberto Clemente Bridge. Thankfully, the large video board for PNC Park is in left field, so it will not interfere with your views of the river or the downtown area

Neighborhood 4

The home of the Pirates is the North Shore District of Pittsburgh. The ballpark’s neighbors include the North Shore Tavern, Burgatory and Foundry Table and Tap. The ballpark is also close to the Strip District, with its nice mix of restaurants shops and wellness centers, as well several cultural facilities such as theatres and museums.

Football fans may be interested in taking a tour of Acrisure Stadium, the home of the NFL’s Pittsburgh Steelers, as it is located just down General Robinson Street from PNC Park.

There are two museums with close ties to the Pirates located just across the Roberto Clemente Bridge from the ballpark. The Roberto Clemente Museum and the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum in the Heinz History Center both feature exhibits related to the hometown team. Sports fans interested in contemporary art may be interested in visiting the Andy Warhol Museum located just a few blocks from PNC Park on the North Shore.

Fans 4

Pittsburgh fans share a similarity with other northern sports franchises located along bodies of water. Games early in the season require dedicated fans and a heavy coat. The Pirates have not been deep into the playoffs in several years, and attendance drops quite a bit after Labor Day. The smaller crowds do not affect the enthusiasm level, as Pirate fans are quite loyal and always look forward to “next year.”

Fans from other markets don’t realize that Pittsburgh is the smallest market in the MLB. The Pirate organization doubles down by building great relationships with its fans in making each game experience a positive one, through quality vendors, unusual offerings such as the children’s play area and through community involvement for local charitable organizations.

PNC Park offers a very special area for its younger customers just behind the right field walls of the field. The Family Fun Zone features cartoon versions of the Pirate Parrot, a pint-sized athletic field, a climbing area, and an area for prospective sports announcers to try out their verbal skills.

Access 4

Getting to a Pirates game is very easy, as there are multiple ways to reach PNC Park. There are several parking lots/garages along General Robinson Street just outside of the ballpark, with more than 10,000 parking spaces. The free PRT light rail system has a station (North Side Station) just outside of the Home Plate entrance to PNC Park.

Event parking near PNC Park includes the North Shore Garage or Red Lot #6, both of which are on General Robinson Street.

There are 10 entry gates into the ballpark, but several provide limited access to areas such as the club/private box level or for season ticket holders only.

Gates open 90 minutes before the first pitch on weekends and one hour before the first pitch on weeknights. Concourses in the park are wide, and you should not have much problem in reaching your seats.

When the call of nature reaches you, there are 18 men’s restrooms and 20 women’s restrooms.

Return on Investment 4

Attending a Pirates game at PNC Park is relatively inexpensive compared with most MLB teams. Parking at the North Shore Garage is $20 on game nights, and Red Lot #6 on General Robinson Street is $40 on game nights. You may find cheaper parking near the ballpark by using the Spot Hero app. The PRT light rail system delivers you right to the stadium at a price that’s hard to beat, as it is free within the downtown zones.

The Pirates use dynamic pricing for their tickets. This means weekend games and games against popular opponents will cost more than weekday games or games against less significant opponents. Ticket prices are also determined by where in the ballpark you choose to sit.

Ticket prices range from $15 to $40 based on these factors. The cheapest seats in the house are $13-$25 and are in the upper deck/outfield. Seats in the lower-level infield cost $30-$60 and Club level seating runs $70-$150. PNC Park partners with StubHub as its preferred third-party ticket vendor. You may find cheaper tickets on the secondary market.

The concession prices at PNC Park can vary a great deal. You will find some real bargains at the generic stands, while you can expect much higher prices for the items at the more specialized stands featured at the park.

All purchases at PNC Park are done on a cashless basis. ATMs in the ballpark will provide charge cards in exchange for cash.

Extras 4

One extra goes to having the backdrop of the Downtown Pittsburgh skyline just beyond the outfield walls. Unlike most other MLB ballpark, the home team dugout at PNC Park is on the third base side of the field. The Pirates get to enjoy the views of the Downtown Pittsburgh skyline.

The character races at Pirates games feature a competition between different flavored pierogis.

The area between the Riverwalk and the stadium is filled with large colorful versions of the team’s retired numbers for their elite players of the past.

There are four statues of Pirate elites spread around the exterior of PNC Park. They are Honus Wagner (home plate gate), Roberto Clemente (center field gate), Willie Stargell (left field gate), and Bill Mazeroski (right field gate).

Final Thoughts

Pittsburgh has one of the longest histories with baseball of any city in the country. Attending a game at PNC Park is a great way to celebrate the greats of the game (Wagner, Mazeroski, Stargell, and Clemente) who played their entire careers in the Steel City.