PNC Park is located on Pittsburgh’s North Shore. It is the fifth home of the Pittsburgh
Pirates that opened in 2001, after the controlled implosion of Three Rivers
Stadium. PNC Park seats 38,747 people for baseball, the second-smallest of any
major league stadium (the smallest is Fenway Park). It is known
as an intimate, classic-style ballpark, although it includes a newer feature, a
limestone facade. Its scenic vistas of downtown and the riverfront create an
exciting and dramatic urban sports venue. The park also features a riverside concourse, steel truss work, an extensive
out-of-town scoreboard, and many local eateries.
When it came time to name the new stadium, fans suggested naming it after former
outfielder Roberto Clemente, but sponsor PNC wanted to name it after itself. As
a compromise, the city of Pittsburgh renamed the 6th Street Bridge near the
park the Roberto Clemente Bridge. The bridge is closed to vehicular traffic on
game days to allow spectators to park in Pittsburgh's Golden Triangle and walk
across the bridge to the stadium.
Statues of
Pirates' Hall of Famers Honus Wagner, Roberto Clemente, Willie Stargell and Bill
Mazeroski are positioned at various points outside of PNC Park. (Wagner and
Clemente's statues were previously located outside of the imploded Three Rivers
Stadium.)
The ballpark has
continued to evolve over the years. In 2012, the "Budweiser Bow Tie",
a 5,000-square foot bar and lounge located in the right field corner of the
ballpark, was added. In 2015, many additions to the park took place for better
fan experience, including the left field terrace, which has 2 levels for
standing room with 250 feet of drink rails. Another addition includes a new
outdoor patio called “The Porch” that overlooks center field, right next to the
terraces, and features bar tables and outdoor sofa-style seating. Also added
for the 2015 season are The Corner (a full-service bar at the very base of the
left field rotunda with 9 flat screen TVs); Terrace Bar (a fully operating bar
for fans in the upper concourse), and Pirates Outfitters (an additional
merchandise shop located next to the home-plate entrance).
The main eating
concourse, known as "Tastes of Pittsburgh", features a wide range of
options including traditional ballpark foods, hometown specialties (Primanti
Brothers sandwiches, whose signature item consists of meat, cheese, hand-cut
French fries, tomatoes, and coleslaw between two slices of Italian bread), and
more exotic fare like sushi. Other local eateries offered include Mrs. T's
Pierogies, Quaker Steak and Lube, Augustine's Pizza, and Benkovitz Seafood.
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