Getting tickets at PNC

by MrNFL on Jul 7, 2009 11:44 PM EDT Comment 42 comments

Hello Pirates fans, I have a random set of questions that I would really appreciate if someone would answer.

A group of friends and I are planning a road trip that goes through Pittsburgh at the beginning of August, when the Pirates are hosting Washington and Arizona, and we are considering stopping by for a game. With that, here are the questions:

#1 How easy would it be to get tickets? I would assume easier those series since the Nationals are so horrible, and Arizona isn't good either. But would we be able to show up day of the game and buy at the gate or would we need to purchase tickets in advance?

#2 Affordability. What are some of the cheapest seats you can get, and would they be worth it? I'm a Cubs fan, but the guys I'm with aren't really huge baseball fans. We'd be probably going more for the experience than anything else, and we are generally cheap.

Thank you for taking the time for looking at this.

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I’ve gone to 15 games or so this year, and I’ve walked up to the gate to purchase tickets 10 or so of those times. The ballpark isn’t even close to being sold out unless it’s a fireworks/bobblehead night, and even then, tickets are more than attainable.

There is a nine dollar option for bleacher general admission or (my personal favorite) in the upper deck in the corner with a great view of the skyline right in front of you.

Pay more to sit lower if you like; tix will still be there.

It’s a great atmosphere, even though the team produces a lot of stinkers and they’re isn’t a huge amount of people in the stands.

*Make sure you buy a Lemon Chill smoothie.

by Suffering Buc on Jul 7, 2009 11:51 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Primanti sammich

by bucdaddy on Jul 7, 2009 11:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

A Primanti’s is a must-have for your first game in Pittsburgh, as long as you’re not counting calories or are vegetarian or such.

by Gorkys n' Beans on Jul 7, 2009 11:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed.

www.sixtyftsixin.com

by Sixty Feet, Six Inches on Jul 8, 2009 12:39 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm a Quaker Steak wings guy myself.....(Arizona Ranch)

by vanslyke on Jul 8, 2009 9:57 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed.

by Isotopes on Jul 8, 2009 6:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Definitely get a Primanti’s but don’t get one at PNC Park. They’re kept under heated lamps, can’t get custom orders, etc.

by CptnAwesome on Jul 8, 2009 9:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

On weekends, the park tends to fill up more. You can almost always get a pair of seats next to each other, but if you’re doing a big group, maybe not. It might be worth it to you to order them ahead of time on pirates.com.

The cheapest tickets are the $9 tickets in the bleachers and the second tier outfield. If you want the upper deck seats, I suggest the left-field instead of the right-field. They’re a little nicer.

by Androgen Jar Jimmy on Jul 7, 2009 11:53 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Are The Cheap Seats Worth It?

Yes. There is not a bad seat in the entire place.

by Androgen Jar Jimmy on Jul 7, 2009 11:57 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Not a bad seat in the house

Seriously. I have sat all over the stadium over the years and have enjoyed the view from everywhere. I will say that the last time I went (the Saturday and Sunday games vs KC a couple weeks ago) I had club level seats. Everyone should (at least once) pay the extra money to check out the club level at PNC Park. It is amazing. I never had any idea how nice the indoor sections behind the 200 level were.

by Brakeman8 on Jul 7, 2009 11:59 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Cheap Food

You’re allowed to bring in sealed bottles of water, and food. You can buy a bag of peanuts for a buck on the bridge, bottled water for two bucks.

by Androgen Jar Jimmy on Jul 8, 2009 12:00 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

You have it backwards jim

water 1 dollar
peanuts 2 dollars

"So you think 25 percent of the country is retarded?! Yea. Atleast 25 percent. Well lets so a sample. There are 4 of us an you're retarded. Thats 25 percent." Southpark; Mystery of the Urinal Deuce

by gorillakilla34 on Jul 8, 2009 8:47 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The only

thing you can’t bring in is beer and soda. You can even bring a soft sided cooler to carry everything.

by Green_Wave on Jul 8, 2009 10:33 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Soda?

It’s “Pop” in these neck of the woods! Get it right Green_Wave :)

by vanslyke on Jul 8, 2009 12:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm pretty sure

they have the rules up on the Pirates Web site. Your soft sided cooler has size limits and has to be see-through, IIRC. Stuff like that. Also, if you’d rather not drink the swill beer (Bud, Bud Light, etc.) they’ll gouge you for, know there’s a “Beers of the World” (and some micros) window in the minifood court on the first level down the left field line. Pretty much the same price as the swill but better beer (Dogfish Head 60, for instance).

BTW, once back in Three Rivers before security got so nervous I sat behind a family of four — a big fat man, his big fat wife and their two huge kids — who each brought a paper grocery bag in with them and proceeded to eat nonstop for nine innings. Plus they flagged down any number of vendors for pop and other junk. After awhile I quit watching the game and watched them eat. I’ve never seen anything like it, before or since, outside of a barn.

by bucdaddy on Jul 8, 2009 2:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

As far as bad seats, I’ve had them where the railing for the steps blocks your view of the field in the seats behind the plate, but there will most likely be enough empty seats to move if you get a bad luck of the draw

by Gorkys n' Beans on Jul 8, 2009 12:02 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

The only bad one I’ve ever had was at the Indians game a few weeks ago when Cutch hit the walkoff. I went with the nine dollar seats, and the outlining bar from the protective glass plate at the bottom of the upper deck steps that keeps you from flipping over was directly between my eyes and home plate.

by Suffering Buc on Jul 8, 2009 12:35 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I got stuck once

behind the right field foul pole at a game that was almost sold out (we’d got tickets at walk-up that day). Fortunately there were some empties a few seats away that after a couple innings it became apparent no one was using, so we moved.

There are ALMOST no bad seats in the house. But hey, they spent $1.5 billion to build new Yankee Stadium and I was amazed to learn there was obstructed view seats in that place too. Maybe if they’d spent $2 billion. Guess the Yankees are just cheap bastards.

by bucdaddy on Jul 8, 2009 10:03 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Man I must be spoiled

Every game I go to is club or suite level seats and I don’t pay a dime.

by thecheeseisblue on Jul 8, 2009 12:42 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I really like to sit in the right field baseline boxes (section 1,2,3,or4)

Also( I see you said you’re cheap) If you go to a local Giant Eagle grocery store and sign up for a free member card, you can get 5 dollars off of each ticket on Sunday or 10 off each Sunday ticket if you order them in advance at the ticket window.

"So you think 25 percent of the country is retarded?! Yea. Atleast 25 percent. Well lets so a sample. There are 4 of us an you're retarded. Thats 25 percent." Southpark; Mystery of the Urinal Deuce

by gorillakilla34 on Jul 8, 2009 8:52 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Since your friends aren't huge baseball fans

I would buy the $9 tickets and just walk around the stadium. By the time you see all of the sites and sounds of the stadium, it will be time for you to go over to Finnegan’s Wake for a post game beer or 12.

If you get tired of walking around, I would stand in the LF rotunda – great view of the city and field. I also like the handicap area in the RF wall where you can watch the game through the chain link fence – kind of gives you an old school feel.

by vanslyke on Jul 8, 2009 10:03 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Additionally, if you do want to go sit down, chances are you can just walk into a good seat. I sometimes move to better seats around the 5th inning if there’s large open spaces in another area.

Sure, it’s embarrassing to be turned away for not having a ticket, but you can simply try again in another section. I usually just smile and wave at the usher, ask how he or she is doing, and walk right by.

by CptnAwesome on Jul 8, 2009 5:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I did that once last year

I had a couple field boxes and couldn’t find anyone to go with, so I sold them on the street, bought a $9 seat and a beer for myself, sat way up in right field for three innings and started moving down. After getting shooed by an usher a couple times at better seats, I found an unguarded section way down the left field line and every half inning got up and moved a couple sections closer to the plate. Last two innings I was directly behind the plate (not in the really pricey seats, the ones right behind). I could call balls and strikes from there.

by bucdaddy on Jul 8, 2009 6:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I take a risk

I buy 4 infield boxes from scalpers for $30 total; if not available I get 4 outfield reserve for $15-20. I usually go to a group of them and let them make me offers. Never been burnt yet. Though I stay away from isolated scalpers. You have to know what your doing.

"The team that scores the most points wins."
John Madden
(Master of the obvious)

by PixburghArn on Jul 8, 2009 10:33 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Anyone going to be there July 18

Thats when I’m headed up there as a birthday gift. If i did the calulations right Tim Lincecum (first try speeled it right) pitch that night.

by WVPiratesfan on Jul 8, 2009 11:50 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I spell Licecum right then i turn around and misspell spelled

by WVPiratesfan on Jul 8, 2009 11:52 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

And then....

misspell Lincecum…..LOL

by dtoddwin on Jul 8, 2009 12:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

thats bad i just just stop trying to spell tim's last name

by WVPiratesfan on Jul 8, 2009 7:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I will be

"The team that scores the most points wins."
John Madden
(Master of the obvious)

by PixburghArn on Jul 8, 2009 12:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

In my opinion

316 is the best value in the park. 16 bucks with a great view behind the plate.

by Bucs Fever on Jul 8, 2009 11:53 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Amen!

I’ve been lucky enough to see two games from this section so far this year. It is really something else. Nothing against the other seats in PNC Park, but 316 beats them all easily.

Hey, an out is an out - unless you're Mario, in which case it's probably two outs. -UtesFan89

by wg1of5 on Jul 8, 2009 12:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I once asked someone I know

who goes to a lot of games what the best value in the park was, and he said those $16 seats.

by bucdaddy on Jul 8, 2009 2:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks a lot guys

I’ll definitely take all of this into consideration.

Visit FanIQ.com for sports news, bloggings, polls, and more!

by MrNFL on Jul 8, 2009 9:40 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Parking!

Don’t forget about parking (if you’re driving.)

Parking is cheaper and perhaps even free if you’re persistent in looking for a spot downtown. Park downtown and walk across the bridge. Or take a bus from wherever you’re staying to downtown and walk across the bridge.

by Androgen Jar Jimmy on Jul 8, 2009 10:08 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs