Fight between PNC Park employee, Pirates fan sums up Pittsburgh's start to 2025

It's only May, but the Pittsburgh Pirates have already found themselves embroiled in more than a season's worth of off-field controversies in 2025.

The latest such controversy involved a game day employee at PNC Park engaging in a physical altercation with a fan during the Pirates' 4-0 loss to the San Diego Padres on Sunday. According to a report from KDKA TV News, the fan and his friend had been harassing a female concessions worker and the employee intervened, moving the two men away from her.

The employee and the fan proceeded to get into a heated argument, during which the employee tried to walk away from the incident. However, the fan continued to pester the employee, and the employee ultimately began throwing punches. Bystanders and employees attempted to intervene and break up the fight, but the fan then spit on the employee, which led the employee to take off his belt and hit the fan with it.

"We are aware of the unfortunate incident that occurred following the conclusion of yesterday's game between a PNC Park game day employee and a guest," Pirates Senior Vice President of Communications Brian Warecki wrote in a statement to KDKA TV News. "The employee's behavior was entirely unacceptable, and he was immediately suspended. This incident is currently under further investigation."

KDKA TV News also reported that the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police were at the scene of the fight. However, since no charges have been filed, Pittsburgh Police are not currently involved in the investigation.

Video of fight between PNC Park employee, Pirates fan is ugly

Warecki has been an extremely busy man over the past several weeks, putting out fires left and right as the Pirates keep finding themselves in the middle of PR nightmares at PNC Park.

Last month, the team replaced a tribute to Pirates legend Roberto Clemente on the right field wall, which is 21 feet tall in honor of Clemente's retired No. 21 jersey, with an advertisement for an alcoholic beverage, which understandably drew the ire of fans, local and national media, and even Clemente's immediate family. The Pirates eventually reversed course, returned the tribute to the wall and apologized to the family.

The Clemente Wall went on to become the scene of a horrific accident during a game between the Pirates and the Chicago Cubs on April 30 that saw 20-year-old fan Kavan Markwood lose his balance while reacting to Andrew McCutchen's two-run double and fall 21 feet onto the warning track. He suffered a broken neck, clavicle and back.

Prior to that, the Pirates also removed the "Bucco Bricks" from the main terrace of PNC Park without warning, paving the area over with cement and dumping the bricks – many of which contained heartfelt messages from fans honoring their loved ones – at a nearby recycling plant.

Pirates owner Bob Nutting took full responsibility for the debacle (only after receiving widespread criticism, of course) and issued an apology to fans that included an opportunity for those who purchased the original bricks to receive a "complimentary commemorative replica" of their brick.

Now, after all that, the Pirates have a game day employee whipping a fan with a belt? Can't wait to see how they handle this one.

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