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An ode to the home of the Pittsburgh Pirates – PNC Park

By Vincent Russo |
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Jul 11, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; General view of the ballpark exterior before the Pittsburgh Pirates play against the St. Louis Cardinals at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

When it comes to sports fans, harmony really isn’t their thing. Getting a large group of passionate people to agree indefinitely on one certain thing can be as possible as the Cardinals finishing last in the National League Central any given year (how do those guys keep winning all the time, anyway?).

But when it comes to the fans of the Pittsburgh Pirates, and fans of baseball really, there is one opinion that seemingly unifies the entire fan base: PNC Park is an absolute gem of a ballpark, and if it is not the best in America, it’s darn close.

Perhaps the Pirates’ own official PNC Park section on their website says it best:

“PNC Park, which opened in spring 2001, is an intimate, classic-style ballpark that embraces the progressiveness of Pittsburgh while saluting the spirit of early ballpark originals. Its prime location along the shore of the Allegheny River takes advantage of scenic vistas of the downtown skyline and riverfront, creating an exciting and dramatic urban sports venue.”

Ask anyone – believe me, I did – and the same comments will surface. The park, which costed a cool 262 million dollars to construct and seats 38,362 fans elicits comments on anything from the picturesque skyline behind the park, to the open and small park feel the large stadium has, to the delicious food available at every level and step of the park. I mean, who doesn’t like French fries and cole slaw on a sandwich? Even outside the park, the atmosphere provides a lot for fans. With Federal Street being closed on game days, fans are able to take a leisurely walk across the Clemente Bridge, showing off the inverse view of PNC Park, with the skyline to your back and the park opening before you, which is just as gorgeous.

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I personally park on Boulevard of the Allies near Point Park University and purposely walk through Market Square on my route to the ballpark. PNC Park wouldn’t be nearly as special were it not for being in America’s most livable city, according to The Economist in 2014. In a place like Pittsburgh, you can walk with a group of strangers wearing the same black and gold colors and feel like you’ve grown up with them. The small town feel that surrounds the city breeds a comfortability that is only natural to compliment baseball, known as the gentleman’s sport.

Inside the stadium, I’ve heard fans marvel at the fact that not one seat in the house featured less than a gorgeous view of the action on the field. In fact, PNC Park is the first two deck designed ballpark in the United States since Milwaukee County Park in 1953. The intimate feel of the large park makes it so that no fan is more than 88 feet from the action at its highest point. It didn’t matter if it was one of my fraternity brothers, a causal acquaintance, or a complete stranger, everyone had these things and more to say about the park.

Heck, on June 13th, against the Philadelphia Phillies, I sat next to a family of Phillies fans who commented on the absolute beauty and comfortability of the ballpark. And while they were from a place that looks down on Pittsburgh as a rival of sorts, they made the same comments.

What really stood out to them was the friendliness that came with taking in a baseball game in Pittsburgh. A big part of the experience at a ballpark is based on the people that are inside it. When it comes to Pittsburgh, their fans are passionate as any others. But when it comes to Pittsburgh Pirates fans, they exude is a small sense of welcoming when it comes to fans of other teams. It is as if they are more than proud to show off the gem of a field that they lay claim to as their home turf. I recently put out a call on social media for folks to share their thoughts on the park. Many chimed in with different tales, different stories, different memories. The one common thread is that PNC Park is a special place to them, in many different ways.

Of course, you don’t have to be a fan to appreciate the best ballpark in baseball.

Next: Pirates employees and local media on PNC Park

Joe Klimchak, the Pirates In-Game Host, had plenty of positive thoughts about what for him is his workplace, and agreed about the fans that fill in to PNC each time the Bucs come home to play.

“Mixing with the fans is the best part of my job. It’s a loyal bunch. Most are very knowledgeable of the game and the team’s history.  As Clint says, ‘love their passion’.”

Klimchak is the MC of all the games, contests, and other fun happenings in between innings that simply add to the already amazing atmosphere at PNC Park. He has seen countless people try in vain to spot the cow, among other contests.

That reminds me, did I mention how entertaining racing pierogis are? When I was young, I could name you those pierogis faster than I could our starting rotation. I blame Chester Cheese for that.

Anyway, Klimchak mentioned a lot about PNC as an employee of the Pirates that a lot of fans had as well.

“Setting aside the beauty of the ballpark, the amazing skyline and the electric atmosphere, I most appreciate seeing all of the warm, smiling faces. The greeters, ushers, cleaning staff, concessionaires, and, of course, the fans. It’s such a comfortable, happy place to be. its home.”

Bill West, one of the three beat writers that covers the Pirates for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, gets to cover the majority of the home games at PNC Park.

When asked what his initial thoughts about PNC Park were, West did not mince words.

“It is a quality baseball stadium in terms of a place where you can sit anywhere in the park and be able to enjoy the park without an obstructed view or an ugly back drop. You can see the game and take it in, but also enjoy the atmosphere from really any vantage point.”

“The beauty of PNC is just, from where I’m sitting inside the press box, the field’s all there, but you do have the city kind of spread out before you beyond it. I think that’s why a lot of people enjoy it. There’s just so much scenery that goes beyond what happens on the diamond,” added West.

What also sets PNC Park apart is that it is, for its beauty and features, still an incredibly economical experience. According to the 2014 Team Marketing Report, the average ticket for a Pirates game at PNC Park is $18.32, which is well under the league average of $27.83 and is good for third cheapest, behind the Padres ($16.37) and Diamondbacks ($17.98).

The park, which costed a cool 262 million dollars to construct and seats 38,362 fans elicits comments on anything from the picturesque skyline behind the park, to the open and small park feel the large stadium has, to the delicious food available at every level and step of the park. I mean, who doesn’t like French fries and cole slaw on a sandwich?

PNC Park also offers the 12th cheapest premium seat prices, with the average ticket price in those sections going for $61.84, while the league average sits at $93.41. The prices at PNC Park for hot dogs, beer, soft drinks (or pop, if you’re a true Pittsburgher) and programs also fall well below league averages.

All of these things alone make PNC Park an incredible place to go on a first date, a family night, or a company picnic. But it hasn’t even been touched that PNC Park houses one of Major League Baseball’s most electrifying and exciting teams. After the first 12 seasons of PNC Park’s existence saw a team that lost more games than it won, the past three years have seen the Pirates go a combined 235-177 (.570 win percentage), including a 135-78 (.633 win percentage) mark at home over that span, including a 2-1 postseason record that includes the thrilling and unforgettable 6-2 win over the Cincinnati Reds in the National League Wild Card game. It was that game that the Pirates blew the game open with back to back to back home runs, helped by the fans arguably getting under Red’s starting pitcher Johnny Cueto’s skin.

It’s true, right now is an incredible time to be a Pittsburgh Pirates fan. The team features one of the premier talents in the game in centerfielder Andrew McCutchen, an up and coming ace in pitcher Gerrit Cole, a foreign superstar in infielder Jung Ho Kang, and two players that epitomize the passion, hustle, and blue collar sense of Pittsburgh in pitcher A.J. Burnett and utility man Josh Harrison.

PNC Park is one of the best ballparks in America in one of the best sports cities in America. While the reasons above paint a picture that shows this in great detail, there are many that were undoubtedly left out, seeing as to every fan, PNC has its own special lure or appeal.

So as I asked countless others, I ask you now: What makes PNC Park special to you?

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