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PNC Park Wiki Information
PNC Park
is a baseball park located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It is the fifth home to the Pittsburgh Pirates, the city's Major League Baseball franchise. It opened in 2001, shortly after the controlled implosion of the Pirates' previous stadium, Three Rivers Stadium. The ballpark is named for locally based PNC Financial Services, which purchased the naming rights in 1998. [1]
Funded in conjunction with Heinz Field, the US$216 million park stands along the Allegheny River, on the Northside of Pittsburgh. The ballpark was built in the style of classic stadiums, such as Fenway Park, while introducing new features, such as the use of limestone. The park features seating close to the playing surface; the batter is closer to the seats behind home plate than to the pitcher. The ballpark also features several local eateries, and an all-you-can-eat section, which allows fans unlimited food for an entire game. PNC Park hosted the 2006 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, the fifth in the city of Pittsburgh. Since completion, it has been hailed as one of the best ballparks in the country.
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Pittsburgh Pirates vs. New York Mets Tickets 7/5 | Jul 05, 2024 Fri, 6:40 PM | | Pittsburgh Pirates vs. New York Mets Tickets 7/6 | Jul 06, 2024 Sat, 4:05 PM | | Pittsburgh Pirates vs. New York Mets Tickets 7/7 | Jul 07, 2024 Sun, 1:35 PM | | Pittsburgh Pirates vs. New York Mets Tickets 7/8 | Jul 08, 2024 Mon, 12:35 PM | | Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Philadelphia Phillies Tickets 7/19 | Jul 19, 2024 Fri, 6:40 PM | |
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History
Planning and funding
On September 5, 1991, Pittsburgh mayor Sophie Masloff proposed to build a new 44,000-seat stadium for the Pittsburgh Pirates on the city's Northside. Plans were discussed, but due to the possibility of the franchise's relocation to a new city, they were never seriously considered until entrepreneur Kevin McClatchy purchased the team in February 1996. [2] Later in 1996, Masloff's successor Tom Murphy created the "Forbes Field II Task Force", made up of 29 political and business leaders, to study the challenges of constructing a new ballpark. Their final report, published on June 26, 1996, concluded that the "North Side site" would be the best location for the new ballpark. [ The site selected for the ballpark was just upriver from the site of early Pirates home field Exposition Park. [3] [4]
]
The stadium was funded with public money after a long political debate. Originally, a sales tax increase was proposed to fund three projects: PNC Park, Heinz Field, and an expansion of the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. After the rejection of this proposal in a referendum, the city developed Plan B
. [5] Similarly controversial, the alternative proposal was labeled Scam B
by opponents. [6] Many felt that the Pirates' pledge of $40 million toward the new stadium was too little, while others criticized the amount of public money allocated for Plan B. One observer called the use of tax dollars "corporate welfare". [7] The plan, totaling $809 million, was approved by the Allegheny Regional Asset District board on July 9, 1998, with $228 million allotted for PNC Park. [8] [9] Shortly after Plan B was approved, the Pirates made a deal with Pittsburgh city officials to stay in the city until at least 2031. PNC Financial Services purchased the naming rights in August 1998. [10][ As per the agreement, PNC Bank will pay the Pirates approximately $2 million each year through 2020. [11] [12] The total cost of PNC Park was $216 million.]
Design and construction
Kansas City-based HOK Sport designed the ballpark. [13] [14] The design and construction management team consisted of the Dick Corporation and Barton Malow. An effort was made in the design of PNC Park to salute other "classic style" ballparks, such as Fenway Park, Wrigley Field, and Pittsburgh's Forbes Field; the ballpark's archways, steel truss work, and light standards are results of this goal. [15] [16] PNC Park was the first two-deck ballpark to be built in the United States since Milwaukee County Stadium opened in 1953. [17][ The park features a 24 by 42 foot Sony JumboTron, which is accompanied by the first-ever LED video boards in an outdoor Major League stadium.] PNC Park is the first stadium to feature an out-of-town-scoreboard with the score, inning, count, number of outs, and baserunners for every other game being played around the league. [18]
Ground was broken for PNC Park on April 7, 1999, [19] after a ceremony to rename the Sixth Street Bridge as the "Roberto Clemente Bridge" in honor of the late Pirate Roberto Clemente. [20] Due to traffic problems after the Park's opening, the bridge is closed to vehicular traffic on game days in order to allow spectators to park in Pittsburgh's Golden Triangle and walk across the bridge to the stadium. [21] [22] PNC Park was constructed with Kasota limestone, shipped from a Minnesota river valley, to contrast with modern stadiums, which are traditionally built with brick. [23] PNC Park was constructed over a 24 month span – three months faster than any other major league ballpark; and the Pirates played their first game less than two years after groundbreaking. [24] The quick construction was accomplished through the use of special computers, which relayed building plans 24 hours per day.[ In addition, all 23 labor unions involved signed a pact that they would not strike during building process.][ As a result of close union involvement and careful attention to safety regulations construction manager, The Dick Corporation, received a merit award for its safety practices from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.] The ballpark is inspected yearly, along with Heinz Field, by Chronicle Consulting, LLC, for structural defects and maintenance. [25]
Opening and reception
The Pirates opened the park with two pre-season games against the New York Mets, the first of which was played on March 31, 2001. [26] The first official baseball game played in PNC Park was between the Cincinnati Reds and the Pittsburgh Pirates, on April 9, 2001. The Reds won the game by the final score of 8–2. [27] The first pitch was thrown from Todd Ritchie—a ball—to Barry Larkin. In the top of the first inning, Sean Casey's two-run home run was the first hit in the park. The first Pirates' batter, Adrian Brown, struck out; however, later in the inning Jason Kendall singled—the first hit by a Pirate.
Upon opening in 2001, PNC Park was praised by fans and media alike. Jim Caple, of ESPN.com, ranked PNC Park as the best stadium in Major League Baseball, with a score of 95 out of 100. [28] Caple compared the park to Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater, calling the stadium itself "perfect", and citing high-ticket prices as the only negative aspect of visiting the park. [29] Jay Ahjua, author of Fields of Dreams: A Guide to Visiting and Enjoying All 30 Major League Ballparks
, called PNC Park one of the "top ten places to watch the game". [30] Pirates' vice-president Steve Greenberg said, "We said when construction began that we would build the best ballpark in baseball, and we believe we've done that." Major League Baseball executive Paul Beeston said the park was the best he's seen so far in baseball. Many of the workers who built the park said that it was the nicest that they have seen. [31] Former Pirates catcher Jason Kendall called PNC Park "the most beautiful ballpark in the game". [32] PNC Park had an average attendance of 30,742 per game throughout its inaugural season, [33] though it would drop approximately 27% the following season to 22,594 spectators per game. [34] Throughout the 2001 season, businesses in downtown and on the Northside of Pittsburgh showed a 20–25% increase in business on Pirate game days. [35] In 2008, Men's Fitness named the park one of "10 big league parks worth seeing this summer". [36] [37]
Statues
In 1947, Pirate manager Fred Clarke began lobbying to have a statue of Honus Wagner erected in his honor. [38] Funds were raised and on April 30, 1955, a nine foot bronze statue of Honus Wagner was unveiled in Schenley Park, [39] just beyond the left field seating of Forbes Field. [40] The unveiling was attended by 1,000 people, including Commissioner of Baseball Ford Frick, Pittsburgh mayor David L. Lawrence, and Cy Young.[ Though weakened with age, Wagner remarked, "How about that!" upon seeing the statue.][ When the Pirates moved to Three Rivers Stadium, the statue was moved to the Gate C entrance.][ On July 11, 1994, [41] the city of Pittsburgh dedicated a twelve foot statue of Roberto Clemente outside of Three Rivers Stadium. [42] [43] The base of Clemente's statue is shaped like a baseball diamond, with dirt from three of the fields Clemente played at—Santurce Field in Carolina, Puerto Rico, Forbes Field, and Three Rivers Stadium—at each base. [44] The two statues would later be removed from their locations by crane, refurbished, and relocated outside PNC Park. [45] On October 1, 2000, after the final game at Three Rivers Stadium, Willie Stargell threw out the ceremonial last pitch. He was then presented with a model of a statue that was to be erected in his honor outside of PNC Park. [46] The statue was officially unveiled on April 7, 2001; however, Stargell did not attend due to health problems. [47] [48] Two days later, the official opening day of PNC Park, Stargell died from a stroke. [49] [50] In addition to the statues' unveiling a pre-game video tribute was shown in his honor. [51]
]
Alterations
In 2007, Allegheny County passed a ban on smoking in most public places; this made PNC Park a completely smoke-free facility. [52] Prior to the 2008 season, the Pirates made multiple alterations to PNC Park. [53] The biggest change was removing the Outback Steakhouse located underneath the scoreboard, and adding a new restaurant known as The Hall of Fame Club
. [54] Unlike its predecessor, The Hall of Fame Club
is open to all ticket-holders on game day; it also includes an outdoor patio with a bar and seats with a view of the field. The Pirates feature bands in The Hall of Fame Club
after the completion of select games; the first band to perform was Joe Grushecky and the Houserockers. The Pirates also announced a program to make the park more environmentally friendly, by integrating "greening initiatives, sustainable business practices and educational outreach." [55] Also part of the changes, club and suite sections were outfitted with high-definition televisions.
Other events
PNC Park hosted the 77th Major League All-Star Game on July 11, 2006. [56] The American League defeated the National League by a score of 3–2, with 38,904 spectators in attendance. [57] The first All-Star game in PNC Park, it was the fifth all-star game hosted in Pittsburgh, and the first since 1994. [58] During the game, late Pirate Roberto Clemente received the Commissioner's Historic Achievement Award; his wife, Vera, accepted on his behalf. [59] The stadium also hosted the Century 21 Home Run Derby the previous evening; Ryan Howard, of the Philadelphia Phillies, won the title. [60] During the Derby, Howard and David Ortiz hit fly balls into the Allegheny River. [61]
PNC Park has hosted various evacuation and response drills, which would be used in the event of a terrorist attack. Groundwork for the initial drill was laid out by United States Department of Homeland Security members in February 2004. [62] In May 2005, 5,000 volunteers participated in the $1 million evacuation drill, which included mock explosions. [63] A key goal was to test the response of 49 western Pennsylvania emergency response agencies. [64] In April 2006, the Department of Homeland Security worked in conjunction with the United States Coast Guard to develop a plan of response for the 2006 All-Star Game. [65] Similar exercises were conducted on the Allegheny River in 2007. [66]
In 2003, the Pittsburgh Panthers and the Duquesne Dukes began playing the annual "City Game" at PNC Park. The first game of the series, played on May 6, 2003, was the first collegiate game hosted at PNC Park. [67] Duquesne won the game by a score of 2–1. [68] As of 2008, the Panthers lead the PNC Park series against the Dukes three games to one, with the 2007 game cancelled due to poor field conditions. PNC Park has also hosted various concerts, including The Rolling Stones and Pearl Jam, in 2005. [69]
thumb and Pittsburgh Pirates - August 7, 2001
Features
Playing surface and park dimensions
The playing surface of PNC Park consists of sand-based natural grass, [70] with a drainage system capable of handling 14 inches of rain per hour. [71] Unlike most ballparks, PNC Park's home dugout is located along the third base line instead of the first; giving the home team a view of the city skyline. [72] The outfield fence ranges from a height of six feet (2 m) in left field to ten feet (3 m) in center field and twenty-one feet (6.5 m) in right field, a tribute to former Pirate right fielder Roberto Clemente who wore number 21
.[ The distance of the outfield fence from home plate ranges from 320 feet (97.5 m) in right field to 410 feet (125 m) in left center; the straightaway center field fence is set at 399 feet (122 m).] At its closest point, the Allegheny River is 443 feet and 4 inches from home plate. On July 6, 2002, Daryle Ward became the only player to hit a home run into the river on the fly, when he hit a grand slam off Pirates pitcher Kip Wells. [73] [74]
Seating and ticket prices
During its opening season, PNC Park's seating capacity of 38,496 was the second smallest of any major league stadium, the smallest being Fenway Park. [75] Seats are angled toward the field and aisles are lowered in order to give spectators improved views of the field.[ The majority of the seats, 26,000, are on the first level, [76] and the highest seat in the stadium is 88 feet above the playing surface. [77] At 51 feet, the batter is closer to the seats behind home plate than to the pitcher. [78] At their closest point, seating along the baselines is 45 feet from the bases. [79] The four-level steel rotunda and a section above the out-of-town scoreboard offer standing room only space. [80] With the exception of the bleacher sections, all seats in the Park offer a view of Pittsburgh's skyline. [81]
]
From its opening through the 2008 season, PNC Park's tickets have remained between $9 to $35 for general admission. [82] [83] The stadium also includes 69 luxury suites and 5,558 suite and club seats, with prices ranging from $47 to $210 per ticket throughout the 2008 season. Only one of two teams not to increase ticket prices entering the 2008 season, PNC Park ranks as having the third cheapest average ticket prices in the league. [84] Through 2004, 5% of games played at PNC Park were sold out.[
]
Eateries
As with its predecessor, PNC Park's culinary service provider is Aramark. [85] [86] The main eating concourse, known as "Tastes of Pittsburgh",[ features a wide range of options including traditional ballpark foods, hometown specialties, and even sushi. [87] Pittsburgh's hometown specialites include Primanti Brothers sandwiches, whose main sandwich is comprised of meat, cheese, hand-cut french fries, tomatoes, and coleslaw between two slices of Italian bread. [88] [89] Other local eateries offered include Mrs. T's Pierogies, Quaker Steak and Lube, and Benkovitz Seafood.][ Located behind center field seating is Manny's BBQ
, which offers various barbecue meals. It is named for former Pirates' catcher Manny Sanguillén, who signs autographs for fans waiting in line.][ [90] For the 2008 season, the Pirates created an all-you-can-eat section, in the right field corner.] Fans seated in the section are allowed "unlimited hotdogs, hamburgers, nachos, salads, popcorn, peanuts, ice cream and soda" for the entire game. [91] In addition to the food offered, fans are free to bring their own food into the stadium, a rarity among the league's ballparks. [92]
Notes
- PNC Bank Purchases Naming Rights To Pittsburgh Pirates' New Stadium
- Heading for Home
- Was there a baseball field that the Pittsburgh Pirates played in before Forbes Field in Oakland?
- Exposition Park
- Plan B
- A TD for Plan B
- Plan B flawed; option is worse
- Plan B approved: Play ball!
- Arena won't be part of Plan B
- Managing Sport Facilities
- Values of venue naming rights can vary widely
- Stadium naming rights
- Football stadium architect selected
- PNC Park
- PNC Park
- Plunkett's Sports Industry Almanac 2007: Sports Industry Market Research
- PNC Park at North Shore
- Technology park
- City, Pirates break ground for PNC Park with big civic party
- Clemente's family helps to christen renamed bridge
- {{harvnb|Scarpaci|2006|pp=115}}
- Broadcast Rites and Sites: I Saw It on the Radio with the Boston Red Sox
- The new jewel on the Allegheny might be the best ballpark
- PNC PARK: The political struggle over financing PNC Park went into extra innings
- Sports & Exhibition Authority of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County
- Pirates lose first test run at PNC Park
- Storied Stadiums: Baseball's History Through Its Ballparks
- Pittsburgh's gem rates the best
- Pittsburgh's gem rates the best
- {{harvnb|Phillips|2005|pp=314–5}}
- Workers proud of what they have wrought
- New ballpark something to behold
- MLB Attendance Report - 2001
- MLB Attendance Report - 2002
- Pittsburgh's Putting on its Game Face
- Top Stadiums: Pittsburgh's PNC Park
- PNC in Men's Fitness top 10 stadiums
- {{harvnb|DeValeria|1995|pp=298}}
- {{harvnb|DeValeria|1995|pp=299}}
- {{harvnb|Hittner|2003|pp=257}}
- Baseball's Good Guys
- Roberto Clemente
- Roberto Clemente
- {{harvnb|Ruff|2006|pp=71}}
- Sports bar planned outside PNC Park
- {{harvnb|Finoli|2006|pp=127}}
- {{harvnb|McCollister|2005|pp=43}}
- Pirates unveil statue of Stargell
- Stargell's death linked to hypertension
- Pittsburgh native Casey paces Reds over Pirates, 8-2
- PNC Park opens on a sad day
- PNC Park becomes smoke-free facility
- Pirates show off park features
- Offseason face-lift complete at PNC
- Pirates launch greening initiatives program at PNC Park
- Pittsburgh Pirates host 2006 All-Star Week, including 77th MLB All-Star Game
- Young rallies AL to victory
- All-Star Results
- Baseball honors Clemente
- Howard powers way to Derby crown
- Pirates of the Allegheny
- Terrorism Drill Scheduled For PNC Park
- Goodie bags, entertainment part of PNC Park drill
- Drills and thrills 5,000 volunteers go to bat as victims of mock disaster
- Coast Grd. To Keep Rivers Safe During All-Star Gm.
- Terror drill on Allegheny River today
- Pittsburgh Baseball Falls to Duquesne, 2-1, at PNC Park
- Pitcher's big-league effort lifts Duquesne past Pitt, 2-1
- The Rolling Stones concert information
- Sod Installed At PNC Park
- Creating Breakthrough Products: Innovation from Product Planning to Program
- {{harvnb|Pahigian|2004|pp=228}}
- Howard has a blast
- Scouting Report
- Boutique ballparks
- PNC Park Gets Rave Reviews
- {{harvnb|Phillips|2005|pp=314}}
- New Ballpark Comparisons
- {{harvnb|Pahigian|2004|pp=218}}
- {{harvnb|Pahigian|2004|pp=220–1}}
- {{harvnb|Ahuja|2001|pp=67}}
- PNC Park Info
- PNC Park Seating Chart - 2008
- PNC Park a big league bargain
- ARAMARK to Feature Local Favorites From Around the League During Mid-Summer Classic
- Food Services
- Buy me some peanuts and uh, sushi?
- 15222: Come Hungry
- The Primanti's tradition
- Finding the Hits, Avoiding the Errors
- At PNC Park, 'All-You-Can-Eat' seats
- {{harvnb|Ahuja|2001|pp=68}}
References
- PNC Bank Purchases Naming Rights To Pittsburgh Pirates' New Stadium
- Heading for Home
- Was there a baseball field that the Pittsburgh Pirates played in before Forbes Field in Oakland?
- Exposition Park
- Plan B
- A TD for Plan B
- Plan B flawed; option is worse
- Plan B approved: Play ball!
- Arena won't be part of Plan B
- Managing Sport Facilities
- Values of venue naming rights can vary widely
- Stadium naming rights
- Football stadium architect selected
- PNC Park
- PNC Park
- Plunkett's Sports Industry Almanac 2007: Sports Industry Market Research
- PNC Park at North Shore
- Technology park
- City, Pirates break ground for PNC Park with big civic party
- Clemente's family helps to christen renamed bridge
- {{harvnb|Scarpaci|2006|pp=115}}
- Broadcast Rites and Sites: I Saw It on the Radio with the Boston Red Sox
- The new jewel on the Allegheny might be the best ballpark
- PNC PARK: The political struggle over financing PNC Park went into extra innings
- Sports & Exhibition Authority of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County
- Pirates lose first test run at PNC Park
- Storied Stadiums: Baseball's History Through Its Ballparks
- Pittsburgh's gem rates the best
- Pittsburgh's gem rates the best
- {{harvnb|Phillips|2005|pp=314–5}}
- Workers proud of what they have wrought
- New ballpark something to behold
- MLB Attendance Report - 2001
- MLB Attendance Report - 2002
- Pittsburgh's Putting on its Game Face
- Top Stadiums: Pittsburgh's PNC Park
- PNC in Men's Fitness top 10 stadiums
- {{harvnb|DeValeria|1995|pp=298}}
- {{harvnb|DeValeria|1995|pp=299}}
- {{harvnb|Hittner|2003|pp=257}}
- Baseball's Good Guys
- Roberto Clemente
- Roberto Clemente
- {{harvnb|Ruff|2006|pp=71}}
- Sports bar planned outside PNC Park
- {{harvnb|Finoli|2006|pp=127}}
- {{harvnb|McCollister|2005|pp=43}}
- Pirates unveil statue of Stargell
- Stargell's death linked to hypertension
- Pittsburgh native Casey paces Reds over Pirates, 8-2
- PNC Park opens on a sad day
- PNC Park becomes smoke-free facility
- Pirates show off park features
- Offseason face-lift complete at PNC
- Pirates launch greening initiatives program at PNC Park
- Pittsburgh Pirates host 2006 All-Star Week, including 77th MLB All-Star Game
- Young rallies AL to victory
- All-Star Results
- Baseball honors Clemente
- Howard powers way to Derby crown
- Pirates of the Allegheny
- Terrorism Drill Scheduled For PNC Park
- Goodie bags, entertainment part of PNC Park drill
- Drills and thrills 5,000 volunteers go to bat as victims of mock disaster
- Coast Grd. To Keep Rivers Safe During All-Star Gm.
- Terror drill on Allegheny River today
- Pittsburgh Baseball Falls to Duquesne, 2-1, at PNC Park
- Pitcher's big-league effort lifts Duquesne past Pitt, 2-1
- The Rolling Stones concert information
- Sod Installed At PNC Park
- Creating Breakthrough Products: Innovation from Product Planning to Program
- {{harvnb|Pahigian|2004|pp=228}}
- Howard has a blast
- Scouting Report
- Boutique ballparks
- PNC Park Gets Rave Reviews
- {{harvnb|Phillips|2005|pp=314}}
- New Ballpark Comparisons
- {{harvnb|Pahigian|2004|pp=218}}
- {{harvnb|Pahigian|2004|pp=220–1}}
- {{harvnb|Ahuja|2001|pp=67}}
- PNC Park Info
- PNC Park Seating Chart - 2008
- PNC Park a big league bargain
- ARAMARK to Feature Local Favorites From Around the League During Mid-Summer Classic
- Food Services
- Buy me some peanuts and uh, sushi?
- 15222: Come Hungry
- The Primanti's tradition
- Finding the Hits, Avoiding the Errors
- At PNC Park, 'All-You-Can-Eat' seats
- {{harvnb|Ahuja|2001|pp=68}}
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