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PNC Park itinerary by Wise Guides

PNC Park is truly a fans ballpark, offering stunning views of the city and providing plenty of food, drink and entertainment, all while bringing the spectators as close to the game as possible. Yea, the Pirates almost always suck, but the park really does make up for it. ... Start by parking your car on the other side of the Allegheny River and walking across the Roberto Clemente Bridge to the park. The bridge is closed to traffic on game days and provides great views of PNC and the city. ... If you want to take in the city from the water, the Gateway Clipper Fleet offers shuttles that drop fans off right at the park. ... Once outside PNC, check out the pre-game festivities on Federal Street where vendors will be hawking everything from peanuts to Pirates paraphernalia. Then hit Elliot's off Broadway Deli and Restaurant, which is attached to the park on Federal and offers some cheap pre-game snacks and beverages. ... Before entering the park, take a quick trip around the outside, stopping at the statues of three Pirates greats: Roberto Clemente outside of the center field gate, Willie Stargell outside left field, and Honus Wagner behind the home plate gate. ... The food and drink options inside the park are top notch. Have a Pittsburgher – a meat and cheese sandwich piled high with fries and slaw – at one of the Primanti Bros. stands, or take a walk along the Riverwalk beyond center field and stop at Manny's BBQ, run by former Pirates great Manny Sanguillen. ... Thirsty? Try Pub 475 in left field or Beers of the Burgh in right; wherever you go make it an Iron City beer. ... After the game, take a stroll along the river to take in the sights, and end up at the Jerome Bettis Grille 36, located close by just outside Heinz Field. ... Not ready to call it a day? Head to Carson Street on the South Side where Pittsburghers go to play.

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Pittsburgh Pirates - User Comments Add your own

nice park -- 2004-08-30

Went to PNC yesterday and enjoyed the experience even if the weather channel screwed me (71 degrees and partly cloudy with thunderstorms? It was 85 with 100% humidity and a blazing sun! I had to drop $30 to buy Pirates shorts). Sit down the third base line - you get a great sight of the city in the background, which must be even nicer for night games when all lit up. I like the statues of Wagner, Stargell, and Clemente outside the stadium. Did not see too many hangouts near the park - it appears to be more of a tailgate place.

mike brennan

Impressive -- 2004-04-28

Before the summer of 2003 the only MLB parks I'd been to were Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh and Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati. Entering PNC Park after only seeing those places was like entering a whole new baseball world for me. Every inch of PNC Park is gorgeous, and the views of the playing field were dynamite. The small capacity makes for an intimate atmosphere, yet the concourse is very spacious. As far as concession, they have just about anything you could want, including my favorite drink (Iron City Beer) on draft and bottled. For a great baseball outing, PNC Park is unbeatable.

Randy Beegle

-- 2004-03-25

Not to be rude, but, boy, some friends and I made the visit here last summer from Akron, OH and I was not impressed. We moved all around and sat almost everywhere, so the lax ushers are great, but I could not get away from the feeling that I was seeing a game in a shopping mall. Maybe it is because the inner concourse is inside the stadium, so everyone is milling about behind the back row of the lower level seats. The bleachers were awful - the music literally blasted our eardrums off (you couldn't carry on a conversation) and every time I turned around I couldn't help seeing tons of pavement and a Longhorn Steakhouse sign. The food court was mallsian, the blue seats seemed a bit dreary and the food was (ugh) awful. Sorry, Pittsburgh - I was really looking forward to those beautiful views of the City and river, but the inside ambiance just didn't do it for me. Also, when your team is down by ten and there are two outs in the top of the ninth with no-one on base, did we really need another pitching change? If I would have gone directly to the Upper Deck and looked out over the rier, perhaps I would have had more fun, but considering the ideal setting, something is lacking.

kurt mulhauser

well done -- 2003-06-03

I have visited PNC about 15 times now and have relegated myself to sitting in an area called the Adeco Deck. $16, directly under the scoreboard. Interestingly, the people who sit there are mostly watching the gme-that is, the scoreboard junkies and non-fans who permeate most MLB parks these days would feel 'neglected.'

Anyway, give Pirate management their props for keeping the ticket prices legit, and for at least TRYING to put some players on the field this season. Sadly, one senses an overall feeling that people are mostly waiting around for football season to start, which over the past ten years has been a date in July when the Steelers went to Latrobe and the Pirates were 22 games out of first. Nice park, bad situation.

rudolph schmidt

Simply amazing -- 2003-05-17

I drove all the way from Canada last year to visit a couple ballparks with a couple of my buddies, and PNC certainly did not dissapoint. We sat in the bleachers beyond left field ($14 three rows from the field - pretty sweet) and saw a pretty good game between the Pirates and the Rockies. The atmosphere of this park is amazing, especially when you compare it to the Vet (which we also visited on the trip). The locals were pretty friendly, especially when we told them we were from Canada. Now if Pittsburgh could just emerge from that small market funk they are in. My lifelong goal is to visit all the big league ballparks, but I will DEFINITELY be making a return trip to PNC.

Foo Fightin' Canuck

Fantastic -- 2002-04-14

I'm a Tribe fan,and I made the trip over to Pittsburgh last June when they played the Pirates.The Indians played lousy ball that night and lost,so the game itself wasn't very much fun for me to watch,and some of the Pirate fans were a little rude(but,hey you have to expect that if you're a Cleveland fan in Pittsburgh!).

The ballgame,and a little bit of rudeness aside,it was just amazing being at PNC Park.The outside of the park is just beautiful,light years better than Three Rivers(which I have also been to a few times). Inside(and this is REALLY where it blows Three Rivers away),though I have NEVER been in a park with better sightlines.We sat in row Q in the upper deck,third base side,and I was just amazed at how close the field looked.The park just has an intimate feeling like none other I've been to(and that includes my beloved Jacobs Field).The grass field is very pretty(after the Pirates played on a green rug for 30 seasons),the view looking out at the river and the skyline is great,and it was loads of fun watching the paddleboats go by.It would take a huge blast,but it would be very cool to see someone deposit a home run out there in the river!

Just like anywhere food and beverages are expensive,but I'd definately recommend a trip to PNC to anyone!

PJ

PNC PARK -- 2001-09-04

I attended my first game at PNC Park in April. The ballpark is truly amazing. The sight lines around the ball park are tremendous. You are very close to the field no matter where you are seated in PNC Park. The view of the Pittsburgh Skyline and Clemente Bridge adds an extra touch of class to the ballpark. I also want to complement the architects for having the vision to use that light color brick behind home plate instead of the Wrigley Field brick which seems to be in vogue.

If I could change one aspect about PNC Park it would be the out of town scoreboard in right field. I would have brought back memories and merged the past with the present by replicating the old left field scoreboard which was in left field at Forbes Field and placed it in right field at PNC Park.

Thomas Terry

Just BEING HERE is great! -- 2001-08-25

I have only been to three of the current major league ballparks, and I didn't think that any park could impress me more than Jacobs Field did the first time I saw it. I was WRONG! I saw my first game at PNC Park in April, and it was love at first sight! This park is great! I could spend all day just walking around and taking in all it has to offer.

The bronze statues of Pirate greats Honus Wagner, Roberto clemente and Willie Stargell shouldn't be missed. Approaching the park across the Roberto Clemente Bridge is a fantastic experience, looking in from center field at the interior. Then as you get closer, you see the banners hanging around the exterior with pictures of past Pirate greats on them.

Regardless of which entrance you use, skip the escalators and go up the gently sloping ramps. If you enter through the home plate gate, you will see banners recreating headlines of famous happenings in Pirate history. My favorite, though, is entering through center field and going up that ramp. The banners here recreate the pictures from baseball cards of Pirate players. If you ever collected baseball cards, you will find one that you once had (or maybe still have).

The facilities are top-notch. Plenty of restrooms and concession outlets. Prices are a little high, so I have already learned to bring my own bottled water and a couple of snacks, but they always get me for something anyway - the food is good and I can't resist.

When you finally enter the seating area, the view is without peer at any ballpark -new, old, major league, minor league - I have ever gone to! The skyline of Pittsburgh hits you smack in the eyes, and it's gorgeous! The Clemente bridge and Allegheny River enhance the scene, and if one of the riverboats happens to be cruising past...

The inside is as good as the rest. The park is beautiful, and the sandstone behind home plate really looks nice. The seats are ALL good. I have sat at a different location in the park each time I have gone, and every one provided a great view of the game.

Once the game is over, make sure to check out the art gallery, near the center field entrance. Some great sports art is available to view - and purchase, if you are so inclined. The baseball art is terrific, and football and hockey are also covered. I saw prices ranging from about $50 to over $1500, and many of the pictures are autographed by the athlete(s) pictured.

This park is an experience not to be missed. Get there if you can!

Lew Snyder

-- 2001-08-18

After sitting in the bleachers at Jacob's Field and not having a great view of the game, I was greatly surprised by the bleachers at PNC. The bleachers are level to the field and offer a beautiful view of the game. The food is good(but kind of expensive), the view of the city is great, and the team really puts on a great show.(Not really.) I think PNC is a great place to watch a game. It's what a baseball stadium should be. Now, if Pittsburgh could only get a real team on the field.

Anthony Patalano

Great Stadium -- 2001-08-16

A friend and I took a mimi-tour of MLB stadiums (Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Detroit, Milwaukee, Wrigley and Comiskey). While all had their own charm (even Comiskey) PNC was our favorite. Great seats, food and the view is the best in baseball. PNC is a great downtown stadium with a view of the city and bridges. Food selections abound and are moderately priced (for a stadium). Try the cheesesteaks and buffalo wings! Even the out of town scoreboard had the attention to detail that few stadiums include.

Kevin

First visit to PNC -- 2001-08-14

Just got back from an 8 day, 6 stadium East Coast road trip. PNC Park was my favorite stadium that I visited (Wrigley,Fenway,Candem,Jacobs,Yankee). The setting is perfect - I walked across the river on the beautiful Clemente bridge, walked along the river next to the park, saw the fantastic Pittsburgh skyline (THAT suprised me!), got great seats (the 1 perk of having a bad team). The stadium itself is gorgeous - I loved the sandstone decor, the seats are amazingly close to the field (including the upper deck seats!), and the best view that I've ever seen at a ballpark. I'm from MN and we need to build a stadium like this for the Twins.

The team really celebrates the history of Pittsburgh baseball - the retired number plaques, the banners outside, the statues, even a tribute to the Homestead Grays Negro League team. They even mowed MAZ into the outfield grass for Mazeroski's induction. Regular tickets were still available with good prices, but I bought from a scalper below face value. Doesn't look like there's a bad seat in the place. Plusses: Everything. Minuses: Roving concession prices are a little high for such a blue-collar town (over $5/beer is wrong), but now I'm just nit-picking. Without question, I rate this a full 5 out of 5.

John Branstad

My Favorite Park -- 2001-08-14

After growing up in Pittsburgh and watching some great teams play in a terrible ballpark, it is truly great to see my Bucs in wonderous PNC Park. PNC Park is as good as Three Rivers was bad.

I attend about 6 or 7 games a year now at nearby Camden Yards, and I have to say PNC Park has it over CYs. The Skyline view will go a long way towards selling the city to outsiders, and the sightlines have to be the best in baseball.

That being said, I wonder how many people outside of Pittsburgh have even seen PNC Park on TV? I had "Extra Innings" for the first three months of the season, and it was great to watch the Pirates every night in their new ballpark. Since then, I've not seen them once - the only glimpse I get of the Pirates is on highlight reels.

Until the Pirates get better, I guess we won't be seeing them play on ESPN. The park is such a wonderful place to watch a game, that I think attendance will thrive even if they don't get any better. There's not all that much to do in Pittsburgh during the summer.

I plan on attending at least one series a year - if I lived in Pittsburgh, I'd definitely get season tickets.

BR Schafer

Pittsburgh has a great ballpark again -- 2001-07-24

Although I never been to Forbes Field but only heard good things about it and Three Rivers which I have attended for a game was bad and should not have been built like all the other cookie cutters for baseball, for football o'kay but not for baseball. Now I had to attend a game at PNC which I did in the middle of July. My wife is from Pittsburgh and I am for New York City. PNC is beautifull ballpark and I mean probbaly the best ballpark to attend a game since Tiger Stadium great sightlines, best view etc... Two complaints; how do the ballplayers pick up a ball during a day with the colors of the park and the white shirts also the aisles are too long to get to your seats which means you have to climb over more people. One more thing the people that are attending games now in Pittsburgh are not real baseball fans so you are lucky to have them keep come back. The curious factor is alive in the "Steel City".

Michael

PNC Park-built for whom? -- 2001-07-06

I am in general agreement witht the previous writers that PNC is an excellent venue for baseball. Sadly, its early years will be plagued by the small market syndrome: high ticket prices, some empty seats (lots some nights) and perhaps most importantly in Pittsburgh, a poor team. The park, like Detroit's Comerica, draws curious folk and baseball fans; the quality of the team's play is what will ultimately bring fans in. Detroit's team will probably result in a loss of at least $2 million this year in ticket sales alone--not too good in an era plagued by free agents in a park that's only two years old! It's also odd that the truly great vistas at PNC improve the higher one sits! Those sitting in the 'lower bowl' (with seat licenses!!!!!!) don't get to watch the action on the river as jet skiers nearly colide with the power boaters! More interesting than watching Derek Bell hit .145!! Also, parking requires all those except the truly rich to do some walking, so wear comfy shoes. Also bottles of beer are $5.25! Buy 'em 4 at a time, it's only $21!! FJ

Flaco Jimenez

Great Park for Baseball -- 2001-06-20

Saw my first game in PNC Park. It will not be my last. What great sightlines. Not a bad seat in the park. Wide open areas and not conjested. Food was pretty good too. Has it own Outback Steakhouse. This is the only way to see a baseball game.

Joe Fernbaugh

Thanks -- 2001-06-11

I heard it wasn't there for the first game ever played there, an exhibition game. They must have corrected the oversight. By the way, Kiner is third behind McGwire and Ruth in home runs per at bat, which is incredible considering the ball is now juiced and the parks are much smaller now.

David Bryant

Kiner's banner -- 2001-06-06

David, Ralph Kiner does have a banner inside the park, down near home plate. I stared at it from the Outback Steakhouse before the game I attended.

Beautiful park, in the same class with PacBell and ahead of the rest of the pack.

ARGH

What a beautiful skyline! -- 2001-06-04

Best skyline in the big, bar none! The bridge is beautiful and those buildings look like they were built to be the backdrop of a ballpark. 30 years in Three Rivers made people forget that there's a beautiful city outside of it. I love the "#21" right field wall with it's gorgeous out of town scoreboard and that sandstone backstop is the best looking in the bigs. One of the best looking of the new parks in the best setting. Pac Bell has second best of the new parks. And like Pac Bell, someone hit a homer down the right field line that bounced into the river. But we are talking 440 down the line to the river in PNC, not 325 at Pac Bell. But I have two beefs about PNC Park. A giant oversight was forgetting a banner for Ralph Kiner. Sure, he's a bonehead as a Met's announcer, but as a Pirates slugger, he had one of the best career home run per at bat ratios, second at one time only to Babe Ruth, which is incredible considering that Kiner played at the Grand Canyon called Forbes Field. And my second beef is that PNC Bank should swallow its corporate pride and rename the place Stargell Field. What other ballpark opened on the same day that one of the team's all-time greats passed away?

David Bryant

PNC Park -- 2001-05-16

After going to a game at PNC Park in late April, I am convinced that it was one of the best Major League ballparks in baseball today. Everyone always asks, "compare it to Jacobs Field", and I reply with its better because it offers so much more to look at in the outfield with the skyline and the beautiful bridges and water. Roberto Clemente is well-represented with Clemente wall (in right field), the statue and the bridge. Willie Stargell and Honus Wagner stand proudly at their respective spots outside the ballpark. Banners hang outside the ballpark depicting the great players who have donned a Pirates jersey. Complete with a Seattle Coffee house, Outback steakhouse and sightlines that one would die for, PNC Park is a great ballpark. Despite the Pirates bad luck on the field, I still love the team and coming to PNC Park to see the Bucs play is just a bonus. Beat 'em Bucs!!!

PirateMan

Pittsburgh Pirates -- 2000-10-10

I am from Cleveland, grew up in Cleveland, around the Indians, but I can't stand them. My love for the Pirates began in 1994 when I did a 5th grade report on The Great One, Roberto Clemente. Since then, my love for the team has grown. Although they have lacked the necessary elements to compete for a championship, I have remained a true Pirates fan through both the bad and good. Three Rivers Stadium was awesome, and it gave me a feeling no other park gives me. PNC Park will be a great ballpark and hopefully the Pirates will leave it with just as many memories as Three Rivers had.

Go Bucs!! PirateMan

MGL, Jr.

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