PNC Park
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The stadium was built with public money after a long political debate. Mayor Tom Murphy originally proposed a sales tax increase to fund building of PNC Park and Heinz Field, but this proposal was rejected in a referendum. Mayor Murphy changed the funding plan, called it "Plan B", and put it into effect.
PNC Park was the smallest of the new MLB stadiums to be built in recent years. It was the first permanent facility to be built for a MLB team that hosted fewer than 40,000 since Milwaukee County Stadium, which was later expanded. It was also the first to be built with two decks rather than three (most of the club seats are actually located within the upper deck) since County Stadium. PNC Park also has the smallest capacity of any stadium in Major League Baseball, only a few thousand seats smaller than Wrigley Field of the National League and a few hundred seats smaller than Fenway Park of the American League. The stadium includes 2,800 club seats, 69 luxury suites, and 4 party suites.
PNC Park is often noted for its physical beauty, with the Allegheny River and the Roberto Clemente Bridge (named for Roberto Clemente, the Pirates right fielder from 1955-1972) beyond right field (another nod to the late Hall of Famer is in right field, where the outfield fence reaches a height of 21 feet—Clemente wore number 21, which the Pirates have retired). The right field view also offers a wide view of the downtown Pittsburgh skyline across the river. An ESPN study [recently named] PNC Park "the best stadium in baseball."
The Allegheny River is approximately 440 feet from home plate. Only one player has hit a homerun into the river on the fly in regular season play: Daryle Ward of the Houston Astros in 2002, off Pirates pitcher Kip Wells. Lance Berkman, Ryan Howard and David Ortiz however, have each hit homeruns into the river on the fly, but it was during the 2006 Century 21 Home Run Derby.
PNC Park is just up the Allegheny River from the sites of two of the Pirates' previous ballparks, Three Rivers Stadium and Exposition Park. The latter also afforded its spectators a broad view of downtown Pittsburgh, such as it was in the early 1900s.
On Tuesday, July 11th, 2006, PNC Park hosted the 77th Annual Major League Baseball All-Star Game, as well as the All-Star Game festivities, including the Home Run Derby.
Ballpark Ratings
- Ballpark Digest: 5/5
- ESPN Page 2: [95/105] (first place)
External links
- [Baseball Fan's Guide to PNC Park]
- [Ballpark Digest Visit]
- [Pittsburgh Pirates Official website]
- [PNC Park Official website]
- [Pirate ballparks history website]
- [PNC Park LIVE WEBCAM!]
- [Ballparks of Baseball PNC Park website]
- [Pittsburgh Post-Gazette coverage of "Plan B"]
| Preceded by: Three Rivers Stadium 1970–2000 | Home of the Pittsburgh Pirates 2001–present | Followed by: Current |
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